Food Lion recognizes top talent

Rhonda Mauldin was selected from more than 1,100 Food Lion store managers for the retailer’s highest honor.

Mauldin, who is the store manager of the Food Lion located at 1004 W. Georgia Road in Simpsonville, S.C., is Food Lion’s 2014 Store Manager of the Year.

"I really don't think of myself as an exceptional store manager; however, what I do think of as exceptional is my team," Mauldin said after receiving the award."They really are the reason I'm here today and I'm honored to accept this award on their behalf."

Mauldin was honored at an annual event at Food Lion's headquarters in Salisbury, N.C., which was attended by her family and colleagues. This is not the first time Food Lion or the grocery store industry has lauded Mauldin for her outstanding leadership skills. She received store manager excellence awards for her work both with Bloom and Food Lion stores in 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014. In addition, Mauldin received Progressive Grocer's Top Women in Grocery award for the Store Manager category in 2014.

Our store managers are the face of Food Lion to our customers," said Meg Ham, president of Food Lion. "Rhonda personifies this every day by running a great store, teaching and training associates, mentoring future leaders and caring for our customers and her community through outstanding service. Her store is always one of the top stores in donating meals and time for her local food bank. She is an exceptional leader, has developed an outstanding team, and is so deserving of this honor. We're proud to have her as part of the Food Lion team."

Mauldin has worked in the grocery store industry for nearly 30 years. To honor Mauldin and her exemplary community service, the company will donate $2,000 in Mauldin's name to her store's local feeding agency, Harvest Hope Food Bank, in Greenville, S.C. Mauldin and her team support this food bank with food donations and volunteerism throughout the year.

Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, has more than 1,100 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and employs more than 63,000 associates.