Wash. Food Industry Association Honors Industry Leaders

The Washington Food Industry Association (WFIA) has revealed the winners of its 2013 grocery industry awards, as well as electing its 2013-14 chair of the board.

The award nominees were submitted by the association’s full membership, with the final vote by the board of directors. The winners of the Grocer of the Year, Vendor of the Year and the Keystone Award for excellence in Government Affairs will be honored at the annual industry reception and awards presentation on Oct. 22 at the Red Lion Hotel at the Park in Spokane. WFIA President/CEO Jan Gee will bestow the awards on behalf of Washington’s independent food industry.

The winners are 2013 Grocer of the Year: Tammy and Bryan Bailey, Bailey’s IGA, Rochester, Wash.; 2013 Vendor of the Year: Ray Bowen, Charlie’s Produce, Seattle; and 2013 Keystone Award for Excellence in Government Affairs: Jeff Philipps, Rosauers Supermarkets Inc., Spokane.

Additionally, WFIA has elected Craig Gaylord, president and founder of Fiesta Foods, its 2013-14 Chair of the Board. Gaylord has served on the board since 2008. “Craig has a long history in the grocery industry, but in 1997 decided to take a different path from the traditional supermarket to studying Hispanic marketing,” said Gee. “Today, he is a leader in the field, and his four locations are all thriving.”

Supporting Gaylord on the executive committee will be First Vice Chair Chris Brown, Wray’s Food & Drug; Vice Chair of Finance Kevin Stormans, Stormans Inc.; Vice Chair of Governmental Affairs Mike Trask, Granite Falls IGA; Vice Chair of the Educational Foundation Tyler Myers, The Myers Group LLC; and Gee, who is also board secretary. Outgoing Chair Kevin Weatherill, of The Markets LLC, will continue to serve on the board.

Founded in 1899, WFIA, a nonprofit, state-wide trade association representing hundreds of grocers, wholesalers, and suppliers, remains the only Washington State-based grocery industry association.