At FMS, our success depends on the success of our customers. In this spirit we always take pleasure in celebrating the achievements of our valued customers. In March 2012, we began the FMS awards program identifying the FMS Store of the Month. This accolade is given to the FMS customer who has the store with the largest monthly sales increase over th e same month last year.

Janruary - Store of the Month - Brooklyn, NY

2013 started with a repeat winner from November: Flatbush Co-op of Brooklyn, NY. The store increased its January 2013 sales by 32% over January 2012. Clearly the community was in need of the bigger location Flatbush opened back in 2011 and we’re very happy to see them meeting those needs.

December - Store of the Month - Slidell, LA

In December, the FMS Store of the month award went to Mizer’s Cost Plus Foods of Slidell, Louisiana. The store’s sales increased 57% to close out 2012.

In 2011, Paul Durnin, owner of Mizer’s Foods, opened the Cost Plus store at what had been a vacant building. The objective of the store was to keep overhead low by keeping the staff small and advertising expenses low. With the growth this store has seen over the past year, it is clear that the goal was achieved.

November - Store of the Month - Brooklyn, NY

The FMS Store of the Month for November hails from Brooklyn in New York City. Flatbush Food Co-op increased its sales by 33% in November over the same month in 2011. Autumn 2012 was a tough time for New York City, as it was hit hard by Superstorm Sandy. It’s terrific to see stores like Flatbush Food Co-op persevere through adversity and deliver quality foods for its surrounding residents.

Flatbush Food Co-op is a full service natural and organic market and deli, with a history that goes back to 1976, when it first opened and expanded over the next 30 years. In 2008, Flatbush opened a new location across the street, which has been able to accommodate its rapid growth with over three times as much floor space as the original location.

August/September - Stores of the Month - Enid, OK

Two stores in the Niemann Foods, Inc. family are the FMS Store of the Month winners for August and September. In August, County Market of Palmyra, MO posted a 27% increase in sales over August 2011.

In September, Cub Foods of Decatur, IL had a 32% increase in its sales. From NFI consumer affairs director Gerry Kettler, “Building sales is always a challenge, but because of the great community we serve and our commitment to quality and value, the past year has been great.” Having the top month over month sales of all the FMS affiliated stores is impressive, but for one company to get two in a row is a testament to the success Niemann Foods has earned.

June - Save-A-Lot / Jumbo Foods - Enid, OK

Save-A-Lot of Enid, Oklahoma is the June FMS Store of the Month winner. The store increased its sales by over 25% over June 2011.

This Save-A-Lot location is part of Jumbo Foods, a family-owned operation in Enid, Oklahoma since 1987. The Save-A-Lot location was acquired and remodeled in 2011.

The experience of operating this store over the past year has been amazing,” says Gerald Blevins, Vice President of Jumbo Foods. “The customers very much appreciate the changes made inside the store. Our service level, full shelves, and a clean,well-managed store attribute to its success.

May - Kennie’s Market - Taneytown, MD

The FMS Store of the Month Award for May 2012 belongs to Kennie’s Market of Taneytown, Maryland. This Kennie’s location posted a 26% increase in sales during May, compared to the same month in 2011. The Taneytown location is one of a four-store family owned supermarket company, which operates in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The stores are supplied by AWI and have been in operation since 1959. Owner PK Hoover on the success of Kennie’s in Taneytown:

“We purchased the Taneytown location from another operator in 2005. From the start, the business did well, but we realized to grow further, we would require a larger and more modern facility. The option of expanding the existing facility was cost prohibitive and awkward, so we elected to build a new replacement store adjacent to the first location. Our new store added 11,000 square feet and has been very successful in allowing us to continue to meet our customer’s needs”

April - BG's Value Mart - Minersville, PA

BG’s Value Market The winner for April’s Store of the Month is BG’s Value Market out of Minersville, Pennsylvania. BG’s Value Market is operated by Bob Koval and Glen Sninski and posted an impressive 36.23% increase in store sales compared to April 2011.

“We think our customers appreciate our commitment to providing local produce and aggressive pricing in our meat department,” says Koval.

Adds Sninski, “We focus on the basics and strive to give our customers what they want when they want it.” BG’s superior operation has allowed them to significantly increase their market in Minersville with the advent of competitor closings.

March - Food Outlet - Newnan, GA

Food Outlet has earned the inaugural Store of the Month Award for having the biggest increase in store sales in March 2012 compared to March 2011. The store, located in Newnan, Georgia, had a 37% increase in its sales in the month of March.

Owner Greg Crook on his success: “I believe the key to the growth is something I learned from my friends and colleagues in the business who own cost plus stores. Stay as true to the concept avoiding any temptation to try to increase or create inside
margins. Don’t try to be what you are not. In this store’s case, our focus is to operate a clean, no frills environment while at the same time educate the customer with in-store messaging that informs them about our concept. Our customers are paying less
because we have lower rent and we are not spending monies on traditional advertising, which directly saves them money. An additional key factor in the
store’s success is the fact that I have great management in the store and it spreads to all the store associates.”