“It’s been a good ride.” Reflecting on his 48-year career in the grocery industry and upcoming retirement, David Smith, president and CEO of Kansas City-based Associated...
Food Industry Hall of Fame
The Food Industry Hall of Fame was established to recognize men and women across the U.S. food industry who have provided leadership and fostered innovation over their careers.
These executives also have earned the respect of their industry peers for their dedication and the example they set, not only for those in their own companies but people across the industry’s many facets. Their families and communities also typically are beneficiaries of these executives’ time and attention, making them even more worthy of Food Industry Hall of Fame induction.
In these stories, the honorees’ work history and affiliations are chronicled along with their achievements and contributions to the industry.
Inductees prior to 2013 can be found here.
Courtney Brown and Ava Brown Shell grew up working in their father’s grocery store in Bixby, Oklahoma. Courtney now is CEO of Doc’s Food Stores Inc. while Ava comes in...
Jim Brown, owner of Doc’s Food Stores, headquartered in Bixby, Oklahoma, has been inducted into Shelby Publishing’s Food Industry Hall of Fame. Brown has been working in...
Rodney “Rod” Antolock, former president of Harris Teeter and a vital part of the company for two decades before retiring in early 2022, has been inducted into The Shelby...
Harris Teeter was co-founded in 1960 by North Carolina grocers William Thomas “W.T.” Harris and Willis Lee “W.L.” Teeter. Harris, from Charlotte, and Teeter, from...
Matthews, North Carolina-based Harris Teeter is The Shelby Report of the Southeast’s Retailer of the Year. From its founding 62 years ago, the company has grown to...
Matthews, North Carolina-based Harris Teeter has been named The Shelby Report of the Southeast’s Retailer of the Year. In addition, President Tammy DeBoer was...
Doug Sanders was raised in the East Texas town of Nacogdoches, which sits two hours north of Houston and three hours southeast of Dallas. Sanders grew up spending...