Associated Wholesale Grocers named Certified Angus Beef Marketer of the Year

Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) has been named the Certified Angus Beef Retail Distributor Marketer of the Year. The award was presented during the 2026 Certified Angus Beef Annual Conference and Beef Bash.

The recognition highlights AWG’s efforts to expand the Certified Angus Beef program among its independent member retailers through merchandising, training, and consumer-focused marketing. Heather DeLuca, AWG Vice President of Meat & Seafood, stated that the honor reflects a strong partnership aimed at helping retailers elevate their beef programs and provide high-quality products to shoppers.

Beef is noted as a critical category for independent grocers, as it tends to generate larger basket sizes and attract more households compared to other protein categories. The collaboration between AWG and Certified Angus Beef focused on bringing new retailers into the program and providing comprehensive training to drive category growth.