Foundation to Honor Industry Execs

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Lynn Melillo

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SACRAMENTO, CA – Kevin Davis, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Bristol Farms, and Robert (Bob) Kelly, Executive Vice President, Hidden Villa Ranch, will be inducted into the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation Hall of Achievement on March 21, 2018, at the Hilton Costa Mesa in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Proceeds from the event help fund the Foundation’s college scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs. For the 2018-19 academic year, the Foundation will award over 300 scholarships totaling more than $500,000. The Foundation will disburse more than $200,000 in tuition reimbursement in 2018.

The Hall of Achievement was created in 1992, to recognize grocery retailers and suppliers who have contributed substantially to the advancement of the grocery industry. Well-wishers from throughout the industry will be on hand to honor these individuals for their contributions to the California food industry.

“Both Kevin and Bob definitely meet the criteria for this very prestigious honor,” said Ronald Fong, President of the CGA Educational Foundation. “Their lifelong commitment to the grocery industry and the communities they serve is unquestionable. They have also been tremendous supporters of the Foundation. We are honored to have them join the such an elite group of grocery professionals.”

For 26 years the CGA Educational Foundation has provided financial assistance to advance the educational goals of CGA-member employees and their dependents and offers educational programs for the grocery industry. Since that time, more than $7 million in college scholarships and tuition reimbursement grants has been awarded to grocery employees and their families.

ABOUT OUR HONOREES

Kevin Davis
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Bristol Farms

Kevin Davis is Chairman & CEO of Bristol Farms; Chairman of Lazy Acres, the preeminent specialty food and natural food stores in Southern California; and CEO of Good Food Holdings, their holding company.

Kevin started in the food industry in 1970 as a box boy. He joined Ralphs Grocery Company in 1974 and worked all store level jobs through promotion to Store Manager in 1980. In 1985, Kevin was promoted to Assistant District Manager and one year later to District Manager. That same year he was promoted to Director of Sales and Advertising. In 1988, he was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Advertising, and later to Senior Vice President of Marketing.

Kevin left Ralphs after 21 years to become Executive Vice President of Bristol Farms. He was promoted by the Board of Directors to President in July of 1996 and less than one year later was promoted to Chairman of the Board, President and CEO.

Kevin is a past Chair of the California Grocers Association, President Emeritus of the Western Association of Food Chains and Past Chair of Unified Western Grocers and currently serves as the Chair of Food Marketing Institute. He was also a Director and Past Chair of California Hospital Medical Center Foundation Board, and Past President for the Food Industry Circle at City of Hope.

Supported by full scholarships from the food industry’s Western Association of Food Chains, Kevin graduated from the USC Food Industry Management Program in 1978 and later graduated as Class President of the Executive Program in the Graduate School of Business at UCLA.

In 1986, Business Week name him one of the 50 “Fast Track Kids” in American business and, in 1998, was named by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of their 30 “Up and Comers” in Los Angeles business. Kevin was named Alumnus of the Year by the USC Food Industry Management Program in 1999 and Executive of the Year in 2011.

Married for 35 years, Kevin and his wife, Cindy, have seven children and three grandchildren.

Robert (Bob) J. Kelly
Executive Vice President
Hidden Villa Ranch

Robert “Bob” Kelly is Executive Vice President of Hidden Villa Ranch. He grew up in rural San Diego County on a small family poultry farm and graduated in 1975 from San Diego State University with a degree in Microbiology. After graduation Bob held several positions in different industries. Eventually, he became the Sales Manager with Embly Ranch in San Diego. In 1996, Hidden Villa Ranch bought Embly Ranch and the Pine Hill division was born. Bob is Executive Vice President for the Pine Hill division and is responsible for all operations, sales and marketing.

His professional organizations include board position with the Orange County Council Boy Scouts and an officer with the Illuminators, one of the largest industry trade organizations in the retail food business. Past association involvement has included board positions with Pacific Egg and Poultry Association, California Egg Commission, Embly Ranch, Sunshine Foods and Coast Packaging.

Bob also devotes a large amount of time to several charitable organizations including City of Hope, Boy Scouts of America, Easter Seals, Illuminators Educational Foundation, CGA Educational Foundation, and Olive Crest, where he has received the “Ambassador for The Children” award.

Bob and his wife, Linda, live in Upland, Calif., and have been married for over 26 years. They have one daughter. Bob has a son from a previous marriage and has two grandchildren.

CGA Educational Foundation Hall of Achievement

The CGA Educational Foundation Hall of Achievement provides the food industry with the opportunity to recognize the achievements of those individuals who, through their foresight and dedication, have enhanced California’s food distribution industry. Proceeds from the event help fund the Foundation’s college scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs.

