Last updated on March 25th, 2021 at 07:24 pm
The Alabama Grocers Association held its annual Food Industry Finest Luncheon on Oct. 26 at The Club in Birmingham. More than 200 people attended the event.
The group recognized its Retailer, Wholesaler and Vendor of the Year Award winners. Speakers included Secretary of Sate John Merrill and motivational speaker Dr. Kevin Elko.
“Each of these fine individuals hold a special place within the Alabama grocery industry. They are committed to growing and improving the grocery industry in Alabama,” said Alabama Grocers Association President Ellie Taylor. “We are thankful for the opportunity to honor them and their commitment today.”
Retailer of the Year
Naseem Ajlouny of Piggly Wiggly has worked in the grocery industry his entire life, starting as a student at Ramsey High School. He stocked groceries in a local store after school. By the time he was 16, he was running his uncle’s grocery store located behind the Birmingham International Airport. After 15 months of running the store, his uncle decided to move back to California, and Ajlouny convinced his father to buy the store. Within the first month he doubled the business of the store by adding additional shelving. After graduating high school, he bought a small store called Woodlawn Ice House. This store sold ice, beer, wine and snacks. In 1975, he remodeled the store and converted it into a convenience store.
In 1977, Ajlouny bought his first grocery store, Mundi’s Food Center on Bessemer Super Highway. He convinced his father to sell their store behind the airport, and his father and brother Basim came to work with him. In 1978 he doubled the size of Mundi’s and, in 1979, he bought LaRocca’s Food Center in Midfield.
In August 1984, Ajlouny visited Stanley Virciglio, who owned the Piggly Wiggly rights for Jefferson County. Ajlouny asked to adopt the Piggly Wiggly name and, after receiving Virciglio’s blessing, converted his three stores to Piggly Wiggly. This began the growth to what is now an 11-store operation, with the newest location in Crestline Village.
Ajlouny is involved in several organizations. He is board chairman of Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co., sits on the Compass Bank Advisory Board and is on the council and financial board for Saint George Catholic Church. He also is a former member of the Alabama Grocers Association’s board of directors and has been a member of the group since 1992.
Wholesaler of the Year
Jack Carlile of Supervalu has been involved in the grocery industry since 1972 when he started as a bagger for Big Star Supermarket in high school in Cookeville, Tennessee. He continued with the company for six years, working his way through various positions until he graduated from college.
Carlile continued his career in the grocery industry, working for Wetterau Inc. in Greenville, Kentucky, as the company’s produce buyer; Fleming Cos. as perishable merchandising manager in Johnson City, Tennessee; Food Lion as area supervisor in both Virginia and Tennessee; and, in 1994, went to work for Supervalu. Carlile started with Supervalu in Quincy, Florida, as an account manager, moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin, as area marketing director and, in 2000, he moved to Atlanta, as area sales director. Traveling is a requirement for his position as his territory includes Georgia, Alabama, Florida and the Caribbean.
Carlile stays active in state associations throughout the Southeast. He serves on the Georgia Food Industry Association’s board of directors, is involved with the Florida Retailers Association and has been on the Alabama Grocers Association’s board of directors since 2012. Carlile has served on the group’s convention committee and membership committee for the past four years.
Vendor of the Year
Johnny Collins of Barber’s Dairy started his career in the grocery industry by bagging groceries at the Food Giant in Roebuck, Alabama. He also worked several summers as a helper on an ice cream truck at Barber’s, which led him to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. Collins’ grandfather and mentor spent 45 years at Barber’s before he retired as VP and GM.
In 1995, the year his grandfather retired, Collins started to work for the company. Over his 21-year career, he has held positions as key account manager, branch manager, division manager, sales manager and his current position of GM. Collins joined the Alabama Grocers Association in 2001.
Collins also is part of one of the founding companies to start the Buy Alabama’s Best campaign 10 years ago. This campaign was formed to help promote products that are made, manufactured, produced or headquartered in the state of Alabama.
Best bagger
There are more than 3,600 grocery baggers in Alabama. Four competed during the luncheon for the state title of best bagger. Competitors included Jerrico Everhart of Foodland in Guntersville; Denise Porter of Autry Greer & Sons Inc./“Greers” Grocery in Pritchard; Angela Winters of Foodland in Tuscumbia; and Jamal Adams of Food Giant in Pinson. The four competitors were winners from their respective companies, allowing them to face off in the state competition.
Everhart won the battle and will represent the state at the National Grocers Association’s competition in Las Vegas in February.
