Student Team Wins First at National Grocers Association Competition
The student team representing Cal Poly prepared for months and competed against teams from four other schools.
A team of four Cal Poly agricultural business seniors won first place in the National Grocers Association 2021 Student Case Study Competition for their presentation on how grocers can combat the major economic issues caused by COVID-19 by staying competitive through their “local supply chains” against low-price operators.
The Cal Poly team included students Katherine "Scottie" Lester, Joshua Smith, Annika Bertelsen, and Amber Eckert. Agribusiness Associate Professor Ricky Volpe advised the team.
The National Grocers Association (NGA) hosts the annual competition, which moved to a virtual platform this year.
Each year, the NGA Foundation selects an independent retailer and a pressing industry issue to use as a subject for the competition. After months of research, student teams present their findings to a panel of judges, the independent retailer featured as the subject of the competition, and NGA Show attendees.
