(March 3, 2017 – Langley, B.C.) Save-On-Foods named Bulkley Valley Wholesale manager Mike Dandenault its 2016 Store Manager of the Year at its annual Leadership Excellence Awards on February 28, 2017.

Dandenault, who manages the Bulkley Valley Wholesale in Smithers, B.C., received the coveted award for increasing his store’s strong financial performance, impressive jump in productivity and enthusiasm in leading his team to greatness.

Finance director Mona Kragh was named 2016 Business Leader of the Year for guiding the company’s growth strategically, while maintaining her incredible business savvy and remarkable leadership strengths.

Save-On-Foods Winfield assistant store manager Geri Sanborn was given the 2016 Anne Kidd Inspire Award, named for the first female president of the company, and awarded to a female leader who exhibits the leadership principles Kidd embodied – including positive influence, leadership, and communication.

Leadership Excellence Awards were also given to Save-On-Foods Lakeshore store manager Don Gandy and Save-On-Foods Tillicum store manager Roger Junker for their dedication to operational excellence.

Three teams were also recognized with Special Achievement Awards for unique projects during the 2016 business year:
• Regional director George Hendy, and store managers Stace Ransom, Cathy Weiss and Tim Styba
The Fort McMurray operations team was given an award for their admirable handling of the wildfire threat to their stores, city and their team members’ homes, and the aftermath of the largest evacuation of its kind in Canadian history.

• General manager Craig Anderson, regional director Ben Harrack, and store managers Tim Styba, Greg Fair, Naomi McLeod and Christopher Drobot
The Manitoba and Saskatchewan operations team went above and beyond to make the first Save-On-Foods store openings east of Alberta unprecedented successes in the company’s history.

• Fresh merchandising director John Paisley, restaurant and deli director John Chapman, ethnic manager Joe Ho, and meat merchandising director Bryan Gudjonson
The Fresh merchandising team created the most expansive and innovative offering of any grocery store in North America for Winnipeg’s Save-On-Foods International Northgate and in the new prairie stores.

Store manager Michael Huhn accepted the 2016 Customer Service Excellence Award on behalf of his team at the Save-On-Foods Sapperton in New Westminster, B.C. for having the best customer service metrics in 2016.

The Leadership Excellence event celebrates leaders among the Langley-based company’s nearly 18,000 team members for their outstanding contribution to the company’s success in the award year.

The event is held during Save-On-Foods’ Retail Excellence Summit, held this year in Richmond, B.C., with more than 200 members of the company’s senior leadership.