Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. (AWG) has named the winners of several Excellence Awards as part of its 2026 AWG Innovation Showcase and Annual Shareholders Meeting.
Top Excellence Awards recipients were Lou Fox Community Service Award winner the Blevins Family of Jumbo Foods and Store Manager of the Year Award winner John Longest of Pruett’s Food.
The Blevins Family honored for community service
The Lou Fox Community Service Award is given each year in honor of Lou Fox, general manager and president of AWG from 1955 until 1983. The recipient is an AWG member retailer who displays outstanding leadership and commitment to their community and upholds the values of AWG.
The Blevins Family of Jumbo Foods has built and sustained a business grounded in community responsibility, a people-first approach and long-term stewardship.
Dan Funk, AWG president and CEO, said the Blevins family represents the best of independent retail.
“The Blevins family’s decades of leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment to community-centered grocery retail embody the true spirit of the Lou Fox Excellence Award,” Funk said.
“Their dedication to service, stewardship, and the people they support — both inside their stores and throughout the communities they serve — has made a lasting and meaningful impact. We are honored to recognize the Blevins family for their remarkable contributions to independent grocery retail and for upholding the values that define our cooperative.”
Longest named store manager of the year
The AWG Store Manager of the Year Award is given annually to the store manager or director within the cooperative membership that best demonstrated excellence in leadership and extraordinary store operations.
John Longest of Pruett’s Food has been honored as AWG’s Store Manager of the Year for his sustained leadership, operational excellence and deep commitment to serving both people and community.
Beginning his grocery career in 1988, Longest worked his way up through a variety of entry-level and operational roles, gaining a broad understanding of store functions that has shaped his leadership approach.
As store manager for Pruett’s Food in Ada, Oklahoma, he is known for his focus on team development, clear communication and creating a culture where associates share responsibility and take pride in their work. Beyond his own store, Longest supports broader initiatives across Pruett’s locations, offering guidance and mentorship at the request of Pruett’s President and Owner Ray Pruett.
His relationships with customers, many of whom know him personally, along with his years of volunteer service, youth sports leadership and advocacy work demonstrate the community-minded spirit that defines the award.
Funk said Longest’s leadership exemplifies the values the award is designed to honor.
“John Longest exemplifies the leadership, dedication, and community focus that define the Store Manager of the Year award,” Funk said.
“His commitment to developing people, strengthening store performance, and serving his community reflects the very best of what independent grocery retail represents. We are proud to honor John for the positive impact he makes every day inside the store and far beyond its walls.”
Pruett, Pruett’s Food president and owner, said Longest has helped lift the entire organization.
“John’s leadership has strengthened not only our Ada store, but our entire organization,” Pruett said. “His ability to mentor teams, build lasting customer relationships, and serve the community with humility and purpose sets a benchmark for all of us. We are incredibly proud of John and thrilled to see him recognized as AWG’s Store Manager of the Year. It’s an honor he has truly earned.”
Eleven additional department awards
AWG also announced the winners of 11 additional awards from each department.
- AWG Brands – Priceless IGA in Decatur, Alabama, owned by Houchens Food Group Inc.;
- Bakery – Cash Saver in Slidell, Louisiana, owned by Bobby Lishman;
- Center Store – Holt’s IGA in Fayetteville, Tennessee, owned by Dan Holt;
- Floral – Ball’s Price Chopper in Kansas City, Missouri, owned by Balls Food Stores;
- Food Service – Van Til’s Supermarket in Hammond, Indiana, owned by Van Til’s Supermarket Inc.;
- Health, Beauty, Wellness; General Merchandise; Specialty Foods (HGS) – Coborn’s in St. Cloud, Minnesota, owned by Coborn’s, Inc.;
- Meat – Harter House in Hollister, Missouri, owned by Andrew and Jacob Beetlach;
- Merchandising Event – Pruett’s Food in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, owned by Ray Pruett;
- Omnichannel – Berkot’s Super Foods in Mokena, Illinois, owned by Luke Kotara;
- Produce – Super Saver in Grand Island, Nebraska, owned by B & R Stores Inc.; and
- Seafood – Ramey’s Marketplace in Purvis, Mississippi, owned by Brad Ramey.
Two new vendor awards debut
AWG debuted two new annual vendor awards this year. The Vendor Partner of the Year in Merchandising was presented to Kellanova, and the Vendor Partner of the Year Award in Services & Solutions went to BRdata Software Solutions.
The new awards recognize two companies that have consistently demonstrated outstanding performance across every aspect of AWG’s partnership — from competitive pricing and exceptional quality to reliability, innovation and world-class customer support.
Tye Anthony, AWG’s chief merchandising and marketing officer, said the honorees set a high bar for the entire vendor community.
“The Vendor Partner of the Year awards reflect the level of partnership that truly elevates our business and strengthens our ability to serve our member retailers,” Anthony said.
“This year’s honorees, Kellanova and BRdata Software Solutions, have consistently demonstrated what it means to be an exceptional partner. They deliver reliable performance, forward-thinking solutions, and an unwavering commitment to shared success. Their contributions have not only driven meaningful results but have also set a benchmark for what outstanding collaboration looks like across our entire vendor community.”
[RELATED: BRdata Named AWG’s First Vendor Partner Of Year For Services & Solutions]