Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/110595
LEADERSHIP AWARDS Leadership Award winners and runners-up (from left): Allison Hooper, Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery; Nasser Abufarha, Canaan Fair Trade LLC; Amit Hooda, Heavenly Organics; Shawn Askinosie, Askinosie Chocolate; Alex Whitmore, Taza Chocolate; Nick Tilsen, Native American Natural Foods Honoring the Industry's Visionaries BY DENISE SHOUKAS T he Specialty Food Association (formerly NASFT) and Specialty Food Magazine present the three winners, and three runners-up, of the first annual Leadership Awards, launched to honor businesses that lead with their hearts. Whether creating a new economy for one of the poorest Native American reservations in the country, opening doors for farmers in Palestine or establishing school-lunch programs for impoverished farming communities abroad, the winners of the Leadership Awards offer inspiration for everyone in—and beyond—our industry. Nominations for the Leadership Awards were made by members of the Specialty Food Association and others in the trade. A panel of industry professionals and influencers selected the Leadership Awards honorees from 67 nominations. The judges included Haven Bourque, founder of HavenBMedia, Oakland, Calif.; Christine Bushway, executive director and CEO of the Organic Trade Association, Washington, D.C.; Irene Hamburger, vice president of Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, N.Y.; John Raiche, vice president of marketing at UNFI, Providence, R.I.; Erin Roach, director of recruitment and marketing at Social Venture Network, San Francisco; and Errol Schweizer, senior global grocery coordinator for Whole Foods Market, Austin, Texas. Read on to learn about the winners' inspiration, impact and future goals. THE AWARDS Winners were chosen in three categories: VISION BUSINESS LEADERSHIP CITIZENSHIP For pioneering new approaches, innovative products and business models that have set For showing advanced best practices in the For improving the lives of people and communities by advancing environmental in motion positive change and progress food industry and social sustainability knowledge and practices MARCH 2013 29