Raymond Stockard, store manager for Food City’s Eastman Road location in Kingsport, TN, was recently named Store Manager of the Year by FMI-The Food Industry Association. 

“Raymond is the epitome of what we hope a Store Manager will be. He’s a leader, a friend, and someone our teammates can look up to and emulate. Raymond’s also a great community leader, who is involved in most of the happenings within his local community. We would like to congratulate Raymond on this great honor, along with the other 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.”  

“During the past 29 years I’ve have had the opportunity to work for and with some of the most outstanding folks you could ever ask for. I’ve been very fortunate to work for a company with tremendous leadership that had supervision that worked with me and taught me along the way. Fortunate that in every position I’ve held and every store I’ve had the privilege to manage to have the best teams around me,” says Stockard.  “These folks did the heavy lifting and are responsible for my success. Everything I’ve ever accomplished in the grocery business is a direct result of those that I’ve had the opportunity to work for and especially those that I have had the privilege to work with at store level. Being recognized as an FMI Store Manager of the year definitely says more about these folks than it will ever say about me. I’m very blessed to have two awesome families, my work family and more importantly the love and support of my wife Shannon and our children Meg and Spencer.”

With 29 years of dedicated service, Stockard is one of Food City’s most talented and respected store managers. He has served as a tremendous role model and mentor to many of the company’s younger associates and is also a strong advocate within his local community. Stockard received the 2013 Jack C. Smith Store Manager of the Year Award, the company’s highest customer service recognition. Stockard manages one of Food City’s most successful store locations. His store recently completed a major remodel project, which included the addition of a Starbucks café, expanded food service offerings, and a new décor package. Stockard leveraged these improvements to better serve his customers, setting several new company food service sales records and a high bar for the entire company in terms of maximizing sales potential. 

Stockard devotes a great deal of time and attention to his associates to ensure their success, both personally and professionally. Although he has the highest staff count within his district, he prides himself on knowing each member of his team on a personal level. Stockard has mentored a number of associates who have advanced to senior leadership positions within the company. He credits the store’s success to his team’s hard-work and dedication. Stockard is much more than simply a store manager and supervisor, his associates view him as a trusted mentor and positive role model, someone they can look up to and emulate. 

Stockard is also extremely dedicated to his community and supports numerous organizations, events, and activities, including Kingsport’s Fun Fest event. He also serves as the chair for the region’s Santa Train project. Since 1943, the legendary Santa Train has been distributing more than fifteen tons of candy, toys, food, and gifts annually to those in need along its 110-mile track through the mountains of Southern Appalachia. 

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 138 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama.