IGA honors Henry Johnson Jr. with highest award
At the most recent FMI Mid-winter Conference in Marco Island, Fla., the Independent Grocers Alliance bestowed the J. Frank Grimes Award upon Henry Johnson Jr., the former president of W. Lee Flowers & Co.
IGA Chairman Mark Batenic and CEO John Ross presented the accolade, often referred to as the Chairman's Award, which was intended to be presented in 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release. Johnson retired in 2019.
The honor is a testament to Johnson's dedication, legacy and commitment to fostering a sense of community within the realm of independent retailers, the release said.
W. Lee Flowers & Co. has served the Carolinas and Georgia as a wholesale and retail grocery company for over 102 years. In 1922, W. Lee Flowers started a wholesale grocery company with three employees. The business grew, and in the mid-1950s he sold the business to three employees: Herbert Timmons, Heyward King Sr., and Henry Johnson Sr.
"The new owners realized that to control their destiny, they needed to own their stores, so they began to build both the retail and wholesale business under the IGA brand," Batenic said in the release.
By the 1980s, Timmons had left the partnership to pursue other ventures, and King and Johnson passed the business to their sons, Heyward King Jr. and Henry Johnson Jr. Under their management and new vision for the future, the company grew into the business it is today, the release said.
King Jr. and Johnson Jr. increased the size of the warehouse fivefold and increased the owned store count from a handful to over 60, according to the release. They grew their reach beyond South Carolina to North Carolina and Georgia while expanding their offerings from dry goods to meat, produce, dairy, frozen and even health and beauty products. By the 2000s, W. Lee Flowers was the only South Carolina-owned grocery wholesaler in the state, down from a peak of over 100, the release said.
Seeing new opportunities, Johnson Jr. created a new brand, KJ's Market IGA, which served as their introduction into larger cities and now has become the new foundation of the retail business, according to the release.
By 2019, Johnson Jr. and King Jr. had led W. Lee Flowers for over 80 years combined. Heading into retirement, they decided that Alex Lee Inc. would acquire the business.
“When Henry and his partner, Heyward King Jr., decided to sell, they only talked to one company: Alex Lee,” Batenic said in the release. “They wanted the business they built up to stay within the IGA family and with a family-owned business. At the time of the sale, Henry and Heyward owned 50 of the 120 IGA stores they served.”
This move not only showcased their dedication to the IGA community, but also solidified the continuity of their legacy within the familial IGA network, the release said.
Despite his accomplishments, Johnson always maintained a modest demeanor, the IGA said. However, he emerged as an advocate for independent retailers, attributing much of their success to the support and guidance provided by IGA, according to the release.
"Henry Johnson is the ultimate gentleman. He has positively impacted the industry with his leadership for many years, and I have been fortunate to learn from him," Brian George, president, chairman and CEO of Alex Lee Inc., said in the release. "He welcomed me into the industry and willingly shared his knowledge. I am honored to be able to continue to grow the business he devoted his career to with W. Lee Flowers and the retail stores."
