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Revision as of 19:35, 9 September 2014

Stew Leonard, Jr.
Alma materIthaca College (B.S., 1977)[1]
UCLA (MBA, 1982)[2]
Occupation(s)President and CEO of Stew Leonard's[3]
WebsiteProfile at WSB

Stew Leonard, Jr. is a an American businessman who is the current president and CEO of Stew Leonard's, a supermarket chain based in Connecticut and New York.[3] Leonard took over as president and CEO of the company in 1991. Since then, the chain has routinely been listed on Fortune's list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For."[5] Leonard and the company are also frequently profiled in marketing textbooks like Principles of Marketing,[6] Sustaining Knock Your Socks Off Service,[7] and Modern Human Relations at Work.[8]

Early life and education

Stew Leonard, Jr. comes from a long line of family members in the dairy business. His grandfather, Charles Leo Leonard, founded Clover Farms Dairy in Norwalk, Connecticut in the 1920s.[9] The elder Leonard and his sons would deliver milk door-to-door straight from the farm. When Charles Leonard died, the business passed to Stew Leonard, Sr. who wanted to move beyond being a milkman.[10] Stew Leonard, Sr. would then open the original Stew Leonard's dairy store in Norwalk in 1969. Stew Leonard, Jr. often worked in that original dairy store as a child, washing out milk cans, loading egg shelves, and performing other basic tasks.[9]

Leonard later attended Ithaca College,[1] earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1977.[2] He continued his education at UCLA's prestigious Anderson School of Management, where he earned a Master of Business Administration in 1982.[3]

Career as CEO

Stew Leonard, Jr. first took over the helm of Stew Leonard's in 1991. At the time, there was some major concern about his ability to continue the success that the chain experienced under Stew Leonard, Sr. The first few years were turbulent under Stew Leonard, Jr., but he quickly turned it around. The store in Norwalk was earning less than $100 million in 1991, but, by 2002, Leonard had helped increase sales to $300 million with 3 stores.[10] Leonard attributes the success of the company to its emphasis on customer service and employee care.[11] Each store notoriously features a boulder near the entrance with the two primary rules of Stew Leonard's:

  1. The customer is always right.
  2. If the customer is ever wrong, re-read rule #1.[12]

Under Stew Leonard, Jr., the grocery store chain has also been recognized as one of the best places to work in the nation. 82% of all managers are promoted from within,[5] and Stew Leonard's frequently applies positive reinforcement to boost employee morale.[11] Stew Leonard, Jr. likes to emphasize a sense of community among the employees and the customers while still maintaining a well-defined corporate structure. The store has also been lauded for its fun and family-friendly atmosphere that includes costumed characters, a unique "one-way" aisle-less design, and animatronic performances. It has been referred to as the "Disneyland of Dairy Stores."[1] In 1999, Stew Leonard spearheaded the opening of a store in Yonkers, New York. The store continued the "Disneyesque" theme, but it also housed the first Stew Leonard's Wines store.[13] Leonard's interest in the wine business spurred him to earn a WSET advanced certificate as a sommelier in 2003.[14]

By 2014, Leonard had helped grow the business to 4 grocery stores. Additionally, there are 9 wine stores across Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, each of which is independently owned and operated by family members.[3] The food and wine stores cumulatively employ 2,000 people and approach $400 million in sales per year.[5] This is despite the fact that the company (proudly) offers only 2,000 items, a large majority of which is perishable and prepared food.[3]

The success of these business principles has gained Stew Leonard, Jr. a significant degree of respect in the retail industry.[7] Stew Leonard's Wines was also recognized by Wine Enthusiast Magazine as the Retailer of the Year in 2011 and 2013.[15] Leonard is a prominent public speaker and is featured as one of the top orators at the prestigious Washington Speakers Bureau.[16]

Philanthropy

Leonard and his wife, Kim, founded the Stew Leonard III Children's Charities, which offers swimming lessons to thousands of underprivileged youths each year.[3] They have also released a series of children's books about water safety that feature the character, Stewie the Duck. In 2012, they released an app version of the children's book with Stewie the Duck at the forefront. A program featuring the character has been used by firefighters in Rialto, California and employees at a children's hospital in Phoenix, Arizona to teach children about water safety.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b c Fostel, Robin (2003). "Stew Leonard Jr. '77 runs a top-100 food company". Ithaca College Quarterly. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Levine Lecture: Stew Leonard". Western Carolinian. 23 February 2005. Retrieved 29 June 2014. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f Swaby, Rachel (March 2014). "Stew Leonard's Big Idea". UCLA Anderson School of Management. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  4. ^ Carlson, Wendy (26 September 2008). "Westport First in State to Ban Plastic Bags". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  5. ^ a b c Levin-Epstein, Amy (16 April 2014). "A grocery scion reflects on survival and success". CBS MoneyWatch. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  6. ^ Kotler, Philip; Gary Armstrong (2013). Principles of Marketing (15 ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0133084047.
  7. ^ a b Zemke, Ron; Thomas K. Connellan (1993). Sustaining Knock Your Socks Off Service. AMACOM. ISBN 978-0814451595.
  8. ^ Hodgetts, Richard M. (2013). Modern Human Relations at Work (10 ed.). Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-0030335792.
  9. ^ a b Perrefort, Dirk (2 December 2010). "Stew Leonard Jr. picked for Previdi Award in Danbury". The News-Times. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  10. ^ a b Whitford, David (1 November 2002). "Back From The Brink". CNNMoney. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  11. ^ a b Hammond, Richard (2011). Smart Retail: Practical Winning Ideas and Strategies from the Most Successful Retailers in the World (3 ed.). FT Press. ISBN 978-0273744542.
  12. ^ Tschohl, John (2008). Achieving Excellence Through Customer Service (5 ed.). Bestsellers Publishing. ISBN 978-0963626844.
  13. ^ McAleer Vizard, Mary (1 September 1999). "Commercial Real Estate; Stew Leonard's and Other Stores Set for Yonkers". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  14. ^ "Graduates of International Wine Center". http://www.internationalwinecenter.com. International Wine Center. Retrieved 14 July 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  15. ^ "Wine Star Awards Videos". http://www.winemag.com. Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Retrieved 9 July 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  16. ^ Stowe, Stacy (6 May 2004). "Governor and Insurance Firm Differ on Reason for Free Trip". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  17. ^ Hutson, Nanci G. (29 May 2012). "Stewie Leonard III's legacy is one of water safety for all children". The News-Times. Retrieved 9 July 2014.

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