It’s that special time of year when we come together to celebrate the retailers who are redefining what is possible. At Ignite 2025, we proudly recognized those who embody both the art and science of innovation—retailers who are not only growing but thriving through bold ideas, smart strategies, and a commitment to excellence.
Congratulations to this year’s honorees! Your success is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when vision meets action.
Ignite 2025 Award
McCaffrey’s Food Markets
The elite Ignite Award honors retailers who exemplify a growth mindset and drive transformation through intelligent retailing. This year, McCaffrey’s Food Market stands out as a true beacon of excellence—leveraging the power of CATAPULT® and embracing innovation with purpose.
As the pilot partner for the launch of Connect+Save™, McCaffrey’s provided invaluable feedback that helped shape the product, improving the user experience and system performance for all CATAPULT users. Their dedication to leveraging a full suite of CATAPULT technology, including Cognition®, AutoScale®, and Connect+Save, demonstrates their continuous drive to innovate and enhance the independent grocer’s operations.
We also celebrated McCaffrey’s 10th anniversary with ECRS, marking a decade of partnership and shared success. Congratulations to McCaffrey’s for their well-deserved recognition!
True North Leader Award
In navigation, the difference between magnetic north and True North can mean the difference in landing a plane on the tarmac or in a residential neighborhood. True North represents the unwavering direction we should follow, and this year’s True North Leader has helped ECRS stay on course.
Through their collaborative partnership and commitment to innovation, this retailer has played a key role in shaping the future of our technology platform. Their contributions go beyond their own success—they’re helping guide the entire CATAPULT community forward.
Eataly
Eataly is being honored with the True North Leader Award for their visionary role in shaping the future of retail. Their custom app, built using the new WebCart™ API solution, introduced a seamless, touch-free workflow in their café—paving the way for innovations like power codes and real-time pickup notifications.
Lighthouse Award
Just like the ancient lighthouse that guided sailors to safety, this year’s Lighthouse Award recipient lights the way for the CATAPULT community. Fearless in the face of new features, hardware, and innovation, this retailer embraces every challenge with curiosity and courage. Their feedback helps shape technology into something better for everyone.
Marczyk’s Fine Foods
Marczyk Fine Foods is lighting the way in retail innovation! As this year’s Lighthouse Award recipient, Marczyk’s has shown exceptional leadership through their pioneering use of AI tools like Smart eCirculars and Cognition’s Artemis™ recommendations. When asked to pilot new technology, they didn’t hesitate—offering honest, high-impact feedback that helped shape the product for broader success.
Marc’s
Marc’s was honored with the Lighthouse Award for their bold leadership and collaboration in developing our Bottom of the Basket (BOB™) vision and machine learning models. As the first retailer to pilot this technology in real-world settings, they played a key role in refining the model through hands-on testing, valuable feedback, and generous data sharing.
Golden Ambassador Award
The Golden Ambassador award recognizes a retailer who exemplifies advocacy for CATAPULT and ECRS. By helping grow the CATAPULT Community, this outstanding retailer truly embodies the spirit of an ECRS supporter.
Uncle Giuseppe’s
In retail innovation, advocacy drives transformation—and Uncle Giuseppe’s leads the way. As this year’s Golden Ambassador Award recipient, they’ve gone above and beyond to champion CATAPULT, from being featured in The Shelby Report to hosting webinars, interviews, and Ignite sessions.
Their dedication to educating and empowering others, combined with a passion for innovation, has strengthened the ECRS network and inspired the broader retail community. Thank you for being a true ambassador and helping fuel our continued growth!
CATAPULT Community Champion Award
The CATAPULT Community Champion Award celebrates retailers who go above and beyond to foster connection, collaboration, and shared growth within the CATAPULT community. These businesses have fully embraced the power of community—actively networking, sharing insights, and building strong relationships with fellow retailers.
