Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith honored the Germantown Fresh Market with the 2026 Charles Richmond Excellence in Scanning Award for their commitment to accurate pricing in the county. Keith presented the award to store manager Joe Kraly and district manager Jenny Pyle in a ceremony in the produce section.

Keith presents the award annually to a local business that goes ‘above and beyond’ to ensure accurate pricing. Germantown Fresh Market has earned perfect scores on their annual price inspections for the past nine years. The Auditor's Office Weights and Measures inspectors conduct unannounced inspections at local retailers to confirm that posted item prices match prices at checkout.

“Consumers should feel confident that the price they see on the shelf is the price they pay at checkout,” said Auditor Karl Keith. “Germantown Fresh Market, with more than 17,000 items on its shelves, has demonstrated a strong commitment to accuracy and customer service, and we are proud to recognize their efforts with this award.”

In 2025, the Auditor’s Weights and Measures inspectors conducted 448 inspections at retailers across the county, including the Germantown Fresh Market, checking prices on almost 24,000 items. 

The Charles Richmond award is named for a Montgomery County inspector who died after 20 years on the job. He was the first inspector in Ohio to find a gas station skimmer.

Local retailers were not always so dedicated to pricing accuracy. In the early 2000s, it was common for 15-25% of retailers to fail a scanning test, according to Keith. He established the award to encourage retailers to improve their pricing accuracy, and scanning scores have improved since that time.

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