NEW YORK — Walgreens was presented with the Retail Innovator of the Year award by the National Retail Federation at the NRF Retail’s Big Show in New York City.

Alex Gourlay, president of Walgreens, accepted the award on behalf of the drug chain from Claudio Del Vecchio, chairman and chief executive officer of Brooks Brothers. NRF said the annual award recognizes a company that’s “well-known as a pioneer in the retail industry through the use of new, innovative or imaginative techniques, formats or service” and has  “demonstrated an ability to persevere in the face of challenges.”

Walgreens’ Alex Gourlay (right) accepts the Retail Innovator of the Year award from NRF board member Claudio Del Vecchio of Brooks Brothers.

Also in the food, drug and mass retail channel, NRF honored Walmart vice president of public affairs Lee Culpepper with the Silver Plaque Award. The award is presented to a senior executive at an NRF member company or retail-related organization who has achieved prominence in his or her field and “shown outstanding leadership in NRF committee work, making a major contribution to the retail industry or NRF,” the federation said.

Lee Culpepper is the vice president of public affairs at Walmart. He previously held the roles of vice president of corporate affairs and vice president of federal government relations. He joined Walmart in July 2005.

With Walmart since 2005, Culpepper currently oversees corporate reputation research and advertising, as well as issues management, advocacy, strategy. and the retailer’s federal and state grassroots outreach programs. He also leads Walmart’s efforts with external stakeholder and constituent groups and the development and execution of strategy with key organizations.

NRF’s Gold Medal Award went to Myron Ullman III, executive chairman and former chief executive officer at department store chain J.C. Penney. The award, NRF said, is given to an individual who has served the industry with distinction and achieved a national reputation for excellence, while also displaying “creative genius and inspirational leadership.”

“Mike’s storied career in retail made the decision to honor him very easy,” NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay commented about Ullman, a former NRF chairman. “NRF and our board have had the privilege of working with Mike for years and have benefitted greatly from his leadership, institutional knowledge and dedication to retail.”

Receiving honors as International Retailer of the Year was Italian food retailer Eataly, whose U.S. CEO, Nicola Farinetti, accepted the award on the company’s behalf. NRF said the award is given to a company that has achieved international recognition for excellence. Founded by entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti in Turin, Italy, Eataly is the largest Italian-themed marketplace in the world, comprising restaurants, food and beverage counters, bakery, retail items and a cooking school.

The award recipients are chosen each year by the NRF Board of Directors’ Awards Committee. The awards were presented during a keynote session on Monday as part of the NRF 105th Annual Convention and Expo, which runs through Wednesday, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.