LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Richard (Dick) L. Wright, founder, and his son Richard (Rick) L. Wright, Jr., president, Wright's Foodliner, Inc. and owners and operators of seven Market of Choice supermarkets in Ashland, Eugene (4), Portland and West Linn, Oregon, were named the co-recipients of the 2008 "Ben Schwartz Retail Grocery Visionary Award" by Unified Grocers on June 17, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Long Beach, Calif.
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The "Ben Schwartz Retail Grocery Visionary Award," named after a long-time director and former chairman of the Board at Unified Grocers, is an honor given annually to an independent retail grocer who is a leader and innovator in the retail grocery industry. The Award recognizes individuals who, through their practice and example, have consistently demonstrated initiative, creativity and leadership within their businesses and, in the process, have inspired others to think and act creatively and with passion in the retail grocery field. To be eligible, retailers must be -- or must have been -- a member of Unified Grocers or one of its predecessor companies.
The Wright's retail grocery business has grown and evolved into one of the most innovative and progressive supermarket organizations in the United States. In 1979, Dick and his wife, Marsha, purchased a single Thriftway Market in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Not long after, the family business expanded with more stores and a new name -- Price Chopper. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s their stores attracted customers with everyday low prices and exceptional performance standards. As their son Rick's role in the business grew, so did his vision. By the year 2000, he began providing leadership for modifying the business model to better fit the changing needs of their customers. Together, father and son created the "Market of Choice" format -- a format that now operates under the motto, "Food For the Way You Live." The upscale stores feature a wide assortment of organic and natural foods, restaurant quality prepared foods, locally-produced products, gourmet and specialty products, and much more.
"In awarding this year's 'Ben Schwartz Retail Grocery Visionary Award' we felt that the co-winners, Dick and Rick, exemplified an incredible ability to adapt and survive in the highly competitive grocery business and evolve their company over time to become one of the very best in the retail grocery industry," said Al Plamann, president and chief executive officer, Unified Grocers. "The stores themselves are literally masterpieces when you walk inside -- they are beautifully appointed, well designed and immaculate."
Plamann recognized the individual talents of the father and son team, saying, "Clearly, Market of Choice would not be the success story it is today without its two key principals. Rick Wright is a visionary -- he understands the trends in the market, he listens to his customers, and then delivers his products and services with a flourish and passion. Dick Wright, on the other hand, is the anchor of the company -- a person who is responsible for the success and growth of the business over a long period of time. Dick has also served for many years as vice chairman of the Unified Grocers Board of Directors and as chairman of the Board's Audit Committee."
A duplicate of the "Ben Schwartz Retail Grocery Visionary Award" has been put on permanent display in the lobby of Unified's headquarters building in Commerce, Calif. A plaque recognizing Dick and Rick as the 2008 co-winners has been added to the permanent award.
About Unified Grocers, Inc.
Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers, Inc. 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 2007, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to benefits expected to be derived from the proposed acquisition. There are a variety of factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements above. These factors are outlined in Unified's Form 10-Q 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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