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The Shelby Report of the Southwest • OCTOBER 2016
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Southwest Retailer of the Year: Harps Food Stores Harps Steps in to Help Establish Mini Meals Program for Middle School Students The Samaritan Community Center (SCC) distributes food for children through its “SnackPacks for Kids” program. Since 2005, it has been providing a grocery bag filled with eight to 10 snack food items to elementary school children identified as at-risk for hunger or food insecurity on the weekends. It served more than 6,500 children in 95 schools, Head Start centers and early education centers in Northwest Arkansas for several years, commemorating in 2014 its one millionth snackpack. But the center was concerned for students who aged out of the program into middle school. In 2013, Harps Food Stores Chairman and CEO Roger Collins asked what he could do to help the organization. “I was surprised to learn of the number of children in our area who were part of the free and reduced lunch program and who might not have access to food over the weekends,” Collins said. “With the affluence of our area, it was inconceivable for us to be surrounded by so many people challenged for food.” Harps helped the SCC establish a program for middle schools, beginning in Springdale and then later in all of Northwest Arkansas. In less than six months, a program SCC thought was a decade away became a reality. The Middle School Mini Meals program ensures reliable access to meals on the weekends for students at risk of hunger. They include two oatmeal packets, two dried fruit packets, two soy butter packets, whole wheat spaghetti and
Harps Food Stores Values Passionate People—Our associates are part of our family, and they drive our success. We promise our associates a culture that values character, fairness, empowerment, loyalty and equitable pay in exchange for passionate customer service. Devoted Customers—We are obsessed with providing value to our customers, and a shopping experience so satisfying that no competitor is an acceptable alternative. Vendor Partners—We value our relationships with vendors. We are successful together when we exceed our customer’s expectations. Invested Owners—As 100 percent employeeowners, we are invested in Harps, and individu-
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Harps employees help pack Mini Meals as part of a program to ensure middle school students at risk of hunger have access to meals on the weekends. spaghetti sauce and a rice/vegetable meal specifically formulated for Mini Meals. “I am thrilled that Harps could lead the way for this new program,” Collins said. “Our over 4,000 Harps employees feel great about giving to those in need and making a difference in our communities. An employeeowned company like Harps requires teamwork to be successful and so do our communities. I am glad that Harps can play a role in making Northwest Arkansas better.” ally commit to execute our mission and values in order to increase both our stock price and customer devotion.
Strong Communities—We value the communities in which we live and serve, and will volunteer our time and financial assistance to make them successful. We pledge to improve our use of energy, protect our natural resources and preserve our environment. Uncompromising Ethics—There is a right way to seek to accomplish our mission. We will not compromise our integrity or our commitment to do the right thing in our efforts to succeed.
NGA Foundation Awards Roger Collins Scholarships Established in 2015, the Roger Collins Scholarship was created under the auspices of the National Grocers Association (NGA) Foundation to recognize students who have shown passion for the independent supermarket industry and exemplify integrity and leadership. Roger Collins, chairman and CEO of Harps Food Stores, is a graduate of Rice University with an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, and practiced as a CPA in public accounting for four years. He started with Harps in 1986 as VP of finance and CFO. He was promoted to EVP in 1995 and appointed president and CEO of the company in 2000. He has served on both the boards and executive committees of the NGA, the National Cooperative Bank and Associated Wholesale Grocers. In 2015, NGA awarded Collins the Tom Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. Collins serves on the boards of the Endeavor Foundation, Ozark Guidance Center and Fellowship Bible Church. This year’s Roger Collins Scholarship winner is Michael Navarro. Navarro is a rising senior at Arizona State University, double majoring in business entrepreneurship and food industry management and minoring in nutrition. Described as driven and Michael Navarro motivated by his professor, Navarro is known for raising the bar in the classroom and in his community. Navarro currently works as a manager at the Sun Devil Fitness Complex, and has acquired a second job over the summer at Sprouts Farmer’s Market as a produce clerk to increase his understanding of how food retail businesses operate. Last year’s winner was Clayton Spencer, who attended the University of Utah, pursuing a degree in finance and accounting. Spencer’s career in the independent supermarket industry began in 2012 at Reams Springville Market, where he started as a bookkeeper, and is currently still employed as a corporate assistant and bookkeeping supervisor. Spencer is described by his supervisor as a driven individual who exemplifies integrity and honesty. Clayton Spencer
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