BIDDEFORD — A local resident has been honored with one of the most prestigious honors in the grocery retail industry.

Crystal LaCourse of Biddeford has been named to Progressive Grocer’s 2018 list of Top Women in Grocery, an award which recognizes standout women leaders demonstrating remarkable leadership capabilities and honorable achievements in their companies and communities.

As a first-time recipient of the Top Women in Grocery award, LaCourse was chosen for her accomplishments in her role as Transportation Operations Manager for Delhaize America Transportation.

This year to mark women’s increasing prominence, both in the business that Progressive Grocer has covered for nearly a century, the magazine changed its logo, in which the silhouette of a woman now appears for the first time.

“Since the Top Women in Grocery program is all about recognizing those who excel in every area of their lives, the new design, which features such a striking symbol to pay tribute to all of them, made perfect sense,” magazine officials said. “This year’s Top Women in Grocery also reflect this evolution, with many occupying influential and highly visible positions, ranging from managers of grocery stores that also serve as community centers and even refuges in times of disaster, to midlevel executives responsible for every facet of the business, including such previously majority-male preserves as warehouses, all the way up to founders and CEOs of their own successful companies. Our 362 honorees, painstakingly chosen from more than 650 nominees, represent the best of the industry, encompassing both supermarkets and suppliers across the country.”

LaCourse has worked for Delhaize America Transportation since 2011.

The company is a international food retailer committed to offering customers a locally-differentiated shopping experience, delivering superior value, and maintaining high social, environmental and ethical standards. The Delhaize America family of supermarkets includes Food Lion, and Hannaford. Delhaize America and its supermarkets employ more than 98,000 associates and operate more than 1,200 stores in the United States.

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com