SALISBURY — Food Lion has named Antoine Grant its 2013 store manager of the year.
Grant, who manages the Food Lion located at 860 South Union St. in Concord, was selected from among 1,113 store managers across the company.
“This is an amazing privilege and honor,” Grant said. “I want to personally thank my entire team of associates who work hard to ensure our customers have a great shopping experience in our store. I share this award with each of them who helped make this possible.”
Grant joined Salisbury-based Food Lion in 1997 as a bagger at just 16 years old. Since then, he has held positions of increasing responsibility throughout the store, including cashier, stocker, produce manager, grocery manager, assistant manager and now store manager. He lives in Charlotte with his wife and son.
“Antoine is an excellent leader in his store, in the community and across the company,” said Beth Newlands Campbell, president of Food Lion. “Through his leadership, he inspires his entire team of associates to care for our customers so that they want to keep shopping at Food Lion. In December, we held a re-grand opening at Antoine’s store. It was evident that he has a special connection with his customers and associates.”
Grant was honored at an annual event at Food Lion’s headquarters in Salisbury, which was attended by his family and colleagues. Food Lion co-founder Ralph Ketner was present to congratulate Grant.
“It was an honor to meet Mr. Ketner,” added Grant. “Because of his legacy, I have an opportunity to deliver on Food Lion’s heritage of low prices and service.”
In addition to Grant’s selection as Food Lion’s store manager of the year, store managers in Richmond, Va.; Washington, N.C. and Simpsonville, S.C. were recognized for exceptional leadership.