The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) and the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) have jointly announced that the Distinguished Order of Zerocrats has selected Roger Robbe and Gary Spinazze as 2018 Frozen Food Hall of Fame inductees. They will be honored at the Zerocrats annual meeting during the NFRA Convention on October 20, 2018, at the Marriott Marquis in San Diego, California.
Roger RobbeRobbe, retired vice president of wholesale food procurement at SuperValu, Inc., enjoyed a 30-year career in retail food management and wholesale food operations, merchandising, marketing and corporate procurement.
He began in the retail food industry in 1966 as a store manager for Kroger Company. In 1972, he started a 24-year career with Minneapolis, Minnesota-headquartered SuperValu, moving up the ranks to become vice president with direct responsibility for frozen foods.
After retirement, Robbe worked with the US Department of Agriculture and the US Foreign Agriculture Service in creating a Cold Chain Seminar in 20 Central and South American and five Asian countries. He also collaborated with organizations to create and execute USAID programs in retail operations in Africa and Ukraine.
Robbe was inducted into the Distinguished Order of Zerocrats in 1992 and elected chairman of NFRA in 1994 after serving many years on various association councils and the board of directors.
Four Decades of Service
Gary SpinazzeGary Spinazze is a food industry veteran with over 40 years of experience. Early in his career he spent 17 years in retail operations with Chatham Super Markets, before moving on to Nash Finch as vice president of national accounts and later vice president of grocery procurement, where his responsibilities covered perishable departments as well as store brands. He next worked at Bozzuto’s as director of corporate programs and trade relations. After returning to Nash Finch, he retired as vice president of vendor relations.
Spinazze is co-founder and served as executive vice president and treasurer of Friends in Service of Heroes Foundation. He also served as chairman of the NFC Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Nash Finch. Spinazze was NFRA chairman in 2009 and 2010, and has contributed to many industry associations and committees throughout this career. He is currently a board member of the Distinguished Order of Zerocrats.
The Frozen Food Hall of Fame was established in 1990 by the Zerocrats, an organization of accomplished industry professionals whose purpose is to maintain the tradition of promoting the image and advancement of the frozen food business.
