Harps Food Stores CEO/Prez Receives NGA Honor

The National Grocers Association (NGA) presented Kim Eskew, president and CEO of Springdale, Ark.-based Harps Food Stores, with the Clarence G. Adamy Great American Award at the NGA Fall Leadership Meetings, in Chicago. The award recognizes individuals who have shown outstanding efforts in support of policy initiatives that promote independent grocers.

“Kim is known as a steadfast advocate for our industry,” said Peter J. Larkin, president and CEO of Arlington, Va.-based NGA. “Over the years, he’s worked hard to develop personal relationships with elected officials in areas where Harps operates. His efforts have yielded positive results for independent grocers and help make a difference when needed most.”

In 2017, Eskew took U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.), U.S. Representative Steve Womack (R-Ark.), and U.S Representative Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) on tours of Harps Food Stores locations. Last May, he was part of the supermarket industry’s lobby day in Washington, D.C., where he urged his legislators to pass the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act, protect debit swipe fee reform, and pass comprehensive tax reform. Eskew is a longtime supporter of NGA’s Grocers Political Action Committee (PAC) and also sits on the NGA Board of Directors.

Having joined Harps Food Stores in 1977 as a part-time stock boy while still in college, Eskew became president and CEO of the company this year.

Sponsored by First Data and FMS Solutions Holding LLC, the Fall Leadership Meetings consisted of the Trading Partner Business Sessions and were held in conjunction with the NACS Show. The meetings brought together small-format and independent retailers to explore emerging trends in foodservice, consumer packaged goods, retail motor fuels, consumer-facing technologies and operating best practices.