The Washington Food Industry Association (WFIA) presented several awards and crowned the state’s best bagger during the group’s annual industry reception in Spokane on Oct. 27.
Candice Lastimado, a courtesy clerk at the West Seattle Metropolitan Market, took home the first place trophy and a check for $2,000 in a heated competition at the Washington Best Bagger Battle. Washington’s Best Bagger Battle is sponsored by WFIA, and Metropolitan Market is a member of the association.
WFIA’s annual industry reception, which followed the competition, spotlighted the Grocer and Vendor of the Year and presented awards for community service and excellence in operations. In addition, the National Grocers Association’s (NGA) Greg Ferrara was on hand to present Washington State Rep. J.T. Wilcox with the Spirit of America Award, recognizing Wilcox’s effective advocacy for the independent grocery distribution industry in the Washington legislature.
New members of the WFIA board of directors also were recognized.
Best Bagger Battle
As the state’s best bagger, Lastimado will represent Washington at the 30th annual NGA Best Bagger Competition in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the 2016 NGA Show. The national best bagger wins $10,000.
“Candice is a seasoned grocery bagging competitor,” said Jan Gee, WFIA’s president and CEO. “Last year she was the first runner-up in our state Best Bagger Battle, taking home $1,000 in prize money. She will represent us well in Las Vegas next year.”
Ten courtesy clerks from around Washington state competed in WFIA’s annual Best Bagger Battle. Nathan Palmer, a courtesy clerk at Issaquah QFC (Quality Food Center), was the first runner-up, earning him a trophy and $1,500. Third place sent to Ryan Hoskins, an employee of Central Market in Poulsbo. He took home a trophy and $1,000.
Participants in the Best Bagger Battle were judged on speed, style, technique and uniform bag weight. The competition consisted of three rounds. The first used paper bags, while the second required participants to fill reusable bags. A third and final round determined the ultimate winner.
Washington has done well in the national “bag-off” competition. The current national champion is David Tochinskiy, a clerk at Spokane’s Rosauers Supermarket.
As the nation’s best bagger, Tochinskiy appeared on “Late Show with David Letterman” in a bag-off contest with the television personality. In October, Tochinskiy traveled to Washington, D.C., where he bagged against Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers in the fourth annual Congressional Bagger Showdown. McMorris Rodgers came in second to Tochinskiy and was named Honorary Best Bagger.
In addition to Tochinskiy, Washington state has a history of accomplished grocery baggers who have gone on to national fame. In 2012, Andrew Borracchini of Metropolitan Market in Seattle won the national competition and also appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman.” The state’s 2010 best bagger, Jessica Lewis of Yoke’s Fresh Market-Foothills in Spokane, continued on to nationals where she placed second.
WFIA’s 2015 Industry Awards
WFIA 2015 Grocer of the Year: Nolan and Kathleen Lockwood, owners of Walla Walla’s Harvest Foods, received the 2015 WFIA Grocer of the Year Award.
The Lockwoods have owned and operated Walla Walla’s Harvest Foods since 2006. Caring for both their employees and their community has been their focus from day one. After taking ownership, the Lockwoods first built a new employee break room and renovated employee restrooms. They instituted employee discount and sales-incentive programs; they also provide ongoing job training opportunities. In the community, the Lockwoods and Harvest Foods contribute to more than 26 local events and fundraisers.
The Lockwoods have received a number of commendations for their community and industry service. Awards include Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce Sweet Service Award (2011), Veterans of Foreign Wars Patriotic Citizen Award (2013) Industry, National Grocers Creative Choice Award for Advertising (2010), National Grocers Honorable Mention, Creative Choice Award for Advertising (2012) and the WFIA Keystone Award for proactive involvement with local, state and federal governments to implement policies that promote healthy, safe and affordable family groceries and a vibrant, independent grocery industry.
Nolan Lockwood began his career in the grocery industry as a box boy. He learned warehousing, distribution and supply chain management during his service with the U.S. Army (1966-69). After his discharge from the Army, he put those skills to use as a store director for Albertsons. He has since worked in every segment of the grocery industry, including as a buyer and as an ad writer. In 2000, he was named president and CEO of Thriftway and Red Apple Stores. In 2003, he became the sales and marketing director for Smith Brothers Farms.
Since purchasing Walla Walla’s Harvest Foods in 2006, Lockwood has served as a board member of both WFIA and NGA.
WFIA 2015 Vendor of the Year: URM Stores of Spokane was awarded the Vendor of the Year Award. Company President Ray Sprinkle accepted the award.
URM was founded in 1921 when five retailers joined together to form a corporation to purchase, warehouse and deliver quality merchandise inventories in a cost-effective manner. Next year, URM will celebrate 95 years of member-owner operation that currently serves hundreds of grocery stores doing business under a variety of store banners.
URM operates on a cooperative basis, with net earnings on business done with or for its member-owners allocated and paid through patronage dividends paid back to the member-owners in proportion to the business each member-owner does with URM.
