ORLANDO, Fla. — Food Marketing Institute presented four awards at its Midwinter Executive Conference here yesterday.
Jeff Noddle, chairman and chief executive officer, Supervalu, was given the 2009 Herbert Hoover Award recognizing service to the industry. Minneapolis-based Supervalu contributes nearly $80 million per year to charitable causes, and, as the immediate past chairman of FMI, Noddle was also influential in the development of the FMI FutureConnect Conference scheduled for this May in Dallas.
Neil Golub, president and CEO of Price Chopper Supermarkets, Schenectady, N.Y., was presented with the 2009 Glen P. Woodard Jr. Public Affairs Award, recognizing his leadership in addressing legislative issues of concern to the industry.
“At the national level, Neil is the industry’s most outspoken leader in opposing the Employee Free Choice Act,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI, in a prepared statement.
Golub also has raised “millions of dollars” from the industry for the Workforce Fairness Institute, one of the main coalitions working to defeat the legislation, FMI said. The Employee Free Choice Act would eliminate the secret ballot that is currently required for workplaces to unionize and would make it easier for workers to obtain union representation.
FMI presented the 2009 Sidney R. Rabb Award to Rich Niemann Sr., chairman of Niemann Foods, Quincy, Ill., recognizing his community involvement and industry advocacy. Niemann is involved in many community activities and has long been involved in FMI committees.
Milton Sender, chairman and co-founder of Daymon Worldwide, received the 2009 William H. Albers Industry Relations Award.
Daymon “helped retailers use private label to enhance their brand as merchants of high-value products,” said Steve Smith, chairman of FMI, in a prepared statement.
Sender also has been involved in FMI’s new private-label initiative, which will include the Private Brands Summit this June and another conference later in the year.
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