Jan 14, 2002
SCOTTSDALE, AZ — January 14, 2002 — Food Marketing Institute (FMI) announces that Mike Wright, chairman, SUPERVALU INC., is the recipient of the 2002 Sidney R. Rabb Award. FMI Chairman Ron Pearson presented the award during FMI’s Midwinter Executive Conference being held here.

Initiated in 25 years ago in 1977, the Rabb Award honors a grocery retailer or wholesaler for a lifetime of exemplary service to the community and the industry. In presenting the award, Pearson noted Wright’s extensive involvement in education in his home state of Minnesota and his lifetime of leadership in the food retail industry.

“Mike Wright has provided outstanding leadership to his community and to our industry,” stated Pearson. “FMI is lucky to have him as one of our most involved and innovative leaders.”

Wright has served on the boards of FMI, Food Distributors International (FDI) and the Independent Grocers of America (IGA). He has chaired both FMI and FDI. He is also a past chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Business Partnership.

In 1985, Wright was a founding member of the Food Industry Crusade Against Hunger (FICAH), an organization which works to alleviate hunger in giving people the skills and resources to grow their own food. He has also raised hundreds of thousands for the Food For All program to alleviate hunger in the U.S., and has donated generously through his own company.

Additionally, Wright is recognized for his support of education in his company’s home state.

SUPERVALU assists in funding education from kindergarten through college to make sure youth get to school, stay there and succeed. One program has provided scholarships to hundreds of students in private schools that support high-achievers majoring in business, marketing and the liberal arts.