FMI – The Food Industry Association has announced the 12 finalists for the 2026 Store Manager Awards, recognizing outstanding grocery retail leaders from across the U.S. and around the world.
The annual awards honor store managers who demonstrate operational excellence, innovation, leadership and community impact while delivering exceptional experiences for shoppers and associates.
Finalists for the 2026 FMI Store Manager Awards include:
Category A
- James Hensel, Oregon Dairy, Lititz, Pennsylvania;
- Jeff Payne, Harmons Grocery, Orem, Utah; and
- Lisa Milla, Strack & Van Til, Munster, Indiana.
Category B
- Ashten Walker, Market District/Giant Eagle, Solon, Ohio;
- Luke Schentrup, The Fresh Market, Hendersonville, North Carolina; and
- Wei Zheng, 99 Ranch Market, Chandler, Arizona.
Category C
- Almedin “Almo” Dokic, Food Lion, Richmond, Virginia;
- Jamie Franck, Hy-Vee, Inc., Dubuque, Iowa; and
- Mark Ferrari, QFC/The Kroger Family of Companies, Bothell, Washington.
Category D (International)
- Kanchan Rijal, SPAR Paceville, St. Julians, Malta;
- Salvatore Cossu, EUROSPAR Sorso, Sorso, Italy; and
- Tina Tsitsava, SPAR Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia.
For independent grocers, the presence of managers from Oregon Dairy, Harmons Grocery and Strack & Van Til in Category A highlights that non‑chain, regional operators can compete for national recognition alongside larger banners. The awards criteria – operational excellence, innovation, leadership and community impact – are areas where independents often excel, especially in community engagement and personalized service.
Nominating a standout store manager for FMI’s awards can boost team morale and provide a point of differentiation when recruiting talent. Independents should consider documenting their managers’ achievements in store turnover, associate development and local partnerships to build competitive award applications.
The winners will be announced during a live, virtual awards ceremony on July 23. For more information about the FMI Store Manager Awards, visit FMI.org.