The Pet Industry Distributors Association (Bel Air, Md.) awarded its highest distributor honor to Pet Food Experts of Cumberland, R.I., and also elected a second-generation leader during its 42nd Management Conference & Annual Meeting, held Jan. 26-29 in Palm Springs, Calif.
Michael Baker, president of Pet Food Experts, a fourth-generation family business, accepted the 2010 Ken Chancey Distributor of the Year Award, named in honor of the former PIDA president who died in December.

WellPet (Tewksbury, Mass.) was named Supplier of the Year for the second consecutive year.

PIDA’s Benchmark Awards recognize manufacturers and distributors for specific policies and practices that make the companies good channel partners. PIDA distributor members submit ballots rating affiliate manufacturer members, and manufacturer members submit ballots rating distributor members.

DISTRIBUTOR AWARDS
Outstanding Sales Support
1st                        Pet Food Experts Inc. (Cumberland, R.I.)
2nd                       Bradley Caldwell Inc. (Hazleton, Pa.)
3rd                        Phillips Feed & Pet Supply (Easton, Pa.)
Most Improved     Elf Pet Products Distributors (Longwood, Fla.)
Outstanding Marketing & Promotions
1st                        Pet Food Experts Inc.
2nd                       Phillips Feed & Pet Supply
3rd                        Bradley Caldwell Inc.
Most Improved     Frontier Distributing Inc. (Oxford, Mich.)
Outstanding Logistics & Operations
1st                        Pet Food Experts Inc.
2nd                       Phillips Feed & Pet Supply
3rd                        Animal Supply Co. (Federal Way, Wash.)
Most Improved     Pet Food Experts Inc.
SUPPLIER AWARDS
Outstanding Sales Support
1st                        Coastal Pet Products Inc. (Alliance, Ohio) and
                             T.F.H. Publications Inc. (Neptune City, N.J.), tie
2nd                       WellPet L.L.C. (Tewksbury, Mass.)
Most Improved     Dogswell (Los Angeles)
Outstanding Marketing & Promotions
1st                        WellPet L.L.C.
2nd                       Central Avian & Small Animal (Elk Grove Village, Ill.)
3rd                        United Pet Group (Cincinnati) 
Most Improved     Dogswell
Outstanding Logistics & Operations
1st                        Coastal Pet Products Inc.
2nd                       WellPet L.L.C.
3rd                        JW Pet Co. Inc. (Teterboro, N.J.)
Most Improved     Dogswell

In elections held during the annual meeting, members chose Roger Johannigman, vice president of Bradley Caldwell Inc. (Hazleton, Pa.) as chairman. Johannigman began serving on the board in 2000 and has chaired various committees. His father, Robert Johannigman of Loveland Pet Products (Mason, Ohio)—purchased by Bradley Caldwell in 2008—helped found PIDA and served as its second president in 1970-1972.

Other officers are: Fred Schober of Super-Dog Pet Food Co. (Leola, Pa.), first vice chairman; Rob Chouinard of Gardner Distributing Co. (Billings, Mont.), second vice chairman; and Perry Parks of Wolverton Inc. (Lansing, Mich.), secretary/treasurer.

Bob Merar of General Pet Supply Inc. (Milwaukee), immediate past chairman, remains on the board.

Elected to three-year terms on the board were Robert Johnson of Pet Food Wholesale Inc. (Brea, Calif.) and Scott Rath of Central Garden & Pet Supply (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.). [April 2010 PET AGE]