The Shelby-Griffin Report presents the 21st annual tribute to Women of Influence in the food industry. For 21 years, we’ve honored the outstanding women shaping the food industry—from executives and innovators to mentors and community leaders. This year’s nominees represent a diverse range of roles, backgrounds, and regions, each making a profound impact in their careers and beyond.
Explore their stories below, and join us in celebrating their achievements.
2026 Women of Influence
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2026 Women of InfluenceBrandy Coccia
Store Manager, Stop & Shop
Read MoreBrandy Coccia demonstrates exceptional leadership and operational excellence. Her commitment to creating a seamless shopping experience has driven double-digit online sales growth versus last year and turned a challenging projection into positive year-over-year results, marking an impressive turnaround.
Coccia advocates for talent development and works with associates toward promotions and growth. She coaches store leaders to succeed. She also has strengthened community partnerships and supported multiple charitable initiatives. She led several food drives and community events throughout the year.
In May, Coccia established a community partnership and collected 2,300 pounds of food. Her efforts were recognized by the local Rotary Club. She also partnered with the local police department for the annual "Give the Cop a Bird" event, resulting in a donation of 3,000 turkeys for the community.
Coccia led a major district community event at a soup kitchen, organizing daily donations from vendors and restaurants. She guided peers as they loaded the local pantry and sorted products for families.
Her dedication to building partnerships, organizing impactful events and supporting her community exemplifies outstanding leadership and commitment to service. Her efforts have made a measurable difference in the lives of many and reflect the highest standards of excellence.
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2026 Women of InfluenceBritney Ekerson
Customer Business Manager, Acosta Group
Read MoreSince joining Crossmark in April 2025, Britney Ekerson has driven significant, results‑oriented growth across multiple clients and customers through strategic planning, strong relationship management and disciplined execution. She placed more than 1,000 displays directly into retail, expanding in‑store presence and generating immediate sales impact.
Ekerson also secured new distribution for eight clients with customers they had not previously reached, unlocking new revenue streams and accelerating brand growth. She introduced a new distributor program that delivered an average of 20 percent quarter‑over‑quarter growth, demonstrating strong bottom‑line performance and scalable strategic value.
Ekerson consistently executed high‑impact initiatives across multiple clients, including large‑scale displays, LTOs, assortment expansions and 2026 promotional commitments that strengthened pipeline visibility and long‑term partnerships.
Beyond revenue generation, Ekerson championed new processes that simplified and streamlined workflows for customers, improving efficiency, clarity and execution across accounts. She repaired challenged relationships and pursued new customer partnerships, rebuilding trust and expanding Crossmark's footprint.
Her ability to manage complex programs across numerous clients and retailers -- while delivering measurable growth, future commitments and operational improvements -- has positioned the business for sustained success.
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2026 Women of InfluenceBrittany Benton
Director of Strategic Initiatives, ECRS
Read MoreWith more than seven years in the business, Brittany Benton is "all over" the independent grocery industry. She forges relationships with every person she encounters and is known for her big smile, great laugh and ability to connect people together.
Over the past seven years, she has grown ECRS' Ignite Conference by hundreds of retailers, creating a retail technology event like none other.
In her current role, Benton can be found at many industry conferences, leading sessions on technology, hosting panels, meeting with wholesaler and association partners and driving new relationships and strategic partnerships for ECRS.
Outside of work, she calls the Blue Ridge Mountains home. She enjoys all sorts of outdoor adventures, caring for her dogs and spending time with her partner, Liam.
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2026 Women of InfluenceBrittany Vogel
Store Manager, Hannaford Supermarkets
Read MoreBrittany Vogel exemplifies the kind of leadership that strengthens people and performance. She has built a culture where associates thrive, customers feel cared for and operational excellence is delivered every day.
Vogel's leadership style is that of a "gardener," someone who creates the conditions for others to grow. She cultivates engagement, trust and accountability, empowering her team to deliver a shopping experience that is clean, fresh, friendly and customer focused. Under her leadership, associates feel supported and inspired, leaders are empowered and the store operates as a unified team committed to excellence.
Beyond her store, Vogel is a respected leader. She serves as a Business Resource Group lead, leads district leadership meetings and stepped forward to support divisional sales and service initiatives when needed. Her willingness to take on "stretch" assignments reflects a selfless commitment to collaboration and shared success.
Vogel demonstrates Hannaford's "All for Good" purpose through community involvement as co-chair of the Capital District Pride Parade, organizing a Bingo Night benefiting the American Heart Association and leading engagement initiatives strengthening connections between stores and communities.
Through her humility, clarity and commitment developing others, Vogel represents the very best of food industry leadership.
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2026 Women of InfluenceCaitlyn Koriakos
Senior Director, Sales Operations, C.A. Fortune
Read MoreCaitlyn Koriakos has delivered transformative operational and organizational impact over the past few years. She centralized the sales support function and redefined its scope, bringing clarity, structure and measurable efficiency to the organization.
Under her leadership, sales support coverage expanded from about 13 percent of the sales organization to 100 percent, ensuring every sales team now benefits from dedicated partnership and consistent execution.
Koriakos's ability to identify opportunities for process improvement has been a hallmark of her leadership. She has designed and implemented numerous internal systems that have streamlined workflows, increased accuracy and saved significant time across teams. Notably, she played a key role in developing and executing a companywide process for managing and tracking category reviews -- an initiative that improved accountability, visibility and cross-functional coordination.
Her disciplined organization, analytical rigor and commitment to excellence have redefined expectations for operational leadership. She approaches complex challenges with composure and speed, rapidly learning new systems and guiding her team through change with confidence.
