Minnesota Grown Names Retailers of the Year

5/2/2013

Winners of the second annual “Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year Awards” were unveiled yesterday at the Minnesota Grocers Association’s (MGA) annual industry luncheon in Bloomington.

Awards were presented by Minnesota agriculture commissioner Dave Frederickson and Jamie Pfuhl, MGA president.

Winners were recognized in three categories:

Single Store: Mackenthun’s Fine Foods
Retail Group of 9 Stores or Less: Festival Foods
Retail Group of 10 or More Stores: Lunds and Byerlys

“These grocers have answered the demand and have made it convenient for their customers to find fresh, locally grown foods,” Frederickson said. “In turn, they’re supporting local farmers and local economies.”

Winning entries were selected based on the number of Minnesota Grown products and the number of Minnesota farmers that the grocer carried. Judges also considered how the grocer promoted these products to their customers through ads, displays and the use of social media channels. Ten percent of the points were awarded based on fan voting on the Minnesota Grown Facebook page.

In addition to a commemorative plaque, winners receive the exclusive rights to use the “Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year” logo in their ads and displays for the next year.

Jamie Pfuhl, MGA president; MGA chair Glen Gust, Glen’s Food Center, Inc.; Paul Hugunin, MN Dept. of Agriculture; Dave Frederickson, commissioner, MN Dept. of Agriculture; Eve Viskocil, Mackenthun’s Fine Foods; Jessa Theis, Mackenthun’s Fine Foods; Jaime Mackenthun, Mackenthun’s Fine Foods; Ed Gardeski, Mackenthun’s Fine Foods.

Robin Mishler, Festival Foods; Chris Thienes, Festival Foods; Jamie Pfuhl, MGA president; Paul Hugunin, MN Dept. of Agriculture; Dave Frederickson, commissioner, MN Dept. of Agriculture; Rod Borden, Festival Foods; Jason Herfel, Festival Foods; Andrew Youngquist, Festival Foods; Greg King, Festival Foods.

Jamie Pfuhl, MGA president; MGA chair Glen Gust; Glen’s Food Center, Inc.; Paul Hugunin, MN Dept. of Agriculture; Dave Frederickson, commissioner, MN Dept. of Agriculture; Rick Steigerwald, Lunds and Byerlys; Dave Mickelberg, Lunds and Byerlys; Phil Lombardo, Lunds and Byerlys; Tres Lund, Lunds and Byerlys.