The Alabama Retail Association has chosen its finalists for the 2018 Alabama Retailer of the Year awards. Stores throughout Alabama were nominated for the title. Each store then had to complete an application to be reviewed by judges. Three locally owned stores were nominated for the honor.  Even though none of the local businesses placed as finalists, Sheryl Smedley, executive director of the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, said she will be making nominations again next year. Each May Smedley nominates local businesses for the award.

“We did not receive an award this year but came very close with KFC,” she said.

This year, KFC of Selma, was nominated in the $1 million-$5 million category, Pringle Petals in the Emerging Business (5years of less) category and Four Seasons Garden Center in the $1 million or less in sales category.

“Each business was proud to have been nominated,” Smedley said.

KFC of Selma, owned by Mark Woodson, is ranked as one of the top 10 KFC’s in terms of sales. The store received 817 votes, 54 positive comments from customers and placed sixth out of the 54 entries in the Customers’ Choice contest.

One of the judges for the contest was reported as saying, “Selma is not an on-fire market, and for that city to have one of the biggest KFCs in the country, is phenomenal.”

Four Seasons Garden Center, owned by Rosalie Bjelke, received more than 250 votes in the Customers’ Choice contest.

Finalists will be honored on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at the annual Alabama Retail Day luncheon in Birmingham.