BIRMINGHAM, AL – At at luncheon Tuesday, Oct. 8, Lucy Buffett, president and owner of LuLu’s and Lucy B. Goode in Gulf Shores was honored as the Alabama Retailer of the Year in the category of $5 million to $20 million in sales.

The GOLD AWARD went to Lucy who was nominated by the Retail and Business Service Committee of the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce.

The SILVER AWARD in the same category went to the managers and associates of the Western Supermarket in Mountain Brook; nominated by Suzan Doidge, executive director of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.

The Alabama Retail Association, in cooperation with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Collat School of Business, today recognized 12 retail businesses with operations in 72 Alabama cities and 31 states as Retailers of the Year.

Alabama Retail and UAB also recognized one business as an Alabama Centennial Retailer. The presentations were made at The Club in Birmingham during the 2013 Retail Day Luncheon. This marked the 14th presentation of the Retailer of the Year Awards since 1999 and the 11th presentation of the Centennial Retailers since 2002.

A panel of judges chose the Retailer of the Year finalists in four categories by Alabama annual sales volume: less than $1 million; $1 million to $5 million; $5 million to $20 million and more than $20 million. Bronze, silver and gold awards were presented in most categories.

For the second year, the judges also selected an Emerging Retailer of the Year, an innovative and effective Alabama retailer who has been in business for at least two years, but less than five years.

GEE Emerging Retailer of the Year

Jen Barnett, chief operating officer and co-owner of Freshfully in Birmingham’s Avondale community; nominated by Victor M. Brown, vice president of minority and small business development for the Birmingham Business Alliance.

Annual Sales Less Than $1 Million

GOLD AWARD: Stacie Money, president of Fringe in Opelika and Auburn; nominated by Barbara Patton, president of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce.

SILVER AWARD: Marco and Elan Morosini, owners of the Silvertron Café in Birmingham’s Avondale community; nominated by Victor M. Brown, vice president of minority and small business development for the Birmingham Business Alliance.

BRONZE AWARD: The managers and employees of the Leaf & Petal in Mountain Brook; nominated by Suzan Doidge, executive director of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.

Annual Sales $1 Million to $5 Million

GOLD AWARD: Van Sykes, owner of Bob Sykes Bar B Q Restaurant in Bessemer; nominated by Ronnie Acker, president of the Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce.

SILVER AWARD: Dorothy S. McDaniel, president of Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market in Homewood; nominated by Victor M. Brown, vice president of minority and small business development for the Birmingham Business Alliance, and Tricia Ford, executive director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce.

BRONZE AWARD: Georgia Ziglar, president and owner of two locations of Home Gallery plus Home Gallery Dining Furniture and First Impression, all in Troy; nominated by Kathleen Sauer, president of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce.

Annual Sales $5 Million to $20 Million

GOLD AWARD: Lucy Buffett, president and owner of Lulu’s, in Gulf Shores; nominated by the Retail and Business Service Committee of the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce.

SILVER AWARD: The managers and associates of the Western Supermarket in Mountain Brook; nominated by Suzan Doidge, executive director of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.

Annual Sales More Than $20 Million

GOLD AWARD: Jan Clevenger, chairman of the Western Division of Belk Inc., based in Birmingham. Belk has 22 stores in 19 Alabama cities with a total of 301 stores in 16 states.

SILVER AWARD: Jeff Rosenthal, president and chief executive officer of Birmingham-based Hibbett Sports. Hibbett has 86 stores in 68 Alabama cities with a total of 895 stores in 31 states.

BRONZE AWARD: Mark McCutcheon, president and chief executive officer of Birmingham-based Golden Flake Snack Foods. Golden Flake has warehouses in 12 Alabama cities and sells its snacks in 15 states.

All of the winners in the Annual Sales More Than $20 Million category were nominated by Victor M. Brown, vice president of minority business and small business development of the Birmingham Business Alliance.

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

CENTENNIAL RETAILER

“For businesses to survive despite the dramatic changes of the past century is a remarkable achievement,” said Alabama Retail President Rick Brown.“It is fitting to celebrate the enduring contributions the Birmingham Barons organization has made to our state and the Birmingham metro area.”