Richard Cashion, Curby’s Express Market
Richard Cashion consistently shares his successes and insights across the retail industry, making him a standout presence in the CATAPULT community. Whether through webinars or personal conversations, he brings honest feedback, creative solutions, and a genuine desire to connect. His collaborative spirit and commitment to empowering others make him a true champion of community and innovation.
Luke Stensby, Eastside Food Co-op
Luke is a longtime CATAPULT advocate who leads by example, embracing innovation through tools like AutoScale, Loyalty, WebCart with Pick Assist, and Cognition. His commitment to growth and collaboration makes him a standout in the community. We’re also grateful to Eastside Co-op for proudly showcasing CATAPULT during our store tours!
Micah Corrigan, B-Alive
Micah Corrigan consistently puts the CATAPULT community first—always ready to beta test new products, offer honest feedback, and spark fresh ideas for better solutions. His dedication to collaboration and continuous improvement is truly appreciated. Thank you, Micah, for being a trusted voice and valued partner!
Lifelong Learner Award
The Lifelong Learner Award recognizes retailers’ and customers’ commitment to staying informed and educated through several different outlets, from completing coursework and various training opportunities for CATAPULT to actively participating in forums.
Jeff Fackler, Karns Quality Foods
Jeff Fackler is no stranger to excellence—or to the Ignite Awards. This year, he stands out once again as a shining example of dedication, curiosity, and continuous growth. With more nominations than any other candidate, Jeff’s commitment to deep, sustained collaboration with the Cognition team has not only elevated his own expertise but also inspired those around him.
Crystal Powell & Adam Shea, Ashland Food Co-Op
The powerhouse pair whose dedication to self-paced education sets a new standard. Crystal Powell and Adam Shea of Ashland Food Cooperative have collectively logged an impressive 130 hours of learning in the ECRS Online Learning Center—equivalent to more than three full work weeks!
Their commitment to mastering ECRS products is evident in their completion of multiple Learning Paths since last year’s Ignite.
One of us Award
The One of Us Award is a special award given to someone who always acts as a team player. This person embodies ECRS’ seven commitments of collaboration and greets even the most stubborn issues with a smile or sense of humor. They adopt a creator orientation, act as co-creators, and speak to outcomes, fitting in seamlessly with the ECRS crew.
Diana Martinó-Cardona & Chris Epp, Leevers Locavore
Familiar faces and cherished friends of the Ignite community, Diana and Chris embody the spirit of collaboration, curiosity, and kindness. Known for their empathy, patience, and high-fives, they bring joy to every interaction. Their dedication to problem-solving—often diving into documentation before reaching out—shows their commitment to learning and empowering their team.
Kyle Betlach, Mississippi Market Co-op – One of Us Award
Kyle brings positivity, professionalism, and purpose to every interaction. With a collaborative spirit and a great sense of humor, he embodies ECRS’ values—especially the commitment to “Make Your Job Meaningful.” Whether solving tough challenges or co-creating solutions with our team, Kyle leads with heart and intention.
Eric Mayerson, Caraluzzi’s Markets – One of Us Award
Eric’s steady, supportive presence makes every challenge feel more manageable. With a “my pleasure” attitude and a focus on outcomes over blame, he exemplifies true collaboration and the spirit of co-creation. His honesty, chill demeanor, and commitment to ECRS values make him a joy to work with.
Ignite 2025 Awards: Celebrating Innovation, Leadership & Community
The Ignite 2025 Awards were more than a celebration—they were a tribute to the visionaries, collaborators, and changemakers who continue to shape the future of retail. From trailblazing technology partners to passionate educators and fearless innovators, this year’s award recipients exemplify what it means to lead with purpose and heart.
Each story shared on the Ignite stage reflected the strength of the CATAPULT community—a network built on curiosity, courage, and a shared commitment to progress. As we look ahead, these honorees remind us that the journey of innovation is best traveled together.
Congratulations to all Ignite 2025 award winners—your impact is lasting, and your leadership lights the way forward.