Beyond results, Koriakos's leadership fosters collaboration and continuous improvement. Her influence has not only elevated the efficiency and performance of her team but also strengthened alignment across the broader commercial organization.
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2026 Women of InfluenceCandace Henderson
Merchandising and Operations Support Manager, Houchens Food Group
Read MoreCandace Henderson will celebrate her 20th anniversary with Houchens Food Group in July. She began her career after high school as an administrative assistant and quickly stood out through her initiative and dedication to learning every role within the office.
Within two years, she was attending trade shows and supporting promotional and buying activities, beginning a career that would expand across multiple divisions and support the broader food group.
Today, Henderson plays a key role in connecting store operations, merchandising strategy and regional leadership. She has helped streamline processes between regions, including sales reporting, advertising coordination, promotional planning and store communication.
Known for her collaborative leadership style, she often serves as a bridge between store teams, regional leaders and support departments, translating store-level insights into practical strategies that improve efficiency and execution.
A strong advocate for servant leadership, Henderson regularly spends time working alongside associates and managers in stores to better understand operational needs. In 2022, she assumed responsibility for managing the company's supply category, where her leadership has helped reduce costs year over year, resulting in nearly $9 million in annual savings.
She also supports community partnerships and fundraising initiatives benefiting organizations such as Children's of Alabama.
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2026 Women of InfluenceCarla Inama
Controller, Rosauers Supermarkets
Read MoreCarla Inama has been a dedicated part of Rosauers Supermarkets for 28 years, building an outstanding career through hard work, curiosity and a commitment to the business. She began as a staff accountant and, after holding several roles within the accounting department, worked her way up to her current position.
Today, Inama manages many of the financial functions that keep the company running smoothly, including budgeting, accounts payable and receivable, pharmacy third-party reconciliation, store licensing and capital tracking and depreciation. Her institutional knowledge and steady leadership make her an invaluable resource across the organization.
Inama continues to invest in her professional growth and is pursuing her certified management accountant designation. She is a graduate of Gonzaga University and a proud Zags basketball fan.
Outside of work, Inama's favorite role is being a grandmother to a young granddaughter, with another little girl on the way.
Inama's longstanding commitment, leadership and positive impact on the company make her a deserving recipient of The Shelby Report's Women of Influence Award.
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2026 Women of InfluenceCarla Rydberg
Director, Category Management for Edible Grocery, Topco Associates
Read MoreCarla Rydberg joined Topco in 2015. In addition to her responsibilities within edible grocery, she operated as the lead stakeholder in the company's Food Club brand redesign. The brand is worth more than $1 billion at cost, spanning categories in grocery, frozen and dairy. To date, 2,500 items have been through the artwork process and more than 1,500 items are shipping to member retailers/wholesalers. Rydberg spearheaded the initiative, working throughout the project with internal stakeholders, including quality assurance, category management, sourcing, project management, marketing and the brand management team. She developed a phased-approach plan with a cross-functional teams and communicated throughout the process, maintaining the direction even in the face of industrywide supply challenges. She adapted and listened to the teams as needed. This process has been widely accepted and was leveraged to support subsequent packaging redesign projects, as Rydberg took the time to educate associates on the strategies of running a project of this caliber, providing a critical blueprint for brand success. Her attitude and collaboration have shined within the entire organization.
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2026 Women of InfluenceCarolina Pinedo
Fresh Replenishment Manager, Northgate González Markets
Read MoreCarolina Pinedo oversees planning and supply strategies for key Northgate González Market fresh departments, including prepared foods, meat, produce, bakery and tortillería. She aligns demand forecasting, production planning and inventory management across stores and commissary operations to ensure teams have the right products available at the right time.
Pinedo works with cross-functional partners to improve processes, strengthen supplier relationships and support operational execution that enhances the overall customer experience.
Pinedo began her career with Northgate on the front lines as a bagger and cashier, gaining valuable insight into store operations and customer service. Through determination and a commitment to continuous learning, she advanced into roles in supply chain, category management, replenishment and procurement. These experiences helped her develop a strong understanding of the company's operations and the importance of collaboration in driving growth and supporting store teams.
Pinedo is motivated by the positive impact Northgate has on customers and associates. She values the company's strong culture, family roots and dedication to serving the community while continuing to innovate. She describes her leadership style as collaborative and focused on accountability.
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2026 Women of InfluenceCaroline Short
Host Engagement Generalist, Lowes Foods
Read MoreCaroline Short is a results-driven leader whose impact is felt across two divisions marked by complex host dynamics and persistent staffing challenges. During periods of uncertainty and change, she has consistently provided steady guidance, helping teams navigate difficult situations with clarity, confidence and purpose.
Short is known for her transparent and direct communication style, setting clear expectations while remaining approachable and compassionate. She balances accountability with empathy, ensuring the teams feel supported while still driving operational excellence.
Short makes herself available to the teams, fostering trust and engagement through open dialogue and hands-on leadership. Her commitment to long-term workforce stability is evident in her active involvement in recruitment efforts, including overseeing career fairs and participating in community and university events such as those at UNC Wilmington.
Through these initiatives, she strengthens the talent pipeline while reinforcing the organization's presence and reputation within the community.
An exemplary leader during trying times, Short demonstrates integrity, resilience and a people-first mindset--making her a deserving recipient of this recognition for leadership, influence and service within the food industry.
Celebrating the Women of Influence in the food industry for 21 years!
Presented by The Shelby-Griffin Report
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