5th Annual Exceptional Independents Award

Nominate an exceptional independent grocer

Know an independent grocer who goes above and beyond? Tell us about them. Winners are honored at a ceremony during The NGA Show in Las Vegas and featured in all five March 2027 regional editions of The Shelby Report.

Start your nomination ↓ About the award
Exceptional Independents Award medal
Nov. 15, 2026Nomination deadline
FreeNo cost to nominate
Up to 6Nominees, one form each
Save & returnFinish your form later
Nomination Form

Tell us about your nominee

Complete one form per nominee. Need a break? Use Save and Continue Later at the bottom of the form to get a link back to your entry. Before you start, have these ready:

  • Nominee’s contact info and address
  • A write-up of up to 3,500 characters
  • 1 to 2 storefront photos
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Entries must detail why the nominee is qualified for this recognition. Qualifications could be related to an independent grocery operator’s investment in their stores, infrastructure, operations and technology, commitment to supporting neighborhood charities and community involvement, and investment in their employees’ training and advancement.

You may submit up to 6 nominees. Please complete one form per nominee. Need to finish later? Use the Save and Continue Later link at the bottom of the form.

Your Contact Information

Tell us who you are so we can follow up about your nomination.
We will only contact you regarding important information related to your Exceptional Independents Award nominee and/or EIA event details.

Nominee Information

Tell us about the independent grocer you are nominating.
Nominee Company Address(Required)
If your nominee is selected, this is the address we will use to mail their award certificate and a copy of the issue they are featured in.
We will only contact your nominee regarding important information related to their Exceptional Independents Award nomination and/or EIA event details.
Write in the name of the wholesaler or distributor that supplies your nominee.

Nomination Details

What region is your nominee's corporate headquarters located?(Required)
What is your nominee's number of store locations?(Required)
Please provide a 3500 maximum character description (about 550 words) about why your nominee is qualified for this recognition. This could be related to the independent operator’s investment in their stores, infrastructure, operations and technology, their commitment to supporting neighborhood charities and community involvement, and their investment in employee training and advancement. Please note that if your nominee wins, this is the description that will run in the Exceptional Independents Award feature in all five March 2027 regional editions. Please write in the third person; descriptions may be edited for print.
Drop files here or
Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, pdf, Max. file size: 16 MB, Max. files: 2.
    Terms and Conditions(Required)