When he was 14, Ray Sprinkle was hired to sort soda bottles in the back of the grocery store his father ran in Kansas. Sprinkle didn’t know it at the time, but he would go on to spend the bulk of his 50-plus-year professional career – and make a name for himself – in that very same industry.
After more than 21 years at Spokane, Washington-based URM Stores Inc. (formerly United Retail Merchants), 12 as its CEO and President, Sprinkle has announced he is retiring next summer. The search for his replacement will begin shortly. Sprinkle has agreed to help guide the transition, as most executives before him at the wholesaler/distributor have done.
Sprinkle’s impact on URM is undeniable. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to mentorship have left an enduring legacy. And those are just a few of the reasons he is being inducted this year into Shelby Publishing’s Food Industry Hall of Fame.
Described as a solid, stand-up individual who never takes his eye off the goal at hand, Sprinkle achieved what few leaders have – mentoring his team on how to run the business more efficiently without sacrificing the high level of customer service for which URM is known.
Ryan Ritter, President and CEO of Town & Country Markets and a member of URM’s board of directors, characterized Sprinkle’s leadership style as hands-on, coupled with a deep commitment to employee empowerment and customer satisfaction.
“Unlike some executives who may prioritize metrics over people, Ray leads with empathy and a strong focus on nurturing talent,” Ritter said. “His approach creates a sense of family within the URM organization, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation that’s rare in retail leadership.”
He added that Sprinkle’s emphasis on open communication and inclusivity sets him apart, making him highly respected across the industry. That is evident in his service on the board of directors for Retailer Owned Food Distributors (ROFDA), National Grocers Association (NGA) and Washington Food Industry Association (WFIA), among others.
For his part, Sprinkle said his management style was shaped by experiences earlier in his career. A graduate of Kansas State University, he spent time working for Fleming in Texas and SuperStore Industries in northern California before returning to Fleming, where he worked in Phoenix and Philadelphia. He then joined URM as VP of Procurement and Profit Centers. Sprinkle would spend eight years in that position before being promoted to CEO and President.
“All these years in the industry working in challenging business cultures grounded me and shaped my leadership approach. For one, it taught me how not to treat people,” he said.
“It’s like that famous quote from Maya Angelou: ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ I’ve always taken that to heart in how I conduct myself.”
URM shines under his direction
URM’s retail operation is centered on supporting independent grocers with a full spectrum of services, from wholesale distribution and inventory management to merchandising support. This comprehensive approach allows retailers to remain competitive in a challenging market.
During Sprinkle’s tenure, URM’s coverage area has expanded west, membership is up 42 percent and the number of Member-Owned stores has increased 47 percent. In addition, the number of retailers reinvesting in their stores has risen dramatically, as has backhaul income.
“Ray has been a cornerstone of this mission, fostering close relationships with our members and deeply understanding the unique needs of each grocer,” said John Akins, President of Akins Fresh Market and Chairman of URM’s board of directors. “His dedication has strengthened the trust that our Members place in URM, viewing us not only as a supplier but as a valued partner in their business.
“Beyond his professional accomplishments, it has been a privilege to work alongside someone of his caliber and character. We are grateful for his invaluable leadership and positive impact that he has had on URM. As Ray embarks on this new chapter of his life, I extend my warmest wishes to him and his wife, Kim.”
Cliff Rigsbee, President of Rosauers and also a member of URM’s board of directors, said a key reason for URM’s success can be tied to Sprinkle’s leadership, both in his demeanor and approach.
“He always has the Member-Owners’ best interests at heart, focusing on what makes their business grow and what makes their lives easier,” he said. “As a leader, Ray has a very calm, measured way about him that puts people at ease.”
At the same time, Rigsbee said Sprinkle prefers to hire people he trusts and let them make decisions and run their respective departments. But he’s also a great listener and collaborator.
“Ray takes a learning posture with most challenges and strives to not only solve the problem but support his employees to grow with challenges and setbacks,” he said.
Approachable is an adjective most often used to describe Sprinkle.
“With Ray, you can always talk to him if you have an issue. You always know where you stand with him. He’s very accessible, easy to talk to and just a genuinely good person,” said Mike McShane, VP of Procurement for URM.
Sprinkle offers every employee full access to his time, readily handing out his cell phone number. He makes it clear to all that they can reach out to him for any reason, be it personal or professional.
“Managing 400 to 500 people is a big job. The role requires looking for ways to be efficient and never losing sight of our customer service goals,” said Roger Ohlhauser, VP of Operations at URM.
“Ray understands that his employees are the key to this and lets us know he cares how we are doing. He ends our weekly meetings by asking what he can do for me or how he can support me.”
Ohlhauser described Sprinkle as one of the most astute, quick-thinking, genuine and understanding bosses he’s had.
“He’s about as even keeled a person as you will ever meet, no matter what is thrown at him or how significant,” he said. “If someone is involved in an incident, the first thing Ray asks is not if the trailer was damaged but how the employee is doing. That is the type of person you want to work for and share your work life with.”
