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CHICAGO — The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) honored Lund Food Holdings Inc. chairman, president and chief executive officer Russell "Tres" Lund, whose company operates the Lunds and Byerlys grocery stores in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market, with its Robert B. Wegman Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence.

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) honored Lund Food Holdings Inc. chairman, president and chief executive officer Russell "Tres" Lund, whose company operates the Lunds and Byerlys grocery stores in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market, with its Robert B. Wegman Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence.

The award was presented at the recent FMI Future Connect conference here. Also honored were Food City president and CEO Steven Smith, who received FMI’s Glen P. Woodard Jr. public affairs award, and Wakefern Food Corp. director of consumer affairs Cheryl Macik, who received the Esther Peterson consumer service award.

Lund was recognized for his company’s creative retail strategies, and for his success in merging two different grocery store formats into one company.

"Tres’ appreciation of the in-store experience is evident in every detail he offers for his customers," said FMI president and CEO Leslie Sarasin. "Featuring local to global tastes and chef-inspired fare, he literally reinvented the neighborhood market."

Lund started his career nearly 40 years ago as a part-time carry-out employee. He took the helm of the company in 1991, and seven years later he strengthened it through both acquisition and innovation. Experimenting with formats that focused on culinary and locally sourced options, Lund has also innovated in engaging with consumers via social media channels.

"Tres is a model of the entrepreneurial spirit within the food retail industry," Sarasin said. "He has pride of authorship, ownership and a deep respect for the noble enterprise we all serve in the food retail industry."

Food City’s Smith was honored for his effectiveness as an advocate on behalf of the food retail industry, actively leading efforts in each of his operating areas in local, state and federal government activities.

"Perhaps one of Smith’s most creative and hard-fought victories was completed last year — getting wine in grocery stores in Tennessee," said FMI senior vice president of government and public affairs Jennifer Hatcher. "Steve won’t take ‘no’ for an answer when it comes to change that will benefit his customers, his associates, his company or his industry."

Smith, who has spent 36 years at Food City, has also lobbied for the industry at the federal level. He was one of the first FMI members to agree that the battle over swipe fees was one the food retail industry had to engage, and he testified in 2007 before the House Judiciary Antitrust Task Force.

"The conventional wisdom tells us that as volume grows, prices should fall," he told members of Congress. "But instead, credit card companies have created much greater volume and raised fees and costs substantially."

Smith continues to advocate at all levels of government for the industry. He is a member of National Grocers Association and currently serves on FMI’s executive, board planning and public affairs committees.

Wakefern’s Macik was recognized for her dedication as a shopper advocate and her influence in serving and retaining Wakefern’s loyal customer base across its ShopRite and Price Rite banners. Macik started at Wakefern more than 30 years ago as a frontline representative in a then-fledgling consumer affairs department. Today she oversees a staff of 30, including ShopRite’s Customer Care Center and consumer research team.

"Cheryl has always represented the voice of the customer in the internal decision making and discussion here at Wakefern," said Karen Meleta, Wakefern’s vice president of consumer and corporate communications. "Her influence has been far reaching."

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