Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Grocery initiative recognizes the important role that women play in the food and grocery industry. Two Food City nominees were named among this year’s top winners – Hannah Smith, Director of Front-End Operations and Shannon Finch, Director of Procurement. 

“I would like to congratulate Hannah and Shannon on this well-deserved honor which is indicative of all their hard work and achievements. We are extremely proud of our women grocers and the key role they play within our company, the industry, and the communities we serve,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer. 

Progressive Grocer receives hundreds of nominations from women grocers in all sectors of the industry across the nation. This year’s winners were showcased in their June issue and will be recognized in November at their annual awards gala in Orlando, FL. 

Hannah Smith oversees front-end operations for the company’s 160 retail locations as well as daily operations of their 127 fuel centers, and collaborates on hiring and associate engagement initiatives within each store location. She is passionate about guiding the front-end supervision team, fostering collaboration among departments, and continually exploring ways to enhance customer service efficiency and effectiveness. Smith recently led an initiative to re-evaluate maintenance contracts for front-end equipment, which resulted in significant annual savings for the company. In 2024, her team achieved a 10% reduction in cash overages & shortages, along with consumer research results of 99.61% for front-end checkout and 99.76% for front-end bagging, Mystery Shopper scores of 94.2% for cashier service and 96.3% for bagger/carryout service, with an overall front-end score of 94.1%. She is a member of Food City’s Empower Professional Women’s Group and recently completed the Cornell NGA Executive Leadership Development Program. Smith sets a great example of how to effectively lead a team in today’s diverse and inclusive work environment.

Shannon Finch is responsible for procurement strategies and operations for the company’s dry grocery, frozen foods, dairy, and food service departments. She also manages recall procedures to ensure product safety and compliance, collaborates with vendor partners, and oversees special orders for non-profit organizations. In 2024, Finch demonstrated extraordinary leadership and dedication during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The hurricane caused significant disruptions to the supply chain, severely affecting many service areas. Despite these challenges, Finch’s team worked tirelessly to secure essential products, including water, nonperishable foods, personal hygiene items, and cleaning supplies. Their relentless efforts ensured that critical needs were met during this time of crisis, showcasing her exceptional resourcefulness and commitment to delivering superior customer service. Finch has also been instrumental in drastically improving the company’s supply ranking, efficiency, cost reduction, and delivery time scores, as well as their forecasting accuracy and most improved scores, reflecting major improvements in inventory management and demand prediction, which are crucial for meeting customer needs. These achievements clearly demonstrate her exceptional contributions and the positive changes she has driven within the company. Finch recently received the Dale Carnegie Highest Award for Achievement in recognition of her exceptional leadership, dedication, and outstanding contributions to her team and the company. She also volunteers in a local Bible-based ministry and assists with numerous Food City related community and charity events. 

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