Albertsons Companies named Retailer of the Year by Store Brands magazine for its Own Brands success
Recognition caps off series of recent honors for the company’s award-winning Own Brands team
BOISE, Idaho, Oct. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Store Brands magazine has recognized Albertsons Companies (NYSE: ACI) “Retailer of the Year” for 2020.
“For its past success, as well as its future plans with store brands, Store Brands is recognizing Albertsons as its 2020 Retailer of the Year,” the magazine wrote in its October edition. “Albertsons’ goals with store brands are high, but there are many reasons to see the chain reaching them.”
Read the full story here.
“This recognition is a tribute to the passion and hard work of the people on our Own Brands team,” said Chad Coester, SVP of Own Brands. “Every day, they are focused on constant innovation and meeting the latest consumer trends with high quality products that contribute to an exciting shopping experience.”
Own Brands has four billion-dollar brands that are exclusive to Albertsons Companies stores, including Signature Select, Signature Café, Lucerne, and O Organics. The company expects Open Nature to be its next brand to cross that threshold. In FY 2019, Own Brands had
Award-winning talent and products
In its October edition, Store Brands also recognized Katherine Chin, senior director of strategic sourcing, as a Top Woman in Store Brands.
“Kat's contributions this past Spring were invaluable to ensuring our communities had the essentials they needed during an unprecedented time," said Don Davidson, vice president strategic sourcing. "Kat has always been quick to tackle day-to-day challenges, but her creative approach to the unique sourcing challenges of this year has been especially critical to our company’s success to secure supply for our shoppers.”
Chin was also one of seven Own Brands associates recognized as rising stars in private label by the magazine earlier this summer. The other honorees included:
- Robert Bishop, senior sales development manager
- Elizabeth Guthrie, director Own Brands innovation
- Christina Hudson, sales development manager
- Jenna Huynh, product development technologist
- Jessica Sakino, sourcing manager
- Joren Salazar, product development
Own Brands is on track to launch over 800 items this year.
“Working closely with our internal experts and vendor partners, we will remain maniacally focused on increasing share of basket and customer loyalty,” Coester said.
Albertsons Cos. Own Brands products have earned wide recognition this year for their quality. Store Brands recognized 19 products as “Best New Products” including six that earned the Gold honor as the best in their category. In addition, the company’s Own Brands wine and spirits have collected a number of high ratings and awards:
Tasting Panel Magazine July/August 2020
2016 Signature Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – 92 points
2018 Signature Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir – 91 points
2017 Signature Reserve Russian River Valley Chardonnay – 90 points
Wine Enthusiast
Round Rock Vodka – 90 Points (Best Buy)
Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition
2018 Signature Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir – Gold 92 points
2016 Signature Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – Gold 91 points
Signature Reserve Tennessee Straight Whiskey – Gold 92 points
Signature Reserve Vodka Ultra-Premium – Gold 91 points
Signature Reserve Canadian Whisky – Silver
San Diego International Wine and Spirits competition
Signature Reserve Tennessee Straight Whiskey – Gold 93 points
Signature Reserve Canadian Whisky – Gold 92 points
Signature Reserve Vodka Ultra-Premium – Gold 90 points
2016 Signature Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – Silver
2017 Signature Reserve Russian River Valley Chardonnay – Silver
New York International Spirits competition
Signature Reserve Tennessee Straight Whiskey – Double Gold 96 points (Tennessee Whiskey of the Year)
Signature Reserve Canadian Whisky – Silver 92 points
Store Brands Editors’ Pick 2020
Exponential Cabernet Sauvignon – Gold
Brick & Vine Cabernet Sauvignon – Gold
Round Rock Vodka – Silver
Signature Reserve Tennessee Straight Whiskey – Bronze
2020 International Canned Wine Competition
Creamery Chardonnay – Gold
PLMA 2020 International Salute to Excellence Awards
O Organics California Chardonnay 2019 - Best Quality in the Organic Wines category
About Albertsons Companies
Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. The company operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs. Albertsons Cos. is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2019 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company gave
