The Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA) honored several industry executives with awards July 27 during its annual conference in Brainerd, Minnesota, the premier event showcasing the accomplishments of those in the state’s food industry.
Outstanding Grocer Award
Andrea Teal of Teal’s Management in Cold Spring, Minnesota, received the 2025 Outstanding Grocer Award. A fourth-generation grocer, Teal’s passion for the industry began early, starting with carryout duties and weekend bookkeeping in her teens.
A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Teal assumed the role of general manager at Teal’s Market in 2010. Over the past 15 years, she has led the company’s operations across 12 grocery stores and spearheaded expansion into new markets, including the launch of three liquor stores and one Caribou Coffee location.
Teal has been a member of the MGA for many years, serving on its board of directors since 2009. MGA said her leadership, commitment to innovation and dedication to the industry embody the spirit of the award.
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Outstanding Vendor Award
The MGA presented the 2025 Outstanding Vendor Award to Tom Hall, group VP – Central Region at KEMPS.
The award honors those who demonstrate exceptional innovation, superior customer service and dedicated involvement in the MGA.
A University of Minnesota graduate, Hall began his sales career with KEMPS in the Minneapolis-St. Cloud market. His leadership propelled him through the organization, serving as branch manager in St. Cloud-Brainerd and sales director in Minneapolis. In 1989, he was promoted to lead KEMPS’ Milwaukee operations, a position he held for 16 years.
In 2005, Hall returned to Minnesota to oversee KEMPS’ ice cream and milk divisions. Following the 2020 acquisition of KEMPS by Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), he was appointed to lead national sales.
Most recently, he assumed the role of group VP for the Central Region at DFA while also serving as president of the KEMPS Foundation.
MGA Hall of Fame
Jim Almsted, owner of Almsted’s Market in Crystal, Minnesota, was inducted into the MGA Hall of Fame in recognition of his decades of service, leadership and lasting contributions to the state’s food industry.
Almsted’s grocery journey began in 1968 as a bag boy at the Fridley Red Owl – a humble start to what would become a 60-year career marked by dedication, entrepreneurship and community engagement. Over the years, he would go on to own and operate four grocery stores across the Twin Cities.
A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Almsted began his professional career at SuperValu as a private label buyer. He advanced to division buyer and field representative before opening his first store, Almsted’s New Market, in 1989 in St. Louis Park.
He later operated Sunny Side SuperValu (1992), Almsted’s SuperValu in St. Louis Park (1996) and Almsted’s SuperValu in Crystal (2000). He also was a shareholder in the Cub Foods location in Plymouth.
Almsted’s commitment to the industry extended far beyond his own stores. He served on MGA’s board of directors for more than 25 years and was named Grocer of the Year in 2009.
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