LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Super A Foods founder and Unified Grocers First Vice Chairman Louis (Lou) Amen was recently inducted into the Food Industry Hall of Fame, presented by Shelby Publishing. The Food Industry Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have provided leadership, fostered innovation, and dedicated themselves to excellence in the food industry.
The September 2016 edition of The Shelby Report of the West honors Amen and his family as Super A Foods celebrates its 45th anniversary this year.
“I cannot think of a more deserving candidate for the Food Industry Hall of Fame than Lou Amen,” said Bob Ling, President and CEO, Unified Grocers. “Lou is an industry icon who has been a staunch supporter of Unified and the independent community throughout his long and successful career. His unwavering commitment to our Members, our Company, the industry and the community is unparalleled.”
“On behalf of all of us at Unified, I want to thank Lou and the entire Amen family for all they’ve done for independent grocers and the communities they serve. Lou is a giant of our industry whose example will be a positive influence for those in our industry for generations to come,” said Ling.
Since the first Super A Foods opened in 1971, the Commerce, California company has grown to an eight-store independent chain serving the greater Los Angeles area. Over the years, Lou and his wife Dorie introduced their children to the business. Today, Lou’s son Jim is president of the company; daughter Renee is CFO, Joanne is payroll manager and Jeanie is head buyer. Other family members also work in the business.
Lou was first elected to the board of directors of Certified Grocers of California (a predecessor company of Unified Grocers) in 1974 and served as chairman of the board for more than 15 years. Lou and Jim both have served on the board of the California Grocers Association (CGA) over the past 30 years and both have served as chairman. Lou received the CGA Educational Foundation Hall of Achievement Award in 1999 for his commitment and dedication to the food industry. In 2015, Jim, Jeanie, Renee and Joanne received the award as well.
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 $4 billion in sales during fiscal year 2015, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a13f0f55-b754-4357-a191-a752189bfa29