AmericasMart announced that ICON HONORS has tapped Stew Leonard, Jr. a world-recognized retailer, as the keynote presenter for the inaugural awards celebration on July 17, 2010, in conjunction with the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and Atlanta International Area Rug Market. As president and chief executive officer of Stew Leonard’s, one of the most unique family-owned and operated businesses and listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having “the greatest sales per unit area of any single food store in the United States,” Leonard will motivate and excite attending retailers, manufactures and sales representatives with personal and company success stories.
Dubbed “The Disneyland of Dairy Stores” by The New York Times, Stew Leonard’s highlights its specialty, locally-produced farm-fresh foods, with exceptional customer service, in-store entertainment and costumed characters. Since 1969, Stew Leonard’s has leveraged unique business strategies and innovative ideas to engage new and returning customers.
“Stew, along with more than 2,000 team members, has created a successful chain of stores, but more importantly, a brand that is internationally-recognized,” says Jeffery L. Portman, Sr., AmericasMart president and chief operating officer. “His accomplishments and story make him an ideal fit as keynote for the ICON HONORS ceremony as he aligns with many of the companies that will be honored, and sets the bar for what many hope to achieve for their stores.”
Leonard will present his landmark keynote along with a performance by iconic singer Michael McDonald and the awards presentation honoring retailers, product manufactures, sales agencies in 18 individual categories.
More information on the HONORS program can be found at www.americasmarticonhonors.com.
About Stew Leonard’s: Stew Leonard’s, a family-owned and operated fresh food store founded in 1969, has four stores in Norwalk, Danbury, and Newington, Conn. and Yonkers, N.Y. Stew’s earned its nickname, the “Disneyland of dairy stores” because of its country-fair atmosphere, with costumed characters and animated entertainment throughout the store that keep children entertained while parents shop. Stew Leonard’s legion of loyal shoppers is largely due to the stores’ passionate approach to customer service: “Rule #1 -- The Customer is Always Right”; Rule #2 – If the Customer is Ever Wrong, Re-Read Rule #1.” This principle is so essential to the foundation of the company that it is etched in a three-ton granite rock at each store’s entrance. The company’s culture is built around an acronym for S.T.E.W.: Satisfy the customer; Teamwork gets it done; Excellence makes it better; WOW makes it fun. For more information, visit Stew Leonard’s website at www.stewleonards.com.