GMA to Honor Duke With Hall of Achievement Award

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has named retired Walmart President and CEO Mike Duke the recipient of its 2014 GMA Hall of Achievement Award, to be presented at the trade group's Leadership Forum on Aug. 23 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

Named Walmart's CEO in 2009, Duke spearheaded the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer's strong financial performances, and made substantial investments in technology and human resources to support Walmart's global expansion.

As a champion of the company's efforts to address social and environmental issues, Duke led Walmart to open more than 220 stores in food deserts nationwide, and launched the Great For You icon to help consumers better identify nutritious food.

Additionally, Duke helped customers save more than $3.5 billion on fresh fruits and vegetables, donated more than 1.58 billion pounds of food to local food banks, and pledged to source $20 billion in goods from women-owned businesses by 2016. Today, Duke serves as chairman of the executive committee of the Walmart board.

“Leaders in the consumer packaged goods industry are committed to making a difference in the everyday lives of consumers, but even among this accomplished group, the noteworthy innovations and far-reaching impact Mike Duke has had stand out,” said GMA President and CEO Pamela G. Bailey. 

“Mike is an exemplary leader whose integrity, dynamism and ingenuity have made our industry stronger and the lives of consumers better," Bailey added. "It will be an honor for GMA to present him with the 2014 Hall of Achievement Award.”

The Washington, D.C.-based GMA represents the voice of more than 300 leading food, beverage and consumer product companies that sustain and enhance the quality of life for hundreds of millions of people in the United States and around the globe.