CGA Inducts Save Mart's Ex-Prez to Hall of Achievement

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California Grocers Association Educational Foundation earlier this week inducted Bob Spengler, recently retired president of Modesto-based Save Mart Supermarkets, into its Hall of Achievement for his years of service to the California food industry.

More than 450 of his food industry peers attended the induction dinner.

"Bob is certainly a worthy addition to the Foundation's Hall of Achievement," said CGA President Peter Larkin. "He is a true grocer in every sense of the word. His dedication to the industry, to the communities he served and CGA is unmatched."

Spengler began his grocery career while in high school, helping his father deliver milk for Golden State Dairies in Modesto. In 1969, he bought his first store in Susanville, Calif. In 1984, he bought a Save Mart Supermarket store in Modesto and two years later sold the store and went to work fulltime for Save Mart. In 2002, Spengler was named the company's president and c.o.o., a position he maintained until his retirement in December 2005.

He is a past president of the Stanislaus County Grocers Association, served on the board of directors for the Northern California Grocers Association, and is currently the past chairman of the board of the California Independent Grocers Association. In 1997, the Modesto Quality Travelers Club recognized Spengler as Retailer of the Year.

Spengler joins an impressive list of California food industry leaders already inducted into the CGAEF Hall of Achievement, including Byron Allumbaugh, Ralphs Grocery Co.; Lou Amen, Super A Foods; Jack H. Brown, Stater Bros. Markets; Jim Brown, Ralphs Grocery Co., Western Association of Food Chains; Steven Burd, Safeway Inc.; Charles Collings, Raley's; Paul Gerrard, Gerrard's Markets; Dave Hirz, Ralphs Grocery Co.; Don Lee; Dairy Fresh; Bob Picininni, Save Mart Supermarkets; Al Plamann, Unified Western Grocers, Inc.; Thomas Raley, Raley's; Jerry Scolari, Joe Scolari, Joey Scolari, Scolari's Food & Drug Co.; Roger Stangeland, Vons Companies; Wilfred Von der Ahe, Vons Companies; and Bob Wilson, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream.

Proceeds from the event fund the Foundation's Career Development Program and Scholarship Programs. The Career Development Program assists those in the California and Nevada food industry improve their job-related skills. In 2005, more than $90,000 was reimbursed to CGA-member employees through the Career Development program. The Foundation also provided 211 scholarships totaling nearly $210,000 in 2005.