2018 Golden Pencil Award winners named

The Food Industry Association of Canada has announced Mary Dalimonte, former senior vice-president of merchandising and commercial programs at Sobeys, and Tom Gunter, former executive vice-president and general manager at Fiera Foods Company, will receive this year’s Golden Pencil Award.

The Golden Pencil is the grocery industry’s highest honour for lifetime achievement. Dalimonte and Gunter will receive their awards Nov. 19 in Toronto.

Dalimonte held senior roles at Loblaw before joining Sobeys in 2008 to lead Sobeys Urban Fresh format, playing a key role in its development. In 2011, she took on the role of VP, private label in 2011. And, most recently, Dalimonte was instrumental in developing a concept store, Sobeys Extra, which features expanded fresh, grocery and HMR offerings combined with in-store experts and services. Dalimonte announced in April that she would be retiring after more than 40 years in the grocery industry.

Gunter, also a recent retiree, has more than 30 years industry experience having held senior management roles at such companies as PepsiCo, Molson and ConAgra Foods Canada, where he served as president for six years. More recently, Gunter spent nearly four years as EVP/GM of Fiera Foods. He currently sits on advisory boards of Burnbrae Farms and Local Grown Salads -- a vertical farming startup.

Last year’s winners were Nestlé Canada CEO Shelley Martin, Retail Council of Canada president Diane Brisebois and Darrell Jones, president of Save-On-Foods.

Other recent winners include Michael McCain of Maple Leaf Foods, Vince Scorniaenchi of Fortino, Jean Gattuso of Lassonde Industries, Gus Longo of Longo Brothers and Eric La Flèche of Metro.

Prior to the ceremony is Canadian Grocer’s annual Thought Leadership conference, which will feature trends, insights and some of Canada’s top grocery leaders.

Both the Thought Leadership Conference and the Golden Pencil Awards are held Nov. 19, in Toronto at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.