Houchens Food Group recently unveiled a new program, the Store Manager Appreciation Awards, to recognize the work of its grocery store leadership, whom it considers its “unsung heroes.”
Consisting of 18 lunch banquets divided by region and banner, the events include individual recognition of store managers as well as a selection of other awards. In addition, a Store Manager of the Year is named.
The fifth ceremony, which was held July 24 at Mehr Park in Madisonville, Kentucky, celebrated the stores from the Western Kentucky Food Giant North Division. Nathan Everly of store No. 520 in Madisonville, Kentucky, was named Store Manager of the Year.
The other nominees include Cierra Owen, Rising Star Award; Kristy Level, Safety Award; Marko Johnson, Leadership Award; and Jason Hunt, Perishable Merchandising Award.
The remainder of Houchens’ awards presentations will continue through November.
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One of the 18 honorees will be crowned the Houchens Food Group’s Store Manager of the Year during a celebration in January at the Houchens-L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky. That manager could then become an IGA Retailer of the Year nominee and attend the 2025 NGA Show in Las Vegas.
For award consideration, managers are measured on sales, payroll and EBITDA. Other factors include culture, training and workforce development and community involvement.
