Supervalu’s Haugarth Named PG/NEW 2014 Trailblazer

Janel S. Haugarth, Supervalu’s EVP and president of Independent Business and Supply Chain Services, has been selected as the recipient of the distinguished 2014 Trailblazer Award from Progressive Grocer and the Network of Executive Women (NEW) at the upcoming Top Women in Grocery gala celebration on Nov. 12, 2014, at the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare.

Established in 2012, the PG/NEW Trailblazer Award recognizes a single executive whose leadership, vision and influence have helped break new ground for women in the retail food industry.

As one of Supervalu’s top executives, Haugarth presides over the Minneapolis-based wholesale distributor’s independent business and supply chain services. Appointed to her role in October 2012, Haugarth oversees the company’s relationships with about 1,800 independent retail grocery stores across the United States.

“In appreciation and recognition of her tireless efforts to advance women through the ranks at Supervalu, coupled with her commitment to advancing extraordinarily worthwhile causes on behalf of the company in countless local communities, we are pleased and very proud to honor Janel Haugarth as our 2014 Top Woman in Grocery Trailblazer,” noted Meg Major, Progressive Grocer’s chief content editor.

“It is our privilege to join Progressive Grocer in honoring one of the industry’s great female leaders, mentors and role models,” said Joan Toth, CEO and president of the Network. “Janel has shared her wisdom at NEW events and been an outstanding industry leader. She continues to pay her success forward to the next generation of women executives.”

Haugarth has been with Supervalu for more than 35 years, taking on primary leadership roles beginning in 1985, when she was named controller for the company’s Bismarck division. After serving in a number of roles across the organization, Haugarth was named EVP of Supervalu’s Northern region in 2000, at which time she became the company’s first female region president. She was later named EVP, president and COO for Supervalu’s Supply Chain Services organization in 2006, and in 2011 assumed the role of EVP of merchandising and logistics.

A past Top Woman in Grocery winner and a staunch supporter of the industry’s leading women’s award program since its inception in 2006, Haugarth has also been a longtime member of the Network of Executive Women, to whose mission and programs she has lent vigorous support through the years.

Beyond her core leadership duties at Supervalu, Haugarth also serves on the boards of directors for Valspar, National Grocers Association, Food Marketing Institute’s Wholesaler Advisory Board and IGA-USA, as well as serving as a member of the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable.

PG’s 2014 Top Women in Grocery awards program marks the eighth year the national trade publication has recognized the invaluable contributions of women from all walks of the retail food industry in three categories: Senior-Level Executives, Rising Stars and Store Managers.

Additional details about PG’s Top Women in Grocery gala event, including registration and program information, hotel accommodations and a complete list of current and past winners, can be found here.