CAMP HILL, Pa. — Val Stansfield, a category manager at Rite Aid Corp., has received the 2012 Confectionery Leadership Award from the National Confectioners Association (NCA).
Rite Aid said Monday that recipients of the annual reward demonstrate top-notch leadership in business planning and collaboration, as well as exemplify best practices in category management and operate with high integrity.
Stansfield was one of three winners of the award at the NCA’s State of the Industry Conference in Miami last week.
A veteran of the confection industry with more than 35 years’ experience, Stansfield began her career at Rite Aid in 1998, when she joined the company as category manager, overseeing food and snacks. In 2003, she took on her current role, in which she is responsible for all aspects related to general and seasonal candies for nearly 4,700 Rite Aid stores. Before joining Rite Aid, Stansfield was a senior buyer at Revco Drug Store for 12 years.
"I know I speak on behalf of everyone who knows and works with Val when I say she is very deserving of this honor," Rite Aid executive vice president of merchandising Tony Montini said in a statement. "Val has a true passion for ‘all things confection’ as well as those on her team and those she serves — our customers. We are proud to have her on the Rite Aid team and are thankful for her many contributions to our company over the years."
Rite Aid added that in 1997 Stansfield was inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame and in 2002 was honored by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores as the Category Manager of the Year. She was named Rite Aid’s Category Manager of the Year in 2001.
