Sheer Excellence

MICHAEL GARRY

SN is pleased to announce the winners of its fourth annual Technology Excellence Awards: in the chain category, Giant Eagle; in the independent category, Green Hills; in the wholesaler category, Associated Wholesale Grocers; in the online sales category, SimonDelivers; and in the international retailer category, Loblaw Cos.

The awards are designed to draw attention to some of the outstanding IT work being done by food distribution companies in the United States and abroad.

SN editors received nominations for the awards last fall from a wide variety of sources through a form on its Web site, www.supermarketnews.com. The winning companies were selected by SN based on their commitment to using technology to improve the efficiency of their operations and the experiences of their suppliers, employees and customers. The companies had to demonstrate expertise and effectiveness in using technology, while also showing a willingness to share results and play a leadership role in promoting technology development in the food retailing industry.

Representatives of the winning companies will receive their awards tonight at a dinner and ceremony at Bertrand at Mister A’s, San Diego. As in the past, the awards dinner is scheduled to coincide with the Food Marketing Institute’s Marketechnics technology show, which is being held today through Wednesday at the San Diego Convention Center. FMI is once again providing complimentary registrations to next year’s Marketechnics show to the winners.

In the following pages, profiles of each of the winning companies describe their technology accomplishments, according to key executives in their organizations.