Circle of Excellence
Circle of Excellence Awards
The Circle of Excellence Award is a ceremony recognizing industry-leading results of UNFI’s customers in the areas of business performance, community impact, and strong partnership with UNFI in 2023. Winners are categorized by region and business size.
Circle of Excellence Award Types
Performance
Our Performance Award recognizes retailers who are improving the customer experience and driving loyalty within their stores. These award winners have driven growth and set a new standard for merchandising and operational excellence in a challenging and highly competitive environment.
Impact
Our Impact Award recognizes retailers’ outstanding leadership in the areas of sustainability, community service, diversity, and inclusion. These award winners have gone above and beyond in making a positive difference for their associates, communities, and environment.
Customer of the Year
Our Customer of the Year Award recognizes industry-leading results across Performance, Impact, and partnership with UNFI. These award winners embody the highest standards of achievement, showcasing exceptional sales growth while making a positive impact in the industry.
The 2023 Winners are...
Customer Of The Year Winners
New Seasons
New Seasons holds 3 distinct Circle of Excellence Awards: West Regional Performance winner, Regional Customer of the Year, and the prestigious title of overall UNFI Customer of the Year. As a Certified B Corp grocer with 20 locations in the greater Portland/Vancouver metropolitan, New Seasons not only boasts impressive sales growth but also actively contributes to environmental stability and community development, while supporting local farmers.
Natural Grocers
Natural Grocers, our National Customer of the Year, has not only achieved impressive sales growth but has also demonstrated a strong commitment to community and sustainability. Through active support for initiatives like Beyond Pesticides, they’ve played a crucial role in removing millions of single-use plastic bags from the environment.
Nugget Markets
Nugget Markets, our West Regional Customer of the Year is a long-time fixture in Northern California, with 16 locations. For 17 consecutive years, they have earned a spot on Fortune’s “Top 100 Companies to Work For in the US”. Known for their dynamic culture, centered around family, Nugget Markets consistently delivers a best-in-class experience for their customers, which has led to incredible sales growth. Additionally, they are dedicated to reducing food waste and have collaborated with organizations like the Sacramento Food Bank, Marins Extra Food Program, and others.
Jim’s SuperValu
Jim’s SuperValu is a dual Circle of Excellence winner earning both the Local Independent Customer of the Year and Impact awards. Always seeking innovative ways to expand their business while helping others, this grocery store facilitated the installation of lockers in a neighboring town with no grocery stores. Their successful distribution expansion not only supported food desserts but also increased their sales.
Performance Award Winners
PCC Community Market
PCC Community Market, our National Performance winner, and the largest member coop at NCG, achieved exceptional sales growth in 2023, driven by innovative marketing, community outreach, and a strong dedication to their members. Their commitment to the 'triple bottom line' of people, planet, and profit sets them apart as a market leader.
Food Depot
Food Depot, our East Regional Performance winner has achieved a positive sales growth despite the reduced SNAP benefits in their market. To offset this loss, this grocery chain strategically expanded product categories, incorporated social media, and introduced electronic coupons to reach a broader customer base. Additionally, they implemented electronic shelf tags to improve pricing accuracy and reduce labor cost.
New Seasons
New Seasons Market holds 3 distinct Circle of Excellence Awards. With 20 locations in the greater Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area and plans to open 2 new stores in the next 2 years, this grocery chain is experiencing impressive sales growth with no sign of slowing down. It is no surprise they are our West Regional Performance winner.
Skogen's Foodliner
Skogen’s Foodliner, our Central Region Performance Winner, is a family of two distinct companies committed to serving communities across Wisconsin: Festival Foods, established in 1990 and Hometown Grocers established in 2021. This group has achieved remarkable sales growth while revitalizing local retail stores. Despite their growth, they have remained dedicated to preserving the unique identity of each store, exemplifying a successful blend of tradition and progress in the grocery industry.
Grove City County Market
Grove City County Market, our local East Independent Performance winner is known in the community for their everyday savings. Despite neighboring Walmart and Aldi competition, the store continues to excel in offering customers unbeatable prices on core grocery items and continues to maintain and win market share in their area.
Orcas Island Market
Orcas Island Market, our local West Independent Performance winner, stands as a family-owned grocery store committed to offering a unique mix of local products at fair prices. Their dedication to their community makes them a pillar of Orcas Island's identity.
Mackenthun's Fine Foods
Mackenthun's Fine Foods, our local Central Independent Performance winner truly embraces continuous innovation. With a robust presence on social media, cutting edge digital shelf tags, enticing in-store promotions, and even a Caribou Coffee shop, this grocer is dedicated to attracting and retaining customers.
Impact Award Winners
Thrive Market
Thrive Market, our National Impact winner is a TRUE Certified Zero Waste organization working towards carbon negativity by 2025. Equally committed to food equality, they aim to provide $20 million in healthy groceries by 2030.
Big Y
Big Y, our Regional Chain Impact winner, has consistently demonstrated excellence in social responsibility. From charitable donations and scholarship programs to reducing energy consumption and supporting recycling programs, they embody a commitment to community welfare and environmental sustainability.
Jim’s SuperValu
Jim’s SuperValu is a dual Circle of Excellence winner earning both the Local Independent Impact and Customer of the Year awards. Witnessing neighboring stores facing supply chain challenges, they joined forces with Regional Access Distribution Cooperative (RAD) to create a distribution network, setting up sister accounts to offer support. Their advocacy extended to working with the North Dakota legislature, securing a significant $1M one-time funding to aid the local school district with essential food supplies.