Progressive Grocer Names 2020 Top Women in Grocery Trailblazers

Jun 15, 2020

Susan Morris of Albertsons Cos. and Judi Kletz of Procter & Gamble lead a slate of 350 honorees; Hall of Fame inductees also revealed

CHICAGO - June 15, 2020 - (Newswire.com)

Susan Morris, EVP and COO of Albertsons Cos., and Judi Kletz, managing director, North America Industry Affairs for Procter & Gamble, have been named the 2020 Top Women in Grocery Trailblazers by Progressive Grocer.

Now in its 14th year, PG’s Top Women in Grocery awards program honors the vital role women play across the food retail industry within the retailer and supplier communities. As the pinnacle award in PG’s Top Women in Grocery program, the Trailblazer is given to women who lead by example and have demonstrated a commitment to lifting up the next generation of female leaders in the industry.

“Susan Morris and Judi Kletz are an awe-inspiring personification of the word ‘trailblazer.’ I salute their exemplary and dynamic leadership and for helping so many women in this industry rise up,” said Gina Acosta, executive editor of PG.

"Our success in profiling and celebrating Top Women in Grocery is made even more memorable by the generosity of our sponsors, many of which have been with us since the beginning,” said Group Publisher of Progressive Grocer and Retail Leader John Schrei. “As we celebrate our 14th year, we continue to partner with some of the very best organizations in grocery that help us honor and celebrate these special women. The support of our TWIG sponsors is invaluable, and they've become part of our Progressive Grocer and TWIG family. We can't thank them enough for all they do to create an amazing experience for each and every winner."

Morris and Kletz, along with 350 members of the 2020 Class of Top Women in Grocery, will be recognized at the Top Women in Grocery gala celebration on Nov. 5 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, in Orlando, Florida. The new class of Top Women comprises 87 senior-level executives, 202 rising stars and 61 store managers.

“Our industry has undergone one of the fastest revolutions in its history in just the first few months of 2020,” Morris said. “While grocery retail will never be the same for so many reasons, I think the current environment also marks the beginning of a critical shift for women and diversity in grocery leadership. We have done a remarkable job of leading our teams during these extraordinary times of increased consumer demand. We have shifted our lives to support our people and our communities while still balancing the myriad needs of our loved ones. Each day right now, we are redefining what it means to be a grocery retailer in America, and I have never been more proud to be part of this industry. I am honored to have been named a PG 2020 Trailblazer.”

Morris joined Albertsons more than 30 years ago, and since then, she has held just about every role imaginable in food retailing. She assumed her current role as COO in January 2018 and oversees a network of more than 2,250 stores in 33 states across 21 banners, as well as 20 manufacturing facilities and 23 distribution centers with more than 270,000 employees.

Kletz began her career with P&G nearly 35 years ago. In 2013, she was promoted to the role of managing director, North America Industry Affairs, with responsibility for all U.S. trade associations, trade media, industry and sales executive communication. Her team leads the strategy, development and implementation of P&G’s industry activation and reputation.

“I’m honored to be part of this esteemed group of women who have come before me,” Kletz said. “This award is aptly named, as it defines the work of so many who tirelessly work every day to make the CPG industry a better place: those pioneers who envision a different future, who have the courage to blaze a different path, the sheer determination to remove barriers put in front of them, and the blind faith to turn dreams into reality. These are the women of CPG. I’m blessed to have spent my career working beside them, learning from them, leading them and now witnessing their legacy.”

Additionally, PG has revealed its 2020 class of Hall of Fame inductees, exemplary women executives in the grocery and food industries who have been named Top Women in Grocery a minimum of five times: Katherine Fuller, VP/general manager, client development at Crossmark, and Tonya Herring, SVP merchandising Giant Food. Fuller and Herring will be honored at a separate ceremony on the day of the gala.

All of this year’s Top Women in Grocery winners are prominently featured in the June 2020 issue of PG, which can be viewed here.

A complete list of winners can also be found here.

ABOUT US

About Progressive Grocer

Progressive Grocer has been the #1 media brand in the U.S. grocery industry since 1922. Through its balanced editorial approach and industry-leading reporting, Progressive Grocer is the most trusted resource in retail business media, providing the industry trends, consumer insights, and data needed by grocery retailers. Top executives look to Progressive Grocer for guidance in navigating this fast-paced, ever-changing industry, accessing this information across its digital platforms, print magazine, proprietary research, award programs and informative events. Visit https://progressivegrocer.com.

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CONTACTS
Progressive Grocer
Gina Acosta
Executive Editor
US: +1 813 417 4149
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.progressivegrocer.com