Pro's Ranch Markets' Mike Provenzano to Receive First Entrepreneurial Excellence Award

Michael A. Provenzano Sr., president and CEO of Pro's Ranch Markets, was named the recipient of the first Thomas K. Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, which was presented by Kraft Foods at the recent National Grocers Association (NGA) convention earlier this month.

"It's always nice to be recognized for your work, but it's particularly gratifying to be named the very first recipient of an entirely new award," said Provenzano. "My family and I have put our hearts and souls into building this business, and we believe we have created something very special in Pro's Ranch Markets. The consuming public seems to agree -- and for that we are grateful and most appreciative."

The award, named after NGA's current and long-serving president and CEO, was created by Kraft Foods as a way to highlight and reward retailers who have shown the most tangible examples of persistence, vision and creative entrepreneurship throughout the year. Provenzano was recognized for his ability to develop his 12-year-old company into one of the largest -- and most successful -- Hispanic retail grocery chains in the United States. Pro's Ranch Markets presently owns and operates 11 stores -- four in California (Central Valley region); five in Phoenix; one in Albuquerque, N.M.; and one in El Paso, Texas. Later this year, the company expects to open two new stores in the Phoenix market.

Ontario, Calif.-based Pro's Ranch Markets strives to re-create the festive atmosphere of a Mexican marketplace inside each one of its stores. They offer fully prepared, hot Mexican foods for take-home or in-store dining, unique perimeter departments that emphasize freshness (seafood, produce, creamery, in-store bakery, full-service meat case, and tortilleria), and authentic Hispanic grocery and specialty items throughout the store.