Dahl’s Foods Executive, Coca-Cola Honored at IGIA Hall of Fame Dinner

Dahl’s President & COO Ross Nixon Highlights Iowa Grocery Industry Association Annual Event

More than 400 grocery industry leaders were at attendance of the 15th Annual Iowa Grocery Industry Association Hall of Fame Dinner Monday, October 27, at the Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel, where the IGIA honored its 2008 Retailer and Supplier of the Year.

Earning this year’s Retailer of the Year award was Ross Nixon, the current president and COO of Dahl’s Foods. Nixon is in his 37th year as an employee of the Des Moines area grocery chain. The native of Fonda, Iowa, first started working for Dahl’s in 1971 at the company’s Army Post store, and spent 12 years at the store level before joining the corporate office in 1983.

Nixon has been promoted more than half a dozen times with Dahl’s Foods throughout the years. He most recently held the position of vice president from 1993-2005 before being elevated to his current role, which was performed by one of his close mentors – retired president Robert Hand. Hand and Dahl’s Foods founder, the late W.T. Dahl, have also been recognized by the Iowa Grocery Industry Association as Retailers of the Year in 1992 and 1982, respectively.

Nixon has been an integral part of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association since 2002 when he became an IGIA Board Director. He served as the organization’s chairman during the 2005-06 board term and still remains active as a board member and loyal supporter of all its activities.

Claiming the honor of 2008 IGIA Supplier of the Year was The Coca-Cola Company. While headquartered in Atlanta, Coca-Cola has two bottlers in Iowa, one of them being Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company. A family-owned company since its inception in 1905, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company has two facilities in Iowa that produce and distribute Coke products all across the state. The company, which is also supported regionally by Coca-Cola Enterprises – a subdivision of The Coca-Cola Company – is headquartered in Atlantic, Iowa, with its second facility in Waukee, Iowa.

Other individuals being honored at the dinner included Tom Walker, of Banfi Vintners; Scott Havens, of Scott’s Foods in Norwalk, Iowa; and State Representative Kevin McCarthy. Walker was recognized as the 2008 IGIA Volunteer of the Year while Havens and McCarthy were presented with this year’s Grocers Political Action Committee Award and Legislative Leadership Award, respectively.

2008 IGIA Hall of Fame Dinner Pictures (PDF File – 642 KB)

2008 IGIA Hall of Fame Dinner Pictures (PDF File – 593 KB)