Frozen and Refrigerated Buyer recently published a list of Hot Shots and Shane Jacobson, senior category manager at Associated Food Stores made the list. Read the article below.
SHANE JACOBSON
SENIOR CATEGORY MANAGER-FROZEN ASSOCIATED FOOD STORES
As the son of independent grocers in small-town Idaho, Jacobson started bagging groceries and stocking shelves at age 12. After graduation, he ran the store for two years, with plans to eventually take over the business. Then he got married — and those plans changed. But the supermarket industry is in Jacobson’s blood. So after relocating to Utah so his wife could attend college, he joined Associated Food Stores, a co-op that serves more than 400 independent supermarkets — including the store his now-retired parents once owned.
“I love to interact with our independent retailers because that’s the world I came from,” says Jacobson, who understands better than most how hard those folks work to keep their businesses afloat. He’s also keenly aware of the important role those retailers play in their communities where they’re often the only supermarket in town. It’s a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly.
Jacobson has worked on the frozen desk for the past two and half years and loves being part of the NFRA, especially the new leadership development program. “It’s been so rewarding to work with and learn from other young industry professionals from across the country,” he says. Jacobson is also an enthusiastic Frozen Food Month participant. “We’ve got two silver Penguins so far but we’re chasing gold,” he quips.
His advice to other young people in the industry: “Do the next right thing. It doesn’t matter if you’ve made mistakes in the past. Just do the next right thing and it will lead you where you want to go.”
Article shared from Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer.