Our Awards
Our Awards
Thanks to the support of our loyal customers, we've been fortunate to receive many awards over the years. We are grateful to all of you who continue to shop with us and are proud to call Kowalski's your neighborhood grocer. That's the best award we could ever receive!
- #2 Best Grocery Store Deli in the United States – USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
- 2024 Grocer of the Year, Kris Kowalski Christiansen – Minnesota Grocers Association
- 2023/2024 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year, Kowalski's Grand Avenue Market
- 2023 Judge's Choice Burger Winner – Minnesota Monthly's GrillFest
- 2022/2023 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year, Kowalski's White Bear Lake Market
- 2022 20 Best Regional Supermarket Chains of All Time – Food & Wine Magazine
- 2022 Top Work Places – Star Tribune
- 2022 Outstanding Independent Retailer – Progressive Grocer
- 2021/2022 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year, Kowalski's Woodbury Market
- 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award, Jim and Mary Anne Kowalski – Minnesota Grocers Association Hall of Fame
- 2021 Top Work Places – Star Tribune
- 2021 Outstanding Independent Retailer by Progressive Grocer
- 2021 Best Rotisserie Chicken – Racket
- 2020/2021 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year, Kowalski's Oak Park Heights Market
- 2020 20 Best Regional Supermarket Chains of All Time – Food & Wine Magazine
- 2019/2020 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year, Kowalski's White Bear Lake Market
- 2019 First retailer to achieve Leader Status in the James Beard Smart Catch seafood sustainability program
- 2019 First multi-location retailer in the country Certified Humane by Humane Farm Animal Care
- 2018 Outstanding Disability Employer – Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation
- 2018 Best Frozen Pizza – City Pages
- 2017/2018 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year – for Kowalski's Shoreview Market
- 2016/2017 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year – for Kowalski's Woodbury Market
- 2015/2016 Minnesota Grown Retailer of the Year – for Kowalski's Woodbury Market
- 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year, Heartland Retail & Consumer Products Category – EY
- 2016 3rd Place Family Business, National – EY
- 2016 Hunger Hero – Second Harvest Heartland
- 2012 Top Women in Grocery, Senior Level Executive, Kris Kowalski Christiansen – Progressive Grocer
- 2012 Creative Choice Award for Advertising, Best Television Commercial – National Grocers Association
- 2011 Family Business of the Year Award – University of St. Thomas
- 2011 Golden Apple Award – Minnesota Dietetic Association
- 2011 Outstanding Independent Community-Based Retailer of the Year – Progressive Grocer
- 2011 Best Rotisserie Chicken – Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
- 2010 Service to Humanity Honoree, Jim Kowalski – United Hospital Foundation
- 2009 Working with Experience Award – Dakota County Living Longer & Stronger
- 2009 American Business Ethics Award Finalist
- 2006 Best of the Twin Cities, Best Gourmet Grocery – City Pages
- 2005 Best of the Twin Cities, Best Gourmet Grocery – City Pages
- 2005 Starr Award for Interior Design – Minnesota Shopping Center Association
- 2005 Employer of the Year – The Arc of Minnesota
- 2004 Outstanding Grocer Award – Minnesota Grocers Association
- 2004 Employer of the Year – Merrick, Inc., and AbiliTech Enterprises
- 2002 Woman of the Year, Mary Anne Kowalski – National Grocers Association
- 2002 Best of the Twin Cities, Best Gourmet Grocery – City Pages
- 2001 Creative Choice Award for Best Non-Price Print Ad – National Grocers Association
- 2001 Gold Medal Award – Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
- 2000 Starr Award for Design & Architecture – Minnesota Shopping Center Association
- 1997 Best Family-Run Grocery Store – Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
- 1990 Grocer of the Year – Minnesota Grocers Association
- 1987 Best Neighborhood Grocery – Twin Cities Reader
- Employer of the Year St. Paul Rehabilitation Award
- Governor's Award for Outstanding Community Spirit & Participation – State of Minnesota
- Best Small Retail Full Service Business Award – KSTP-TV Channel 5