“The Foundation appreciates the tremendous support it has received from the grocery industry over the last 26 years,” said Shiloh London, Executive Director, CGA Educational Foundation. “Their generous donations allow the Foundation to achieve its mission of providing financial assistance to advance the educational goals of CGA member company employees and their dependents and offers educational programs for the grocery industry.”

For more information on the Hall of Achievement, visit www.cgaef.org, or call 916.448.3545.

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The CGA Educational Foundation was created under the direction of the California Grocers Association Board of Directors in 1992. Its mission is to provide financial assistance to advance the educational goals of CGA member company employees and their dependents and offer educational programs to advance the grocery industry. For more information, visit www.CGAEF.org.

Symposium Features Top Presenters

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Lynn Melillo

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Independent grocery operators, wholesalers and supplier partners from throughout California recently gathered in Hawaii to relax, recharge and listen to informative international speakers provide new perspectives on building their businesses.

The presentations were part of the 2018 CGA Independent Operators Symposium, CGA’s annual gathering designed specifically for independent grocers, held this year at the spectacular St. Regis Princeville Resort on the garden island of Kauai.

Headlining this year’s Symposium were three inspiring presenters that explored how to create a positive team culture, understand the entrepreneurial process used by start-ups and define, develop and celebrate leadership everyday.

“This was another profoundly impactful Symposium,” said Ron Fong, CGA President & CEO. “That was evidenced by the tremendous involvement and enthusiasm of attendees in each presentation. Each speaker was incredibly inspiring. Everyone definitely left with new ideas and approaches they can implement immediately with their teams.”

Inspirational Speakers

The Symposium’s educational program kicked off on Tuesday with a lively, engaging and entertaining workshop featuring Galen Emanuele, president of Shift Yes, and trained improviser who has toured with the likes of improve legend Ryan Stiles of “Whose Line Is It Anyways.”

Applying the techniques of improvisation, Emanuele enlisted attendees in a series of enthusiastic communication building exercises that revealed the skills to listen, be present and positive and embrace change and failure to drive team culture to higher levels of performance and involvement.

“Galen was fantastic in drawing everyone into engaging in his communication-building exercises,” Fong said. “It was obvious everyone was having a great time while learning new ideas. Several attendees came up to me afterwards and said they want him to speak to their companies.”

On Wednesday, Aaron Montgomery, co-founder & COO of CarLotz, a car consignment company on the East Coast, challenged attendees to tap into their start-up spirit and apply a systematic approach to testing, analyzing and refining new concepts. In sharing his journey as an entrepreneur, Montgomery was able to share the tools and techniques he used to build a successful business.

“Aaron really challenged our folks to examine their operations and to tap into their entrepreneurial spirt that is the cornerstone of independent grocers,” Fong said.

The educational program culminated on Day 3 with an emotionally inspired presentation by Drew Dudley that centered on defining your value as a leader and communicating and acknowledging those values with your team. Recognized as one of the most dynamic keynote speakers in the world, Dudley captivated attendees with his stories and messages of “everyday leadership.”

“Drew perfecting united all three presentations into one cohesive message,” Fong said. “His thought-provoking remarks were straight from the heart and I believe inspired everyone to focus on what leadership really looks like which “has nothing to do with position, wealth, or prestigue” where we as leaders can have a powerful impact in encouraging our employees to reach new heights, both professionally and personally.”

Great Networking and Social Events

Along with the educational program, CGA’s annual symposium also allowed for plenty of opportunity for attendees to network and socialize.

“Independents are unique because they are so willing to share information with each other,” Fong said. “It’s a camaraderie that is really unique to independent grocers and a huge part of this event.”

The Symposium schedule also allowed for plenty of time for rest and relaxation in what many consider the most beautiful of the Hawaiian Islands.

“We promote this event as the perfect opportunity for independents to step away from their day-to-day operations in an effort to gain a new perspective on leading their businesses,” Fong said. “I think we successfully accomplished that.”

Fong added that the Symposium could not have succeeded without the generous support of its sponsoring companies – Bimbo Bakeries USA, C&S Wholesale Grocers, CGA Educational Foundation, Kimberly-Clark, Post Consumer Brands, Retail Marketing Services and SuperValu.

Independent grocers and industry suppliers are encouraged to mark their calendars and plan to attend the next CGA Independent Symposium on January 6-13, 2019. The location is yet to be determined.

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CGA Issues Statement Regarding AB 875

Posted on January 9, 2018January 23, 2019 by Lynn Melillo

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Response to AB 875 Failing to Pass Out of Assembly Public Safety Committee

(January 9, 2018) “We are disappointed the Assembly Public Safety Committee did not pass AB 875 today. The measure would have provided much needed relief from the increasing losses that grocers and retailers across California are experiencing as a result of laws that enable criminals to steal with no threat of a felony. Without a fix, grocers and other retailers will suffer higher losses, employees will be put in harm’s way from increasingly violent thieves, and shoppers will ultimately pay the consequences at the register.”