Rural Grocery Awards

The 2024 National Rural Grocery Summit announced winners of the "Rural Grocer of the Year" award and the "Grocery Champion of the Year" award. These awards recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership in rural grocery and improving food access.

Rural Grocer of the Year:

Bryanne Olsen, owner of Olsens Marketplace IGA in Ajo, AZ

Bryanne's Olsen's journey is one of dedication and adaptation. She started her career as a teacher. Then, after moving to Ajo—a small, rural town surrounded by the Sonoran Desert—she transitioned to running Olsens IGA with her husband, Don. Following his passing in 2016, Bryanne took the reins of their store and continues managing it today. The store is a lifeline for residents, providing essential groceries and supplies that are crucial in a remote setting.

Olsens IGA employs 30 local residents, many of whom have been part of the team for over a decade. But their store doesn’t stop at groceries. Understanding her community’s needs, Bryanne partnered with Ace Hardware to integrate a hardware section within her store. This strategic expansion not only diversified their product offerings but also made Olsen's IGA a destination for both grocery needs and specialty products. The hardware section, occupying four aisles, offers a variety of home improvement tools and camping essentials, catering to both locals and travelers passing through.

Time and time again, Bryanne and her team rise to the occasion to support their local community. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she swiftly organized the distribution of essential meat boxes through a partnership with the Cocopah Indian Nation. This initiative aimed to feed local elders who were particularly vulnerable when larger stores declined the opportunity to assist. Furthermore, Olsens IGA collaborates closely with the Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture's food bank, where she donates products.

In addition to her role as a business owner, Bryanne actively volunteers and advocates on behalf of independent grocers. For three years, she served as Chairperson of the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance Board of Directors, or AFMA. Under her leadership, AFMA embraced a new vision called CLEAR – which stands for Community, Legislature, Education, Alliance, and Regulation – to help ensure a strong future for Arizona's retailers and suppliers.

 

Grocery Champion of the Year:

Jimmy Wright, owner of Wright's Market in Opelika, AL

Jimmy Wright has been an independent grocer since he started working at his father's store in Opelika, AL, at age 12. He purchased the store in 1997 and renamed it Wright’s Market in 2003. Under his leadership, the small business grew into a 22,000-square-foot independent grocery store renowned for its high-quality meat and produce. It currently employs 32 staff members.

What sets Jimmy apart is not just his business acumen, but his distinct passion for tackling food insecurity. He is nationally renowned for pioneering customer service advancements, particularly in transportation accessibility for both urban and rural patrons. He spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives to provide transportation to and from the store and introduced an efficient online ordering system with delivery services under the banner of Wright2U.

But Jimmy’s influence extends far beyond the confines of his store. In 2015, Jimmy initiated a collaboration with Carver Neighborhood Market in South Atlanta, addressing formidable challenges faced by the market in sourcing from wholesalers. Leveraging his expertise and resources, Jimmy now facilitates weekly wholesale orders for Carver Neighborhood Market, ensuring a seamless supply chain despite being located 90 miles away in Opelika.

In his “spare time,” Jimmy serves as a consultant for the National Grocers Association with GusNIP and SNAP Online technical assistance. He actively uses his store as a pilot for things like dairy incentives, GusNIP models, and was even part of the SNAP Online pilot program. He serves on multiple industry boards, advocating for the needs of independent grocers and community-driven food access solutions. Jimmy is a member of the NGA Government Relations Committee and regularly testifies before both the U.S Senate and House Agriculture committees on the impact of food nutrition programs. Currently, Jimmy is partnering with IGA as a retail consultant in both rural and urban areas, sharing his expertise with grocers nationwide.