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National publication selects local grocer for prestigious award

Yoke's chief innovators: Ed Goebel, director of IT; Joe Hanson, v.p. grocery operations; Caroline Wyatt, v.p. human resources; Denny York, s.v.p.; John Bole, president/c.e.o.; and Lynne Tollison, controller. (Courtesy of Carrie Nottingham, Yoke's Fresh Markets / The Spokesman-Review)
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Yoke's chief innovators: Ed Goebel, director of IT; Joe Hanson, v.p. grocery operations; Caroline Wyatt, v.p. human resources; Denny York, s.v.p.; John Bole, president/c.e.o.; and Lynne Tollison, controller. (Courtesy of Carrie Nottingham, Yoke's Fresh Markets / The Spokesman-Review)

Progressive Grocer magazine has named Spokane-based Yoke’s Fresh Market as its Outstanding Independent Community Retailer of the Year. Progressive Grocer is the nation’s leading, and largest circulated, publication serving the grocery industry. Yoke’s Fresh Market executives accepted the award at the recent National Grocers Association Convention in Las Vegas.

Yoke’s Fresh Market “truly lives up to the ‘fresh’ in its name,” said Stephen Dowdell, editor-in-chief of Progressive Grocer. “Their specialty is working with local resources and other high-quality partners to build unbeatable signature programs.”

Senior Editor, Jenny McTaggart, noted that, “a closer look at Yoke’s progress suggests that hard work and creative thinking are more at play than any amount of sheer luck.”

McTaggart said Yoke’s Fresh Market was selected after continuing to show up on the magazine’s radar, from advertising campaigns to solid plans and initiatives for their stores. Not only was she impressed with their strategic abilities, but also the sincerity and responsiveness of the people leading the company.

“We truly appreciate this award,” said Denny York, Senior Vice President of Store Development. “We thank and share this honor with each and every one of our employees and customers – it’s because of them that we are being honored.”

Founded in 1946, Yoke’s Fresh Markets is an independent, employee-owned regional grocery chain with 12 stores in the Spokane area, Tri-Cities, Washington, and in Sandpoint and Kellogg, Idaho. The company plans to open its 13th store in May in West Richland, Washington.