Jason Johnson, store manager for the Food City in Gray, TN was recently named Store Manager of the Year by FMI-The Food Industry Association. 

“Jason is a model Store Manager. He’s a great leader that our teammates can look up to and emulate and he’s dedicated to serving his customers and local community. We would like to congratulate Jason on this tremendous honor, along with the other FMI award winners and finalists,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer. 

FMI is the largest trade association of its kind, representing the interests of its membership and offering a broad range of professional services to food retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers. Their annual awards program recognizes supermarket store managers throughout the United States and abroad for their “exceptional service to customers, employees and the community, using innovative initiatives that contribute to company success.”  

“It is truly an honor to receive such a prestigious award. This is a great professional achievement for me, but also a testament to my team's abilities and dedication, as well as the support of the company as a whole,” says Johnson.

Johnson joined the Food City team as a courtesy clerk at the young age of 16 years old. Throughout his 23-year career, he worked his way through the ranks and today serves as a mentor to many in his role as a training Store Manager. Johnson has embraced every opportunity presented to him and excelled in fulfilling the company’s mission to “run the best store in town” at each phase of his career. He is well respected throughout the company and the community at large. 

Johnson assumed the Store Manager role at his current location in the fall of 2023. Under his leadership, the store has experienced significant sales growth, while reducing expenses, shrink, and turnover, as well as improving their customer service scores and achieving a Mystery Shopper score of 98.64%. He has participated in numerous projects and test pilot programs to enhance customer service and associate engagement. These results illustrate Johnson’s passion for excellence in serving his customers and associates and have been instrumental to the company’s overall success. 

Johnson is an exceptional leader, who is committed to ensuring the success of the company and his team, both personally and professionally. He serves as a Training Store Manager for the company’s Assistant Manager and Store Manager Training Programs and Retail Management Intern Program. He also serves as an instructor for the company’s comprehensive Performance Skills for Effective Store Management training course. Johnson has completed numerous training and certification programs, including the Designated Assistant and Salaried Assistant Manager Programs, Performance Skills for Effective Store Management, Dale Carnegie, FMI Associate Engagement Workshop, Certified Food Protection Manager Training, FMI Future Leaders Conference, FMI Retail Management Certificate Program, and LEAD Bristol.

Johnson is also dedicated to giving back to his community through his service with local civic organizations. He served on the board of directors for Small Miracles for several years. Small Miracles is a Christian based, non-profit therapeutic equestrian center founded to enhance the physical, social-emotional, behavioral, and cognitive growth of individuals with special needs and disabilities through equine-assisted services. Johnson is also a long-time volunteer with the legendary Santa Train Project. Since 1943, the Santa Train has been distributing more than 15 tons of candy, toys, food and gifts to those in need along its 110-mile track through the mountains of Southern Appalachia - winding its way from Shelby, KY to Kingsport, TN.  It a powerful example of the true spirit of the holiday season and deeply touching for everyone who has the opportunity to participate. 

Johnson has received a number of awards and accolades throughout his career, including the company’s highest honor – the 2024 Jack C. Smith Store Manager of the Year Award, which recognizes the company’s top performing store manager. Johnson was also inducted into The Tri-Cities Business Journal’s elite 40 Under Forty class of 2022, recognized by his peers within the business community as an emerging star and outstanding business leader on the rise. 

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 160 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama