Wisconsin Dells, WI – Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) closed out the 2025 Innovation Expo with an Awards Banquet to celebrate the WGA Award Winners on September 30 at the Wilderness in Wisconsin Dells. The WGA Awards consists of four categories: Community Service, Excellence in Operations, Vendor of the Year, and Grocer of the Year. There can be multiple winners for the Community Service and Excellence in Operations categories, but only one winner in the Vendor of the Year and Grocer of the Year categories.
The 2025 Grocer of the Year is Greg, Kari, and Nick Hansen. The Grocer of the Year is Wisconsin grocery industry’s highest honor and recognizes an individual for a lifetime achievement within the grocery industry. These honorees exemplify the highest quality of leadership in business and in their community; their influence has positively enhanced the lives of others.
The 2025 Vendor of the Year is Russ Davis Wholesale. The Vendor of the Year recognizes one vendor for their many contributions as a grocery industry partner, helping grocers strategically merchandise products and increase sales in one or multiple store categories.
The Excellence in Operation award recognizes the honoree’s work ethic, commitment to the grocery industry, and for efforts that have positively influenced their company, associates, and customers. These honorees exemplify the highest qualities of leadership in business and community.
2025 Excellence in Operations Winners:
• Stacy Nachreiner, Viking Village Foods
• Jeff Brasel, Festival Foods – Stevens Point
• David Dickelman, Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly
• Charlie Kilburg, Metro Market Stevens Point
• Maya Discianno, T.A. Solberg Co., Inc. (Trig’s)
The Community Service award honors an individual who makes a difference in their community with volunteer efforts. The individual nominated for this award can be from any level within a grocery organization, as long as he or she volunteers their time to make a difference in the community.
2025 Community Service Winners:
• Miller & Sons Supermarket
• Jerry Conner of Stockman’s Farm Supply & More
• Jeff Helin, Perry’s Piggly Wiggly Edgerton
• Mary Reske, Metro Market Mequon
• Chad & Tiffany Mursau, Mursau’s Piggly Wiggly #281
• Charlie Harvey, Charlies County Market
ABOUT THE WISCONSIN GROCERS ASSOCIATION (WGA)
The Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) is a non-profit trade association established in 1900 to represent independent grocers and grocery chains, warehouses and brokers, vendors, suppliers, and manufacturers before all levels of government. The WGA provides educational and networking opportunities, leadership training, public affairs, and compliance information for its membership.
WGA and its membership have significant economic impact in the state of Wisconsin. The WGA represents nearly 350 independent grocers with multiple locations across the state, more than 200 retail grocery chain stores, warehouses and distributors, convenience stores, food brokers and suppliers. Wisconsin grocers employ over 30,000 people with over $1 billion in payroll and generate more than $12 billion in annual sales in Wisconsin resulting in approximately $800 million in state sales tax revenue (data provided by The Food Institute).
