BRYANNE OLSEN NAMED 'RURAL GROCER OF THE YEAR'
Owner of local grocery store, Olsens Marketplace IGA, recognized at national summit
MONTGOMERY, Ala., June 25, 2024 — At the National Rural Grocery Summit, the Rural Grocery Initiative (RGI) named Bryanne Olsen the 2024 Rural Grocer of the Year. This award recognizes Olsen’s outstanding commitment to community engagement, innovation, and resilience in sustaining her locally-owned store, Olsens Marketplace IGA.
Housed within K-State Research and Extension, RGI is dedicated to supporting rural grocery stores across the United States. As part of its mission, RGI hosts the biennial National Rural Grocery Summit, which celebrates the accomplishments of independent grocers like Olsen.
"Bryanne Olsen exemplifies the spirit of the Rural Grocer of the Year award," said Erica Blair, Program Manager with the Rural Grocery Initiative. "Her dedication to Olsens IGA and the Ajo community is truly commendable. Bryanne's community engagement efforts demonstrate her leadership and commitment to rural grocery excellence."
Olsens IGA serves as a vital hub for Ajo and its surrounding areas. Beyond offering essential groceries, the store features a hardware section that caters to both local residents and passing travelers, enhancing its role as a community anchor.
"Bryanne's story is one of resilience and service," remarked Ashley Page, Vice President for Marketing and Public Affairs at IGA, Inc. "She has not only sustained but also expanded the services of Olsens IGA to meet the diverse needs of her community. Her collaboration with local organizations underscores her commitment to supporting community health and well-being."
In addition to her role as a business owner, Bryanne actively advocates on behalf of independent grocers. For three years, she served as Chairperson of the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance (AFMA) Board of Directors. 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.
The 2024 National Rural Grocery Summit, where Olsen was honored, convened over 250 stakeholders in Montgomery, Alabama, to explore innovative strategies for sustaining rural grocery stores and improving access to healthy food in rural communities.
For more information about the Rural Grocery Initiative and the National Rural Grocery Summit, visit www.ruralgrocery.org.
---
About the Rural Grocery Initiative:
The Rural Grocery Initiative, housed within K-State Research and Extension, aims to sustain locally-owned rural grocery stores to enhance community vitality and improve access to healthy foods by identifying, developing, and sharing resources that support grocers and rural communities.
About the National Rural Grocery Summit:
The National Rural Grocery Summit is the premier networking and resource-sharing venue for independent grocers and rural food access stakeholders. The 2024 Summit was co-hosted by the Rural Grocery Initiative at Kansas State University and the Hunger Solutions Institute at Auburn University