Not known as a micromanager, Sprinkle would much prefer to give his team autonomy and chooses to surround himself with those who can help carry out his vision.
“Ray has always been opportunistic and deliberate about taking advantage of things happening in the industry,” said Rich Stuber, VP of Information Technology. “He hires people who share that vision and lets them do their job.
“There is nothing contrived or fake about Ray. That’s a quality that is very rare in a leader today.”
Tackles challenges head-on
Jon Roman, VP of Retail Sales and Market Development, has worked for URM for 32 years, 22 of which have been under Sprinkle. Over the years, the company’s growth has had an impact on virtually every department, from procurement and transportation to warehouse operations.
“Ray continues to be a huge catalyst to ensure all departments are performing to the expectations of our Members,” Roman said. “When he becomes aware of a Member issue, he reaches out to see how URM can assist. He does not wait for them to call.
“He encourages us to listen, keep an open mind, be flexible and find win-win solutions. Ray has taught us that efficiency at the wholesale level is commendable, and we have to keep challenging ourselves that we do not just push costs down to retail and make their jobs harder.”
[RELATED: Populous West Home To Dynamic, Diverse Grocery Market]
Mentor qualities
Brent Shammo, President of Peirone Produce, a separately run business unit owned by URM, said having Sprinkle’s support over the years has meant a lot to him, particularly early on.
“When I was first hired as president, Peirone had its first down quarter in forever,” Shammo said. “This was the beginning of the economic downturn, and I was focused on how to fix things. Ray’s advice to me was to do my best and know that things will turn around.
“He told me to look at the big picture – not the small one – and said to just keep doing what I was doing, and the sales will come. He was great at easing my mind then and has been a great mentor to me since. Sales indeed rebounded, and we had a great year last year.”
Beyond that, Shammo said Sprinkle has always been supportive of new ideas.
“When you can show Ray that your idea will take care of co-op members and URM, he is 100 percent on board,” he said. “When an idea is brought up that might create a little extra legwork but will save the company $500,000 a year, it’s a no-brainer.
“He doesn’t need to take the time to think about it or work it out 10 other ways. His response is, ‘Let’s figure out how to get this to work and do it.’
“He knows he built a good team, and he trusts that team to make the right choice. If you ask him for help, he will help you. But he’s not one of those people who holds your hand and micromanages you throughout the entire process. Our company’s success is a direct reflection of Ray’s leadership approach.
“There are not many co-ops around anymore, and there are not a lot of 100-year-old companies that are still growing. It shows me that we are doing things the right way, that people trust our company and they want to continue working with us even as they expand their store count. They know we are doing the best job out there.”
Elizabeth Bartch, VP of Human Resources, described Sprinkle as a great communicator and all-around classy guy who is always thinking of ways for URM to succeed, but not to the detriment of employees or its culture.
“He frequently thinks about how something will impact our employees,” she said. “He knows if they are not happy, then business could suffer. He understands we need to make ourselves attractive for the new generation of workers, but he also works hard to make sure our tenured employees are happy as well.”
Bartch added that Sprinkle never takes his eye off Members’ needs. “He makes it a point to go to every Member’s store to build those relationships. Not many leaders today can say the same.”
Family support
Whether it is cultivating work relationships or strong family ties, Sprinkle’s successful career has been a team effort on all fronts.
“At the time I came to work for URM, I’d been married to my wife, Kim, for 25 years, and moving to Spokane was our eighth move,” he said. “One daughter was a freshman in college and the other a sophomore in high school. All the moving we did was tough on my family.
“There’s no question that without them at my side I wouldn’t be sitting here today. They allowed me to chase a dream and accomplish it.”
Sprinkle is looking forward to more time with family, especially now that he is a grandfather. His oldest daughter, Melissa, lives in Spokane with her husband, Kyle, and two children, Hudson, 10, and Hadyn, 5. His youngest daughter, Chelsea, lives in Scottsdale, with her husband, Justin, and two boys, Lincoln, and Pierce, who are 5 and 3.
“When I look back at my career, I want to thank the membership for how well they treated me, and I hope how I treated them made an impact as well,” he said. “My cell phone is on 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That comes with the job. I need to be a solution provider.
“Their job is hard, and I just want to do what I can to make it easier for them to be successful.”
Asked about his legacy in the industry, Sprinkle said he hasn’t given that any thought.
“I’ll let someone else decide that. I just want to be the best person I can be. Because when I do that, then I bring value to our employees and retailer members. The decisions I made were what was best for URM’s business in the long term. What people want to say after I’ve left, that’s up to them.”
Sprinkle added that his sole focus has been doing what’s best for the independent retailers and employees.
“I’m glad I had the opportunity to work with them all. We have a special bond and perform well as a team. It’s been a fantastic experience and it’s why I did not want to retire. I stayed longer than I expected to because I’ve enjoyed it so much. We’ve got a great group here.”
Add Comment