ORLANDO, Fla. — Food Marketing Institute, Arlington, Va., presented its Sidney R. Rabb Award to Jeff Noddle and its Herbert Hoover Award to Gary Phillips at the FMI Midwinter Executive Conference here yesterday.
Noddle, executive chairman of Supervalu, Minneapolis, received the Sidney R. Rabb Award for his service to the community, and involvement in and strong advocacy on behalf of the supermarket industry.
“During his years at the helm, Jeff raised Supervalu’s level of charitable giving to nearly $80 million year,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, FMI president and chief executive officer. “This generosity included in-kind services and employee participation through the company’s Volunteers in Action program. He focused Supervalu’s efforts in three main areas: fighting hunger, promoting health and nutrition, and serving as a steward of the environment.”
FMI established the Sidney R. Rabb Award in 1977 to honor supermarket industry leaders for outstanding service to the community, consumers and the industry.
Gary Phillips, retired president and CEO of Associated Wholesale Grocers, Kansas City, Kan., was given the FMI Herbert Hoover Award for his personal and professional excellence in serving the food retail and wholesale industry.
“Gary embodies the humanitarian ideals this award recognizes,” said Sarasin. “While Gary was busy building his career at AWG, he managed to find time to help his community, including the United Way in Springfield, Mo., where he served as campaign chairman. His work with the Developmental Center of the Ozarks has helped infants, children, and adults who are developmentally disabled to lead full and productive lives in the community.”
The Herbert Hoover award was introduced in 1961, inspired by industry and government campaigns that President Hoover led to deliver food relief to victims of the Boxer Rebellion, World War I and Great Depression. Phillips is the 55th person to receive this award.
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