WGB proudly recognizes 15 independent
grocers that are collectively nourishing
their communities in countless ways.
By Meg Major and Rebekah Marcarelli
The retail food business is brutal. But the 15 grocers selected as WGB’s 2019 Remarkable Independents have emerged as formidable forces in an industry that’s become more complex and cutthroat than their forebearers ever could have imagined. As depicted on the following pages, there’s simply no mistaking the tenacity and grit demonstrated by this year’s installation of Remarkable Independents, who have merged as among the most influential grocers in the nation. As vibrant, vital threads in the fabrics of their communities, each of the grocery companies chosen for national recognition excel at many things, foremost being their demonstrated ways of enriching the communities they serve in countless ways while simultaneously pioneering inventive
strategies to keep them relevant and distinctly local.
For the second year, Remarkable Independents were culled from nominations submitted
individually by store owners/management; wholesalers/distributors; and allied supply chain
partners, for above-and-beyond achievements in the following categories: In-Store Experience,
Masterful Merchandising, Community Stewardship and Digital Engagement.
The 2019 class of Remarkable Independents will be formally recognized at a celebratory
reception in their honor Feb. 25 at the NGA Show in San Diego. Expanded coverage featuring
exclusive interviews with members of the honorees’ executive teams will also appear throughout
the month of February on our website at WinsightGroceryBusiness.com/independents.
Making
Their
Marks