José Magaña, store manager of the Food Lion located at 4709 Lawndale Drive in Greensboro, North Carolina, was named Food Lion’s 2022 Ralph W. Ketner Store Manager of the Year.
Magaña was selected from a group of more than 1,100 store managers across Food Lion’s 10-state operating area. Named after one of the grocer’s founders, the Ralph W. Ketner Store Manager Excellence Awards celebrates and recognizes Food Lion store managers who make an impact on those around them. Honorees are also celebrated for leading the business, supporting their teams and inspiring others.
In recognition of Magaña receiving this honor, Food Lion will donate 20,000 meals in his name to RePurpose in Greensboro through the retailer’s hunger-relief initiative, Food Lion Feeds.
“When I joined Food Lion, I was fortunate to have leaders who saw something in me that I didn’t. They pushed me, coached me, trained me and gave me all the resources I needed to become successful,” Magaña said.
“At Food Lion, I feel empowered, welcomed and appreciated. Our neighbors count on us to be there when they need us the most, and we take that responsibility seriously.”
Magaña immigrated to the U.S. when he was a year old and joined Food Lion 13 years ago as a bagger while in high school. He worked in roles of increasing responsibility throughout the store, ultimately being named a store manager in 2021. He leads a team of about 90 employees. Magaña and other employees at the store routinely volunteer and partner with community organizations on various causes, including regularly supporting the Healthy Parenting Program in Greensboro and the Greensboro Fire Department.
“José is a great leader who embodies the role our store managers have in caring for their associates and the towns and cities they serve,” said Meg Ham, president.
“Every day, our store managers serve their neighbors with dedication, compassion and an understanding of how their associates and communities count on them. I am proud to recognize these five leaders and share my appreciation for everything they do to bring our brand, strategy and culture to life in their stores and in their communities.”
In addition to Magaña, four other store managers were honored as 2022 Divisional Store Manager Excellence Award recipients. They include:
- Mid-Atlantic division: Shane Barnes, 3926 Western Blvd., Raleigh, North Carolina;
- Northern division: Jared Mitchell, 125 S. Main St., Hillsville, Virigina;
- Richmond/Norfolk division: Christian Dendy, 1313 N. Road St., Elizabeth City, North Carolina; and
- Southern division: Mike Strange, 330 Lebby St., Pelzer, South Carolina.