In addition to providing exemplary service to their retailer owners, the URM executive team has been involved in promoting the interests of independent retailers through membership in WFIA.
WFIA 2015 Excellence in Operations Award: Anderson’s Grocery of Republic received this award. Kari and Jim Beedle accepted the award on behalf of themselves and co-owners Julie Padilla and Judee Young.
Anderson’s Grocery is a family-owned store serving the Republic community continuously for 115 years. Two of the three current owners—Padilla and Beedle—are descendants of the store’s founder, Charles E. Anderson. Young has been with Anderson’s Grocery since 1982 and became an owner in 1998 when the three women purchased the store from the previous generation of owners, Carl and John Anderson.
With the philosophy that their employees are key to their success, the current owners of Anderson’s Grocery have instituted profit-sharing with their employees through bonuses and 401(k) programs.
The three women are involved in day-to-day operations. Over the years, they have worked in every aspect of store operations. Since taking over ownership, the women have expanded the store’s parking lot, added capacity to the frozen food, deli, produce and meat departments, and added a bakery department.
Multiple community organizations in Ferry County look to the owners of Anderson’s Grocery for support. In addition, the women established the Mary French Foundation in 2007 in memory of Mary French, an employee who died of breast cancer. To date, the foundation has raised $23,000 through bake sales, raffles and the sale of Beedle’s hand-knit hats, scarves and mittens. Scholarships totaling $10,000 have been awarded to deserving Republic High School seniors.
WFIA 2015 Community Service Award: Hank’s Harvest Foods of Twisp took home this award. The store is owned by Hank Konrad, and the award was accepted by his daughter, Carlan Nielsen, who also is involved in the business.
Konrad has a reputation for selfless service to those in need. The Konrad family is well known for cutting firewood for area residents or helping out with community service projects, particularly those that benefit the region’s youth or senior populations.
During last year’s Carlton Complex fire, one of the largest wildfires in state history, Konrad and his employees worked tirelessly to make sure they kept their doors open to serve the community and the firefighters, keeping shelves stocked and acting as a hub of information for the community. When the community was ordered to evacuate, Konrad handed out cash to people in need who were lined up at the grocery store’s adjacent service station, ensuring everyone was able to fill their cars with gas to flee the approaching fires. Konrad chose not to close the service station or the grocery store during the fire danger, recognizing his business was the only one available to provide the remaining people with basic needs.
WFIA 2015 Community Service Award: The Myers Group also received this award. Tyler Myers, co-owner/operator of the family-owned Myers Group, accepted the award.
Myers Group was founded by Myers’ father in 1978 with a single grocery store on Whidbey Island. Today, the Myers Group includes eight grocery stores.
Myers spearheaded the establishment of the WFIA Education Foundation and currently serves as chair. WFIA Education Foundation scholarships defray costs of educational programs aimed at retail management, supermarket management and leadership.
Investing in his employees is important to Myers, who has changed the course of many who work for him by providing opportunities and encouragement to continue their education. He believes investments in an employee’s education improves the life, job satisfaction and overall performance of the employee. It is a win-win for both employer and employee and leads to a well-run business.
NGA Spirit of America Award: Washington State Rep. J.T. Wilcox was recognized with this award.
NGA’s Greg Ferrara was on hand to present the Spirit of America Award. Rep. Wilcox joins a prestigious group of leaders who have received this award, including Presidents George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford. The Spirit of America Award recognizes Wilcox’s outstanding involvement in community, civic affairs, legislative service and his effective voice for the protection and promotion of the independent grocery distribution industry.
Wilcox is a fourth-generation member of family-owned Wilcox Family Farm. Representing Washington’s 2nd legislative district, Wilcox has used his experience from Wilcox Farms to be an effective voice in the state legislature for the independent grocery store industry and independent food distributors.
As a member of the industry and an elected official, Wilcox stays in close communication with WFIA and its lobbyists on the industry’s priority issues. His insider perspective makes Wilcox an effective voice in the legislative process, according to WFIA.
2015 WFIA Board Members Installed
In addition to distributing its annual excellence awards, WFIA installed new board members.
Mike Trask, president of Stanlar Inc., was installed as chair of WFIA’s board of directors. Stanlar is a two-store, independently owned chain that includes the Granite Falls IGA Market and Edmonds IGA Market. Trask is active in supporting Granite Falls’ community activities, including recent funding efforts for the community’s Boys and Girls Club. Serving on the WFIA board since 2009, Trask has held a number of positions, including vice chair of government affairs in 2013-14 and first vice chair in 2014-15.
Mike Erickson, chairman of Harbor Wholesale Foods in Lacey, was installed as vice chair. Harbor Wholesale Foods, a multi distribution center operation, serves more than 2,500 customers, most of which are convenience stores and Subway shops. Harbor Wholesale Foods is a family-owned company that began in 1923 delivering food to logging camps.
