Wisconsin Dells, WI – Russ Davis Wholesale has been selected as the 2025 Vendor of the Year, one of the Wisconsin Grocers Association’s (WGA) highest honors.
In the competitive landscape of grocery retail, few vendors manage to achieve the delicate balance of delivering exceptional service while maintaining robust partnerships that benefit both retailers and their customers.
The WGA Vendor of the Year award is a true reflection of what it means to be a valued industry partner for Wisconsin’s Grocery industry. The Vendor of the Year Award is about more than sales figures; it’s about the impact a company has in helping WGA members grow, innovate, and succeed in a competitive marketplace.
When you think about what makes a vendor truly exceptional, it’s not just about delivering products, it’s about building partnerships, supporting communities, and driving the industry forward. This year’s honoree has done all that and more. From championing independent grocers to shaping the future of fresh food merchandising, their influence reaches far beyond the supply chain. Guided by a leader whose commitment to collaboration and integrity mirrors the values of the Wisconsin Grocers Association, this company has become a trusted ally to retailers across the state.
Russ Davis Wholesale, the parent company of the Crazy Fresh brand, has long been a trusted partner to independent grocers across the state. The award recognizes the company’s dedication to quality, responsiveness, and community engagement.
“Being selected as WGA’s 2025 Vendor of the Year is a culmination of the incredible relationships we enjoy with our retail partners,” said Mark Maloney, sales director at Russ Davis Wholesale and a member of the WGA Board of Directors. “Striving every day for fresh quality produce, above-industry fill rates, and on-time deliveries. The Russ Davis team is focused on our retail partners and their guests’ satisfaction.”
Pat Miller, a longtime leader at Russ Davis Wholesale, echoed the sentiment. “We have the best retail grocery customers in the industry; we would not be where we are today without them. They truly make us better,” Miller said. “A huge thank you to our incredible team at Russ Davis Wholesale! Winning this award is a reflection of hard work, dedication, and teamwork. I could not be prouder to be part of this team.”
Mike Semmann, President and CEO of the WGA, emphasized the significance of the award. “Russ Davis Wholesale has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to the success of the grocery industry and the membership of the Wisconsin Grocers Association,” Semmann said. “Their dedication to quality relationships and partnership with retailers across the state is a key ingredient to their success. Russ Davis Wholesale’s ability to continuously deliver value and support to our members has earned them the distinction of Vendor of the Year, and it’s a recognition they wholeheartedly deserve.”
The WGA Vendor of the Year award is one of the association’s highest honors, celebrating vendors who go beyond product delivery to build lasting partnerships and drive industry growth.
Bob Jaskolski, President/CEO of T.A. Solberg Co., Inc. and WGA Chairman commented, “Congratulations to Russ Davis Wholesale on winning the 2025 Vendor of the Year. I appreciate the care and effort that their sales team and regional managers put into ensuring strong relationships with my store managers and key associates.”
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).
