Skip to main content

Speakers

subpage hero

Loading
James Neumann

James Neumann

President, ValuMarket

James Neumann is the President of Valu Discount Inc, d.b.a. ValuMarket  Louisville Kentucky.  James has been around the grocery business all of his life starting at a young age going to work with his father Frank on weekends.  ValuMarket is a family owned grocery that has been in the Neumann family since 1978.  James and his older brother Greg have carried on the family tradition and grown to its current size of 4 stores.  James currently oversees perishable store operations, remodels and development, Insurance and health and wellness.  James is extremely passionate about the grocery industry and enjoys all aspects of the business.  James attends several industry share groups and is on Associated Wholesale Grocers Board of Directors. 

James served on the Kentucky Grocers Association Board of Directors since 2001 and was their Chairman in 2007/2008 and 2011/12.  James was also named the KGA grocery of the year in 2008.  He is very active in both Frankfort and Washington concerning legislation important to the grocery industry.  He has attended several Food Marketing Institute/National Grocers Association Washington Public Policy conferences, discussing policy changes to benefit the grocery industry with many Senators and Congressman.  He nurtured relationships with many State Legislators as well over his tenure with the Grocers Association.

James championed many efforts of the Kentucky Proud program and the Kentucky agricultural department.  ValuMarket has strived to help the Kentucky farmers and producers and tries to maximize farm-gate impact. James has been asked on several occasions to speak to the Agricultural Development board on behalf of Kentucky Proud and the Kentucky farmers.   ValuMarket was named the Kentucky Proud retailer of the Year in 2007.

James was appointed to the Kentucky Milk Commission in 2008 by Governor Beshear.  The Kentucky Milk Commission was established by the Kentucky Legislature to suggest ways for the State and Federal Government to assist dairy farmers in the Commonwealth.  James was also appointed to the Board of Directors of Associated Wholesale Grocers, the nations second largest Grocery Cooperative, and the largest wholesaler of groceries to independent stores in the state of Kentucky. 

James attended the University of Louisville and graduated with a BSBA in Management in 1996.   He is married to Nancy (Bizzell) Neumann and they have two children Nicholas and Meghan.  He currently resides in Louisville and enjoys spending time attending and volunteering with his children’s sporting events and activities.  He is an active member of Northeast Christian Church.