RISA JENKINS
SENIOR CATEGORY MANAGER-INDEPENDENT MERCHANDISING, C&S WHOLESALE GROCERS
Jenkins had always handled non-edibles until she was reassigned to the frozen merchandising team many years ago. As a scratch cook, “I knew nothing about frozen food,” she recalls. “I didn’t buy it, and I definitely didn’t know the companies that made frozen products.” But Frozen Food Month rolled around just a few months into the new job. “And that’s when my passion for merchandising frozen food kicked in,” says Jenkins. “I have entered the NFRA’s Golden Penguin Awards program every year since then and have won Gold Penguins multiple times” — an accomplishment she’s particularly proud of.
A member of the NFRA’s board of directors and frozen council participant, Jenkins is dedicated to helping independent, family-owned retailers succeed so their legacy can be passed on to the next generation. She’s also committed to training and mentoring young women new to the grocery industry in an effort to create a more balanced workforce. “Gender diversity in the workplace means different perspectives, solutions and emotions,” all of which make the industry stronger, she says.
