Hall of Fame Awards
NFRA recognizes leaders in the frozen and refrigerated foods industry in a variety of ways. The Frozen Food Hall of Fame and Refrigerated Hall of Fame honor industry executives for their dedication and valuable contributions to the industry.
Refrigerated Food Hall of Fame
Established in 2010, the Refrigerated Food Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions and demonstrated outstanding leadership, advancing the refrigerated food industry. Inductees are honored for their impact to the category and to supporting NFRA’s mission. The honorees are formally recognized during the NFRA’s Annual Membership Luncheon, held each October at the NFRA Convention.
2025 Refrigerated Food Inductees
Tom Robaczewski
Tom Robaczewski has more than 40 years of experience in the grocery industry, spanning retail, brokerage, and manufacturing. He spent 23 years at Dominick’s Finer Foods, including 13 years as Buyer and Category Manager, before moving into brokerage for 14 years—where he first became involved with NFRA. In 2012, he joined Bays Bakery, later acquired by Bimbo Bakeries USA, where he led national refrigerated sales efforts, including the Lender’s Bagels line. For 15 consecutive years, he attended the NFRA Convention as a one-man sales team, meeting with more than 20 retailers annually—contributing to 12 years of consistent sales growth. He served on the NFRA Board of Directors for many years, and is a member of the Honorable Order of Golden Penguins.
Joey Bates
has more than 30 years of experience in the grocery industry, holding leadership roles in store operations, merchandising, and brand development. Since joining Harris Teeter in 2001, he has overseen categories including Grocery, Dairy, Frozen Foods, Beverages, and Bakery, and served as Dairy Category Manager and Director of Private Brands. A longtime advocate for the refrigerated category, Bates played a key role in introducing innovative products and bringing emerging brands to Harris Teeter shelves. He served on the NFRA Board of Directors from 2013 to 2023, chaired the Refrigerated Food Council from 2021 to 2023, served on the New Member Committee, presented to the Small Business Council, and helped launch the NFRA Convention’s Speed Meetings. He is also a member of the Honorable Order of Golden Penguins.
Frozen Food Hall of Fame
The Frozen Food Hall of Fame was established in 1990 by the Distinguished Order of Zerocrats, an organization of frozen food industry members whose purpose is to maintain the tradition of promoting the image and advancement of the frozen food industry. These members nominate and vote on the newest inductees, whose dedication and hard work have greatly benefited the industry. Today, NFRA and AFFI (American Frozen Food Institute) host the annual ceremony honoring the imagination and innovation that have ensured the continued growth and success of the frozen food industry.
2024 Frozen Food Inductees
H.V. “Skip” Shaw
retired as the President/CEO of the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA). He was instrumental in bringing the refrigerated category into the National Frozen Food Association before it became NFRA. Skip spearheaded the launch of the association’s consumer PR campaigns, which continue to enhance the impact of the frozen and refrigerated food categories to consumers today. Skip joined NFRA in June 1984 as Director of Membership Services. He was named Vice President in 1986, Executive Vice President in 1987, and assumed additional duties as COO in 2001. Skip became President and CEO following the retirement of Nevin Montgomery in 2010, and dedicated 36 years of his career to the association. He is a member of the Honorable Order of Golden Penguins, the Distinguished Order of Zerocrats, and was inducted last year into the Refrigerated Food Hall of Fame.
William “Bill” H. Kitchens
was a retired Partner at Arnall Golden Gregory LLP and former General Counsel of the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association. For 25 years, he provided legal guidance to NFRA and its leadership, playing a critical role in integrating refrigerated foods into the association’s operations. Bill previously served as senior counsel in the Food & Drug practice and as a member of the Life Sciences industry team. He served as the firm’s managing partner from 1996 to 2008 and as chairman of the Healthcare practice. Bill’s practice focused on food and drug law and government investigations, advising companies in the food, medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries on a wide range of issues. Bill published numerous books and articles on food and drug law and regulatory law topics. He was an adjunct professor at Emory University School of Law, where he taught food and drug law for 40 years. Bill received recognition in 2017 with a Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2014 as the Atlanta Biotechnology Law Lawyer of the Year.
