Mickey Blazer, Executive Vice President of Pharmacy, Fuel and Convenience Stores for Food City’s retail grocery chain was recently named 2023 Retailer of the Year by Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association. The award recognizes the outstanding Tennessee retailer who exemplifies the high standards of integrity and efficiency upon which the organization was founded.   

TGCSA is a Nashville based trade organization representing the interests of the Tennessee food market. The association’s primary function is to educate and promote the welfare of its business members, which are comprised of retail grocery, convenience, and food industry suppliers throughout the state of Tennessee. Blazer received his award during the recent TGCSA annual convention in Sevierville, TN.

“I am honored to be recognized by such an outstanding association that does so much for our industry at a state level,” says Blazer. “The advocacy TGCSA provides Tennessee grocers is unparalleled in comparison to similar associations of their size.” 

Blazer joined the Food City team in 1977. He has served in numerous management roles throughout the company, including Assistant Store Manager, General Merchandise Supervisor/Area Trainer, Store Manager, District Manager, Pharmacy Operations Manager, Director of Pharmacy Operations, Vice President of Pharmacy Operations, Executive Vice President of Operations for Food City’s Knoxville Division and Executive Vice President of Operations for Food City’s Chattanooga Division. In 2017, Blazer was promoted to his current position of Executive Vice President of Pharmacy, Fuel and Convenience Stores. He is responsible for the oversight of fuel and pharmacy operations for Food City’s 150 retail locations, which includes 119 pharmacies, 116 fuel centers and five convenience stores.

Blazer has always maintained a strong commitment to the education of area youth, having served as Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, and President of his local Optimist Clubs. He served as President of the Morristown Plaza Merchants Association for 3 years and 3 years as Chairman of the TGCSA Golf Tournament, the proceeds of which fund college scholarships. In 2011, Blazer was inducted into the Tennessee Grocers prestigious “Hall of Eagles”, in recognition of his support and dedication to the Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation. He is actively involved with the American Diabetes Association, where he served as the 2014 Chairman for the Tri-Cities Diabetes Step-Out Walk. 

Blazer also served on the Governor of Virginia’s Prescription Drug and Heroin Task Force Subcommittee and as Chairman of the Topco Managed Care Review Committee. In 2018, he was given the opportunity to travel with the National Grocers Association Grassroots Committee to Washington, DC, where he represented grocery pharmacy at the White House by addressing the important role community pharmacy plays in the nation’s healthcare system. In 2022 Blazer was recognized by Drug Store Management Magazine along with a select group of other executives from across the country as “A Leader that Makes a Difference”. Earlier this year he was awarded the Cocke County Education Foundation’s ‘Celebrating Success Award,’ which recognizes professional excellence among individuals who received their early education in Cocke County. 

Blazer currently serves on the Board of Directors for TGCSA and is a member the organization’s Legislative Committee. He also Chairs the FMI – The Food Industry Association’s Pharmacy Subgroup. 

Blazer and his lovely wife, Susan currently reside in Morristown, TN. They are the proud parents of two children - Joseph of Mt. Juliet, TN and Crysta of Morristown, TN and three grandchildren, Annabelle and Raelann Cox of Morristown, TN and Parker Blazer of Mt. Juliet, TN. 

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 150 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama.