In a gala befitting the industry’s oldest and most prestigious retail award, Convenience Store Decisions and more than 150 industry retailers and suppliers honored Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes as the 2009 Convenience Store Chain of the Year at the Wynn Hotel’s venerable Daniel Boulud restaurant in Las Vegas.
Nice N Easy, the Canastota, N.Y. operator of 83 convenience stores, is the 20th Chain of the Year winner, a special milestone noted by the company’s founder, President and CEO John MacDougall, who accepted the award on behalf of his employees.
“This award speaks to the hard work, dedication and outstanding professionalism of everyone at Nice N Easy,” MacDougall said. “Throughout the years we worked hard—extremely hard at creating a culture for our customers and employees that we all could be proud of. Our belief is that if you do things right and take care of your people along the way, good things will (follow). And this award is a true testament to the special environment we have created.”
The award was handed off to MacDougall by Adam Sparks, general manager of company operated stores for Chevron Global Marketing, representing the 2008 Chain of the Year honoree.
“Internally we’re proud and honored to have received this award because it is confirmation from our peers that we are doing things the right way,” Sparks said. “Nice N Easy represents the same high standards and I’m pleased to be passing this special mark of distinction to a deserving chain.”
Adam Sparks (left), of Chevron, presents the 2009 Chain of the Year award to Nice N Easy founder, President and CEO John MacDougall. | The Nice N Easy team poses with the 2009 Convenience Store Chain of the Year award and CSD Publisher John Petersen (right). | |
Fran Duskiewicz (left) and John MacDougall, of Nice N Easy, with CSD Editor John Lofstock and Dan Finkle, of Finkle Distributors. | John MacDougall (left) and Dr. Jack Cushman, of Nice N Easy, with Greg Parker, president of The Parker Cos. and wife Kelley. | |
Nice N Easy franchisees Richard Snyder and Penny Willette. | Ralph Carusillo (left) and Pat Murphy of Violet Packing with Glenn White, senior director of food services for Nice N Easy and Mike West, of The Hershey Co. | |
Ted Williamson and Dan Sullivan of Nestlé Waters. |
Chad Wrisberg, of Altria Sales & Distribution (left) with John MacDougall of Nice N Easy. |
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Dave Fenton and Krystin Mitchell of 7-Eleven Inc. | Roger Coleman, of Evans Oil/U-PAK-IT convenience stores and wife Wanda. | |
From left, Gus Olympidis, president and CEO of Family Express; Ruthie and Scott Apter, of Apter Industries; and Beth Olympidis (right). | Dan Pastor (right), vice president of fuels and convenience for Giant Eagle, and the GetGo convenience retailing team: Matt Lachut, Liza Salaria and Steven Root. | |
Rick Crawford, president of Green Valley Grocery, with wife Jeri. |