COMMERCE, Calif., May 28, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Three Unified Grocers associates (Christine Neal, Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer; Marie Lopez, Director, Consumer Insights and Staci Webber, Director, Distribution, Seattle) have been named 2013 Progressive Grocer Top Women in Grocery award winners.
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Since 2007, the Progressive Grocer Top Women in Grocery awards program has recognized the integral role women play across all areas of the food industry. This year, 230 winning candidates were chosen from a field of approximately 400 nominees from all levels of the food retailer and supplier communities in three categories: Senior Level Executives, Rising Stars and Store Managers. Neal was named a winner in the Senior Level Executives category, and Lopez and Webber were named winners in the Rising Stars category. The award winners were selected based on their demonstrated outstanding leadership and influence in their companies and in the industry, as well as for their specific achievements between Feb. 1, 2012 and March 1, 2013.
Over the past year, Neal, Lopez and Webber have made many significant contributions toward furthering the success of Unified Grocers and independent retailers. For example, Neal oversees Unified's Finance and Treasury, Credit and Risk Oversight and recently assumed responsibility for the Company's Talent Resources functions. She also was an executive sponsor of a companywide initiative designed to make Unified a stronger sales-driven organization. Lopez was appointed to lead a major Company initiative to help Unified's retail customers derive actionable insights from scan data. Using data and consumer insights Lopez was able to assist retailers in achieving double-digit sales increases at their stores. Webber initiated activities that have resulted in reducing on-the-job injuries, accelerating new-hire productivity and advancing Unified's business continuity and disaster preparedness efforts. Webber also was instrumental in the successful start-up and operation of Unified Grocer's Market Centre Natural and Organic program.
"We want to congratulate all of the women honored as 2013 Progressive Grocer Top Women in Grocery, and extend our greatest appreciation for their contributions to our industry," said Bob Ling, President and Chief Executive Officer, Unified Grocers. "Having three members of our team recognized as part of this elite group of women speaks highly of their individual talents and hard work, as well as our Company's ongoing efforts to help all of our associates grow and achieve success in their careers."
Meg Major, Editorial Director, Progressive Grocer, said, "Over the years that we have solicited nominees for our annual Top Women in Grocery honor, our editorial staff has never ceased to be amazed at the level of dedication, talent, expertise and sheer determination demonstrated by our finalists."
All of the Top Women in Grocery winners will be recognized in the June 2013 issue of Progressive Grocer and will also be honored at a gala awards celebration that will take place in late 2013.
About Unified Grocers, Inc.
Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States. Unified and its subsidiaries, which generated approximately $3.8 billion in sales during fiscal 2012, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry. For more information about Unified Grocers, visit: http://www.unifiedgrocers.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future performance of Unified Grocers based on Management's assumptions and beliefs in light of information currently available to it. There are a variety of factors that could cause actual and future results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made above. These factors are outlined in the Company's Form 10-K and other interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, Unified undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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