GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Food solutions company SpartanNash (the "Company") (Nasdaq: SPTN) has made it a top priority to support up-and-coming talent in the rapidly evolving food industry. The Company's commitment to training, education and advancement is exemplified by Andy Clausen, vice president, national accounts, who was recently announced as a winner of Progressive Grocer's NextGen Award.

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Andy Clausen (Photo: Business Wire)

Clausen - who leads a team responsible for managing SpartanNash's national accounts business across several locations within SpartanNash's national distribution network - was recognized for his overall contributions and extraordinary efforts to inspire young professionals.

"Andy understands the importance of nurturing future talent at SpartanNash," said Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer David Sisk. "When he saw the need to help young professionals feel more integrated in the organization, Andy launched the SpartanNash RISE Young Professionals Associate Resource Group. We are thrilled to see Andy recognized with a NextGen Award, as he truly showcases the type of future-focused innovation and mentorship we value as a People First company."

This summer, Clausen organized a project to set SpartanNash interns apart from other candidates by adding unique experiences to their resumes. Led by Clausen, SpartanNash's interns worked together to spell the word "SPARTANNASH" using 5,791 Our Family brand food items, breaking the Guinness World Record™ for most food products used to spell a word.

Clausen joined SpartanNash in 2014 as director, national accounts. He has a bachelor's degree from Grand Valley State University and a master's degree from Western Michigan University. Currently, he serves on the board of directors of the Convenience Distribution Association.

SpartanNash reaffirmed its commitment to emerging talent with plans to expand its internship program five-fold by 2024 and to retain summer interns in year-round employment after the summer programs end. Of the Company's interns this year, more than half were hired for part- or full-time positions.

"Our internship program will support a new generation of diverse leaders who will drive innovative and creative solutions for our customers," said SpartanNash Senior Director, Diversity & Inclusion Deann Wright.

Progressive Grocer will honor Clausen and other winners at the NextGen Awards at Grocery Industry Week taking place Nov. 2-4 in Orlando, Fla. To learn more about SpartanNash career opportunities, visit careers.spartannash.com.

About SpartanNash

SpartanNash (Nasdaq: SPTN) is a food solutions company that delivers the ingredients for a better life. As a distributor, wholesaler and retailer with a global supply chain network, SpartanNash customers span a diverse group of national accounts, independent and chain grocers, e-commerce retailers, U.S. military commissaries and exchanges, and the Company's own brick-and-mortar grocery stores, pharmacies and fuel centers. SpartanNash distributes grocery and household goods, including fresh produce and its Our Family® portfolio of products, to locations in all 50 states, in addition to distributing to the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Djibouti, Korea and Japan. To support its distribution business, the Company operates a strategically developed network of large-scale distribution facilities and a nationwide transportation fleet. In addition, the Company owns and operates 147 supermarkets - primarily under the banners of Family Fare, Martin's Super Markets and D&W Fresh Market - and shares its operational insights to drive innovative solutions for SpartanNash food retail customers. Committed to fostering a People First culture, the SpartanNash family of Associates is 17,500 strong and growing. For more information, visit spartannash.com.

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Caitlin Gardner
Senior Manager, Public Relations
[email protected]