Last week, the Alabama Retail Association recognized 15 retail businesses with operations in 78 cities in the state as “Alabama Retailers of the Year” or “Centennial Retailers.”

Together, these businesses employ 2,278 people at 97 locations in the Yellowhammer State. Almost 100 nominations were submitted for this year’s awards. The presentations were made in Birmingham during the association’s 2018 Retail Day luncheon. Carr, Riggs & Ingram CPAs and Advisors, Slappey Communications and the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business were the luncheon sponsors.

This marked the 19th consecutive presentation of the Retailer of the Year Awards and the 14th Alabama Centennial Retailer awards presented since 2002.

The following Alabama businesses were named as winners:

2018 Alabama Centennial Retailers

• Pollman’s Bake Shops Inc., Mobile: Founded in 1918 by Fred J. and Corrine Pollman. The current owners are Fred and Rose Pollman. (Video here)
• Trowbridge Creamery, Florence: Founded in 1918 by Paul Trowbridge. The current owner is Don Trowbridge. (Video here)

Alabama retailers of the year

A panel of judges chose the 2018 Alabama Retailer of the Year winners in four categories based on annual sales volume. Bronze, silver and gold awards were presented. The winners have been in business for at least five years and an average of 30 years. The judges also selected an Emerging Retailer of the Year, who has been in business for less than five years. A Facebook contest determined the Customers’ Choice Award.

Annual sales less than $1 million

• Gold award: Lisette Normann, owner of The Fairhope Store; nominated by the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.
• Silver award: Theo and Costas “Gus” Katechis, owner and manager, respectively, of Chris’ Famous Hot Dogs in Montgomery; nominated by customer Travis Rutherford.
• Bronze award: Annette Harris, owner and president of Rumors Deli Inc. in Cullman; nominated by customer and former employee Cindy Barton, and recommended by the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce.

Annual sales $1 million to $5 million

• Gold award: George R. Wilder, owner and chief executive officer of The Locker Room in Montgomery and Auburn; nominated by John Lee, Hamilton Smith, Matthew Sease, Josh Davis and Tom Moore, employees of The Locker Room; and Laura Hicks, account manager, STAMP.
• Silver award: Dustin and Shannon Beaty, owners of Lavish Boutique and Coffee Bar in Jasper, and Lavish Boutique in Cullman; nominated by Jasper Main Street. The Beatys and Lavish also won the Customers’ Choice Award, earning 3,112 of 23,609 votes cast.
• Bronze award: Steven and Jessica Brindley, owners of Brindley’s Family Pharmacy in Albertville; nominated by the Albertville Chamber of Commerce.

Annual sales $5 million to $20 million

• Gold award: Ashley Gill, owner/operator of Chick-fil-A Northport; nominated by The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.
• Silver award (Two-Way Tie):
  Charlene Haber, owner/president of Wolf Bay Restaurant, Bar & Boutique in Foley and Orange Beach; nominated by the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.
• Brian and Jodi Harsany, owners of Cobalt The Restaurant in Orange Beach; nominated by the Alabama Small Business Development Center – University of Alabama; and the city of Orange Beach.

Annual sales more than $20 million

• Gold award: The team at Renfroe’s Market in Montgomery (2) and Dadeville. Robert Renfroe, owner, and Rob Renfroe, vice president. Nominated by Michelle Locke, wife of Renfroe’s operations manager David Locke.
• Silver award: Jay Welborn, partner with B&W Foods Inc., dba Piggly Wiggly, in Northport and three Tuscaloosa locations; nominated by The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.
• Bronze award: Jeff Rosenthal, president and chief executive officer of Birmingham-based Hibbett Sports with stores in 74 Alabama cities plus 34 other states and online; nominated by Birmingham Business Alliance.

Gee Emerging Retailer of the Year Award

• Zebbie Carney, owner of Eugene’s Hot Chicken in Birmingham; nominated by the Birmingham Business Alliance.

“It is an honor to be able to recognize such an outstanding group of retailers. Each retailer honored is a credit to their community and the retail industry,” Rick Brown, president of the Alabama Retail Association, said.

This year, Alabama Retail Comp also recognized Thames Batré Insurance in Mobile and Gulf Shores as a Centennial Insurance Agency, an awards program that began in 2008.

Having been founded in 1943, the Alabama Retail Association is celebrating 75 years of “promoting and protecting retailers” and their employees across the state.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn