Food Lion has named Isaac Smalls as its 2023 Ralph W. Ketner Store Manager Excellence Award winner. Smalls was selected from a group of more than 1,100 store managers throughout Food Lion’s 10-state operating area, according to a news release.
Named after one of Food Lion’s founders, the awards recognize and honor exceptional store managers who enrich the lives of customers, associates and the communities they serve, the company says.
“I am truly honored to receive this honor and represent the Southern Division. It gives me the ultimate sense of pride and accomplishment,” Smalls said in the release. “No matter where your journey begins, strive to be the best at what you're doing, as bigger and better opportunities will await you here at Food Lion.”
In addition to Smalls being selected as Food Lion’s 2023 Ralph W. Ketner Store Manager Excellence Award winner, four other store managers were recognized for exceptional leadership and honored as 2023 Divisional Store Manager Excellence Award recipients. They include:
- Mid-Atlantic Division — Angela Robinson, 238 Pritchard Road, Clayton, N.C.
- Northern Division — Jay Moaveni, 130 Duella Dr., Inwood, W. Va.
- Central Division — Patrick Burns, 3680 S. New Hope Road, Gastonia, N.C.
- Richmond/Norfolk — Jeff Salmon, 11010 Kentucky Road, Mineral, Va.
In recognition of Smalls' impact on his community, Food Lion says it will donate 20,000 meals in his name to Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist in Bishopville, S.C., through the retailer’s hunger relief platform, Food Lion Feeds.
Food Lion said Smalls joined the company in 2008 as a bagger and has held multiple roles leading up to store manager, in which he now leads a team of nearly 95 associates. Smalls says an exceptional store manager is a leader who listens, communicates effectively, leads by example, possesses the ability to adapt to change and brings out the best in others, the release said.
Smalls is also passionate about being able to provide the local community with adequate nutrition every day, according to the release, and he believes a successful life starts with the nutrients that Food Lion provides. He and his staff have partnered with the local sheriff’s department, local food banks and NAACP of Columbia.
"Isaac's leadership is a testament to the positive influence a store manager can have on associates, customers, and the towns and cities they serve,” Meg Ham, president of Food Lion, said in the release. “Our store managers are the heartbeat of Food Lion. They foster a culture of care and belonging that helps their associates thrive and their communities flourish. I am proud to recognize these five leaders and deeply appreciate all they do to bring our brand, strategy and culture to life while nourishing families and setting them up for success in life.”
