Las Vegas, NV— The Nationwide Grocers Affiliation, the commerce affiliation representing the impartial grocery store business, is proud to announce that Ladies Grocers of America (WGA) is proud to announce that Kristin Popp, president of Ladies Grocers of America and govt vice chairman of Woodman’s Meals Markets, has been named the 2026 WGA Girl of the Yr. Popp was honored throughout The NGA Present, recognizing her excellent management, imaginative and prescient, and longstanding dedication to the impartial grocery business.
Established by the WGA Board of Administrators in 1996, the WGA Girl of the Yr Award offers seen assist and recognition to distinctive girls who exemplify management, ardour, and repair inside the impartial meals sector. Honorees distinguish themselves by way of skilled excellence whereas shaping the way forward for their organizations and the business. The award is sponsored by The Shelby Report.
A grocery business veteran of greater than 25 years, Popp started her profession at Wisconsin-based Woodman’s Meals Markets, the place she superior from human assets director to govt vice chairman. In her present position, she helps oversee the profitable operation of 19 shops throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Along with her duties at Woodman’s, Popp serves as president of Ladies Grocers of America, a corporation working underneath the NGA Basis that has grown into a strong skilled community supporting girls in impartial grocery.
Underneath Popp’s management, WGA has expanded its impression by way of scholarships, instructional programming, govt and emerging-leader networking teams, {and professional} growth alternatives designed to advance girls at each stage of their careers.
“Kristin Popp represents the perfect of the impartial grocery business,” stated Greg Ferrara, president and CEO of the Nationwide Grocers Affiliation. “Her profession is a testomony to what’s potential by way of dedication, integrity, and a deep dedication to folks. As president of Ladies Grocers of America, Kristin has elevated the group’s mission and created significant alternatives for girls to develop, lead, and thrive. She is actually deserving of this award and I stay up for working together with her for years to return on behalf of impartial grocers.”
Annually, WGA invitations nominations for the Girl of the Yr Award within the fall, with submissions closing in January. The recipient is honored at The NGA Present, celebrating girls whose management and imaginative and prescient proceed to strengthen impartial grocery and the communities it serves.
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In regards to the Nationwide Grocers Affiliation
NGA is the nationwide commerce affiliation representing the retail and wholesale group grocers that comprise the impartial sector of the meals distribution business. An impartial retailer is a privately owned or managed meals retail firm working a wide range of codecs. The impartial grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 % of the nation’s general financial system and is chargeable for producing greater than $250 billion in gross sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members embrace retail and wholesale grocers positioned in each congressional district throughout the nation, in addition to state grocers’ associations, producers and repair suppliers.
About The NGA Present
Because the premier occasion for the impartial grocery business, The NGA Present brings collectively grocery retailers, wholesalers, producers, and suppliers from throughout the nation for 3 days of studying, networking, and product discovery in Las Vegas. For 2026, we’re excited to host the occasion on the MGM Grand Convention Middle – permitting all attendees to collect underneath one roof for a extra related and handy expertise. Whether or not you’re launching your first retailer or main a multi-generational grocery enterprise, The NGA Present provides the insights, improvements, and relationships that assist impartial grocers thrive.
