California’s Independent Grocers To Honor Industry Leaders at Annual Banquet
Sacramento, California – The California Independent Grocers Association (CIGA) is set to honor leaders from within the industry at the Annual Installation Banquet to be held Saturday, April 12, at the Hilton Hotel in Concord, California. CIGA Retailer of the Year and Associate Member of the Year recipients are chosen for their demonstrated leadership, dedication to the independent grocery industry, and community involvement. This year, top Retailer honors will be shared by CIGA members with a long history of cooperative success. Robert Piccinini, owner of Save Mart Supermarkets, and Bob Spengler, retired President/CEO of Save Mart Supermarkets, are jointly named 2007 CIGA Retailers of the Year. Headquartered in Modesto, California, Save Mart currently operates more than 200 stores in the state.
Robert Piccinini began his career in the grocery business more than 40 years ago as a box boy. In additional to owning Save Mart Supermarkets, he is the Chairman of SMART Refrigerated Transport and sits on the Executive Committee for Super Store Industries—operator of Mid Valley Dairy which produces Sunnyside Farms dairy products and WestPac Pacific Foods. Deeply dedicated to philanthropic efforts, Piccinini also serves on the Executive Committee for the City of Hope—a premier cancer research and treatment center—and is a corporate sponsor of the Valley Children’s Hospital in Fresno. He has also played a crucial role in the ongoing development of CSU, Fresno’s sports and events center aptly named the Save Mart Center. The venue hosts a variety of local and national events.
Bob Spengler’s career in the food industry began in 1958. After learning the industry from the ground up, he purchased his first store in 1969 and owned several successful stores thereafter. After Spengler purchased a Modesto Save Mart Store in 1984, Bob Piccinini convinced him in 1986 to sell the store and join the company to spearhead the first price impact stores, known as Food-4-Less. His tenure with Food-4-Less and the subsequent FoodMaxx stores was so successful that Spengler was credited with growing the division to a total of forty units. In 2003, Spengler was promoted to President and CEO for the Save Mart Corporation where he was responsible for 84 Save Mart and 40 FoodMaxx stores—a position he retired from in 2005. Bob returned from this brief retirement to spearhead the acquisition of the Albertson’s addition to the Save Mart family of stores. He is a past president of both CIGA and the Stanislaus Country Grocers Association, and served on the Board of the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation. In 1997, the Modesto Quality Travelers Club named him “Retailer of the Year.”
Joseph Franzia, President of Classic Wines of California, the distribution organization for the Bronco Wine Company, is slated to receive CIGA’s 2007 Associate Member of the Year Award. Franzia is a third-generation member of the California Wine Industry’s Franzia Family. Today, he continues the 113-year family tradition of industry service while he supports a variety of community causes. Franzia is currently a member of the Wine Institute Board of Directors and has judged the prestigious Orange County Wine Society Wine Competition for 16 years. An MBA graduate from Santa Clara University in 1965, he continues to actively participate in student recruitment. In addition to presenting awards at the annual dinner, CIGA will install its Board of Directors. The evening will conclude with Comedian Christ Linn, known as “America’s Magical Funnyman,” entertaining guests. A silent auction will also be held to raise funds for CIGA’s ongoing events and services.
“California’s independent grocers are a flourishing group,” says CIGA Executive Director Sharon Paxton. “The Annual Installation Dinner gives us the opportunity to recognize outstanding industry leaders and volunteers who will govern our direction in the year ahead.” Reservations are available by calling CIGA at (800) 852-7606, or log on at www.ciga.org.
Headquartered in Sacramento, California, CIGA continues to represent the Independent Retail Food Industry since the late 1800s. Today, more than 800 independent grocers and supplier companies make up its membership. CIGA's vision is to be the best possible association by promoting, supporting, educating, protecting, and fulfilling the needs of the independent grocer.