Golden Pencil, Generation Next awards recipients honoured

The grocery industry celebrated its Academy Awards on Monday with the presentation of the Golden Pencil Award to Campbell’s Philip Donne and Coleman’s Frank Coleman.

Coleman’s longtime friend, Peter Byrne of Rocky Mountain Liquor Inc. presented him with the Golden Pencil, saying the key to his success was embracing technology.

Coleman said he was proud that someone from Newfoundland and Labrador was honoured and in partly in jest attributed to the success of his grocery chain to its small accounts receivable program and its fresh chicken program.

Anthony Longo of Longo’s presented the Golden Pencil to Campbell’s Philip Donne. Longo praised Donne’s passion to help other through work, family and other associations. Donne upon accepting the award said that if you wish to have fun in this industry, say ‘yes’ to volunteering in some capacity–“you’ll get more out of it than you put in.”

Donne added that there may be sexier industries than grocery, but he said he doubts you’ll be able to find more “salt of the earth” people anywhere else.

Capping off the evening, was the announcement by Canadian Grocer’s publisher Jennifer Litterick and editor Rob Gerlsbeck of its inaugural Generation Next winners:

Marc Viola, senior director of talent at Loblaw Companies in Brampton, Ont.

Matthew Feaver, shopper insights manager for Campbell Company of Canada in Toronto

Read about their accomplishments in the current (November) issue of Canadian Grocer magazine.