Johan Vermeire (Colruyt) nominated for the Personality of the Year award

The Personality of the Year (POTY) award recognizes leaders who serve as role models for other industry players. This year, in the "Wholesalers Foodservice" category, Johan Vermeire stands out for a leadership approach built around, notably, operational excellence.

© GONDOLA FOODSERVICE

Leadership, strategic vision, and the ability to create value in a strained market environment: the Personality of the Year (POTY) award recognizes leaders who serve as role models for other industry players. This year, in the "Wholesalers Foodservice" category, three profiles stand out.

Among the nominees for the 2025-2026 edition is Johan Vermeire. An experienced manager in the retail and foodservice sectors, he has held the position of General Manager B2B Food Retail within the Colruyt Group since 2022. In this capacity, he holds ultimate responsibility for all activities of Retail Partners Colruyt Group, Delitraiteur, Solucious, Colex, and Culinoa. He also sits on the Colruyt Group's executive committee, where he coordinates and steers all of the group's B2B Food activities.

Johan is recognized as a committed professional with deep expertise in foodservice, retail strategy, and change management. He has built a rich and diverse career path, combining national and international experience, notably within the Delhaize Group, Le Pain Quotidien, and GlaxoSmithKline. Throughout his career, he has held several commercial roles in the areas of purchasing, supply chain, and sales. This field experience has been reinforced by several international management training programs, notably at INSEAD and Vlerick Business School.

In his approach to leadership, Johan places a particular emphasis on consistency, operational excellence, and strategic stability. He also highlights the importance of the local roots of retail and explicitly recognizes the essential societal and social role that local shops play in the economic and social fabric.