The National Grocers Association (NGA) presented the Thomas K. Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award to Rudy Dory, executive chairman at Newport Avenue Market. The award was presented the evening of Feb. 22, prior to the opening of the NGA Show in San Diego, California.
“When you think of what it means to be an entrepreneur, Rudy Dory comes to mind. He’s worked almost his entire professional life in the grocery industry, growing Newport Avenue Market over the last 25 years into an innovative and strong business,” said Greg Ferrara, NGA president and CEO. “The company is dialed into the local community, providing excellence and quality to their customers. For Rudy, his love and passion for what he does is as strong as ever, and our entire industry is better because of him. I congratulate Rudy on receiving this award and look forward to working with him for years to come as we continue to advance the interests of our industry.”
Newport Avenue Market in Bend, Oregon, opened in 1991, focused on offering a variety of specialty and international foods. In 2015, the operation became the first employee-owned grocery in Central Oregon, with a staff invested in providing a unique shopping experience.
Since 2009, the Thomas K. Zaucha Award, sponsored by Mondelēz International and named after NGA’s first president and CEO, is presented annually to recognize an independent grocer’s persistence, vision and creative entrepreneurship.
Also at the event, Mondelēz International presented a check for $5,000 to the NGA Foundation.
The NGA Show runs from Feb. 23-25.
NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for close to one percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating $131 billion in sales, 944,000 jobs, $30 billion in wages and $27 billion in taxes.
NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers, state grocers associations as well as manufacturers and service suppliers.
