‍Stormans Honored with 2020-21 WFIA Community Service Award

OLYMPIA — There’s a reason Stormans, Inc. is known as Olympia’s hometown grocer – and is the recipient of the Washington Food Industry Association’s (WFIA) 2020-21 Community Service Award.  

For more than 70 years, the Stormans family has provided fresh, local food and products to shoppers in the South Sound. They’ve also continuously invested in the communities they serve, working with local and non-profit groups like the Thurston Chamber of Commerce, Providence St. Peter’ Hospital Foundation, the Olympia School District Education Foundation and others.

“Stormans is known for carrying and featuring local products, providing outstanding service, and supporting the community, which are three hallmarks of any successful business. Kevin, Greg and Charelle have maintained their grandfather’s commitment to their customers and the surrounding community, and founder Ralph Stormans would be proud of his legacy,” said Tammie Hetrick, WFIA president and CEO.

The Washington Food Industry Association’s Community Service Award honors individuals in the grocery industry who exemplify the highest standards of service in both business and community to positively influence and enhance the lives of others.  

Stormans, Inc. is a fourth-generation, family-owned business. In 1944, founder Ralph Stormans opened his first store, Ralph’s Food Center inside the Grand Central Public Market at 6th and Columbia Street in downtown Olympia. Ralph’s Food Center was the first large supermarket in the Olympia area.

Today, Ralph’s Food Center is better known as Ralph’s Thriftway, located at 4th Avenue East in Olympia. The company also includes Bayview Thriftway, Bayview Catering, Bayview School of Cooking and Celebrations, an event and party rental store. Stormans, Inc. has owned and operated numerous grocery stores and related businesses in the Olympia area for the past 70 years.

Kevin, Greg and Charelle are actively involved in a variety of local nonprofit organizations, including the Thurston County Chamber, Olympia Downtown Association, Thurston County Food Bank, and Providence St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation.

“The Stormans family has taken extraordinary steps to care for its employees, customers and the community during COVID-19,” added Hetrick. “We are proud to honor Kevin, Greg and Charelle, along with their entire team, for their ongoing local support. Their work is at the heart of what it means to be an independent, local grocer, and their generosity has truly made a difference in the South Sound community. Today, we celebrate four generations of hometown good efforts with this award.”

About the Washington Food Industry Association
The Washington Food Industry Association (WFIA) is dedicated to promoting and protecting the independent, community-focused grocery and convenience store industry and its suppliers. Founded in 1899, the WFIA represents the state’s independent grocers and convenience stores. Membership includes all levels of the food and beverage distribution industry who collaborate to promote the principles of free enterprise to ensure a vigorous, competitive, economically healthy food industry. The grocery and convenience store industry provides about 50,000 Washington jobs. For more information, visit www.wa-food-ind.org.