FMI – The Food Industry Association recognized seven industry leaders with its 2026 Executive Leadership Awards on Jan. 21 at the Midwinter Executive Conference in Chula Vista, California.
The recipients represent Alex Lee, Inc.; Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc.; Market of Choice Inc.; Wakefern Food Corp.; The Clorox Company; Stater Bros. Markets; and Knowlan’s Super Markets Inc.
“Excellence is achieved through a collection of moments throughout a person’s career that makes him or her stand apart,” said FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin.
“This year’s Executive Leadership Award recipients demonstrate how excellence is accumulated over one’s lifetime, and they exemplify what true leadership in the food industry looks like. These leaders have earned the recognition and gratitude of today’s dynamic food industry because of their relentless commitment to collaboration and to helping to move our industry forward.”
Sidney R. Rabb Award for Statesmanship
Brian George, president, chairman and CEO of Alex Lee Inc., received the Sidney R. Rabb Award for Statesmanship. George leads the family-owned company with a 95-year legacy in wholesale distribution and retail.
Since joining Alex Lee in 2005, George has held a variety of leadership roles, including co-manager and store manager at Lowes Foods, manager of retail development and VP of sales at MDI. He became president in 2011, CEO in 2014 and chairman in 2018.
George is known for championing a customer-centric approach and regularly engages customers and consumers to gain insights that drive innovation and efficiency across the organization. Under his leadership, Alex Lee has expanded through acquisitions, brand transformations and new product and service offerings.
Herbert Hoover Award for Humanitarian Service
Mike Stigers, president of Wakefern Food Corp., received the Herbert Hoover Award for Humanitarian Service. Stigers leads the nation’s largest retailer-owned cooperative.
With a career spanning five decades, Stigers began as a part-time courtesy clerk at Safeway in California and rose through the ranks in both the retail and wholesale sectors, gaining expertise in operations, merchandising, retail technology, food safety and supply chain management. His leadership has guided organizations including Cub Foods, SuperValu and UNFI, and he has served on the boards of major food retail industry associations.
[RELATED: Wakefern’s Stigers Named USC’s 2025 Food Industry Executive Of The Year]
Esther Peterson Award for Consumer Service
Pete Van Helden, executive chairman of Stater Bros. Markets, received the Esther Peterson Award for Consumer Service. Van Helden’s leadership has shaped the company since 2013.
Van Helden began his supermarket career as a courtesy clerk at Rosauers Supermarkets in 1976 and has held various leadership roles at Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Supervalu and Stater Bros. Markets, overseeing operations, merger integration and strategic growth across the industry. He was promoted to CEO of Stater Bros. Markets in 2016 and appointed to executive chairman in 2025.
Van Helden’s commitment to the grocery industry is reflected in his service on numerous boards and community outreach initiatives, including supporting the Salvation Army for decades.
William H. Albers Industry Relations Award
Bob Richardson, director of trade relations at The Clorox Company, received the William H. Albers Industry Relations Award. With 55 years in the grocery industry and 25 years at Clorox, Richardson has excelled in sales management.
For the past 17 years at Clorox, he has served as director of trade and industry relations. During that time, Richardson built trusted relationships with retailers, suppliers, sales agencies and associations to deliver value-added industry growth.
Richardson’s industry impact is reflected in his active involvement with all key associations, with FMI as his primary focus. He has shown the ability to bring together the business community for strategic dialog, supporting committees focused on regulatory affairs, education and planning forums for high-impact industry collaboration.
Robert B. Wegman Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence
Anthony Longo, executive chairman of Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc., and Rick Wright, former CEO of Market of Choice Inc., both received the Robert B. Wegman Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence.
Founded in 1956 by his father, Tommy, and uncles Joe and Gus, Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc. has grown into a respected Canadian food retailer known for innovative retail strategies and imaginative merchandising that caters to time-starved families. As executive chairman, Anthony Longo is renowned for his entrepreneurial leadership and a deep commitment to lifelong learning and community service.
He serves on the boards of Aegis Brands, The Grocery Foundation and The Baycrest Foundation, and previously chaired the Humber College Board of Governors, ProAction Cops and Kids and the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers. His contributions have been honored with the Spirit of the Independent Award (2012), the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013), the Canadian Grand Prix Lifetime Achievement Award (2017) and Canada’s Most Admired CEO Enterprise (2019).
Wright, who received the award posthumously, was a visionary leader and dedicated steward of Oregon’s local food community. During his time as owner and CEO of Market of Choice, Wright carried forward his family’s legacy, transforming a small discount grocery chain into Oregon’s largest independent, family-owned grocer.
Under his leadership, Market of Choice grew to 12 stores, more than 1,400 employees and more than 7,000 locally made products, reflecting Wright’s belief that grocery stores should be engines of local economic growth. Beyond his work in the grocery industry, Wright was a generous philanthropist, serving on numerous boards and supporting nonprofits focused on food security, education and the arts. His award was accepted by his wife, Deborah Wright.
Glen P. Woodard, Jr., Award for Public Affairs
Lauri Youngquist, CEO of Knowlan’s Super Markets Inc., received the Glen P. Woodard, Jr. Award for Public Affairs. Youngquist leads the woman-owned and -operated company alongside her sister Marie Aarthun since 1984.
Youngquist returned to Knowlan’s as CFO in 1991 after a 15-year career in educational publishing and quickly spearheaded investments in technology, including JIT inventory systems and computer-assisted forecasting, which enhanced operational efficiency and agility.
Under Youngquist’s leadership, Knowlan’s expanded with additional grocery stores, coffeehouse locations, On the Rocks Wine & Spirits, a wholesale central bakery and bakery/cafes under a separate brand. Among her advocacy efforts, Youngquist has served as an unwavering advocate for fairness within routing networks on interchange, championing the interests of the industry with remarkable persistence and clarity.