Leadership Awards

Entire villages in Greece and other parts of the Mediterranean owe their continued prosperity to Phil Meldrum, founder and CEO of FoodMatch in New York City, which has been supporting small farmers internationally and domestically for the past 28 years.

After a 35-year career working in the art world and for nonprofit organizations, Anna Hammond embarked on a for-profit journey with a not-for-profit mission. “We live in a world of food abundance yet 30 percent or more of that food goes to waste,” said the 62-year-old Hammond, CEO of Matriark Foods, New York City. “People have diet-related illnesses due to improper nutrition. We need to change the system so everybody has access to healthy, nutritious food.”

Building upon the progressive traditions of Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the founders of Ben & Jerry’s, Antonio McBroom is making a lasting impact on the rights of the disenfranchised in the Southeast, as the owner of 20 Ben & Jerry’s franchises in North Carolina, Washington, DC, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and other southern states.

When Paul Abbott joined Giant Eagle as a bagger two weeks after his 16th birthday, he had no idea that he would work at the Pittsburgh-based grocer for 34+ years and be honored with the 2024 Specialty Food Association Leadership Award for Outstanding Buyer.

Hundreds of family farmers and millions of hogs are thankful for the work done by Paul Willis during his 40+ years as an animal champion through his long-time leadership at Niman Ranch and nonprofits concerned with animal welfare and sustainability.

Growing up under the care of his grandmother in a tough neighborhood in Brazil, Diego Silva learned to “never focus on your problems, to focus on solutions.” He has followed that mantra to build a highly successful specialty food manufacturing and distribution company soon to have 200,000 square feet of production space in Nevada and Northern California.

Firefighters and first responders keep alert with a never-ending pot of coffee. Thanks to Luke Schneider and his partners at Fire Department Coffee, they can now brew good coffee and support their peers in need. “Our coffee is roasted by firefighters and first responders,” says Schneider, 37, who founded Fire Department Coffee with firefighter/paramedic Jason Patton. “And through the Fire Department Coffee Foundation, we give back to help injured firefighters and first responders who have physical and mental challenges.”

With what sounds like a lifetime of culinary and educational experience, Dani Zuchovicki helps hundreds of entrepreneurs pursue their food dreams. And this emerging leader is just 30 years old. “Gale Gand once told me to say ‘yes’ to everything,” says Zuchovicki, membership and community manager at The Hatchery, Chicago. “You will learn and grow.”

African foods and flavors are being discovered throughout the U.S. But not fast enough for David Schmunk, founder and managing director of African Dream Foods, which is bringing the flavors of Africa to U.S. consumers while supporting wildlife preservation on the African continent. “African food is underrepresented,” says Schmunk, 39. “When people think of Africa, they see beads, figurines, maybe fabrics. Yet there is so much more to that diverse continent.”

Dwight Richmond is the buyer that manufacturers dream about. He is an active partner that builds brands instead of beating up on price. “I like to connect with the small producers and learn their aspirations,” says Richmond, 50, director of center store for Town & Country Markets, operator of six high-volume stores in Washington state. “We are all on a food journey—the manufacturers, the retailers, and the consumer. My goal is to help people navigate that journey.”