Las Vegas, NV, 2017-Feb-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — The National Grocers Association (NGA) today (Feb 14, 2017) revealed this year’s top winners of its Creative Choice Awards in the Marketing and Merchandising categories. The “Outstanding Merchandiser” and “Outstanding Marketer” titles are the highest award of the Creative Choice Awards contest.
This year’s contest featured new categories and included two winners for each category, one entry from a 1 – 15 store operator and one entry from a 15+ store operator. Over 300 entries were judged based on the criteria of creativity, clarity and effectiveness by a panel of industry experts. The Outstanding Merchandiser and Outstanding Marketer recipients were selected from a list of category winners and were determined by both the judges, and through online voting, which incorporated nearly 3,000 votes.
Outstanding Merchandiser was awarded to Festival Foods for its “Eat Well Ad campaign entry. Festival Foods’ team of registered dietitians developed a quarterly Eat Well ad that encompassed affordable and healthy recipes. Within these ads, family favorite recipes were selected and merchandized together in their stores.
The title of Outstanding Marketer was awarded to Broulim’s Video Campaign “Hear from Customers Like You.” Broulim’s hired a film crew to visit the homes of five Broulim’s Online customers, and produced various customer testimonial spots and interview highlight videos featuring the personal stories of the benefits and convenience of online grocery shopping were produced for the store. Broulim’s then launched a video marketing campaign to engage their communities, relay the convenience of grocery shopping online, and to get their audience excited about trying the service.
“The Creative Choice Awards Contest is a wonderful program that recognizes the talented, creative and innovative campaigns of independent grocers all across the country,” said Peter J. Larkin, president and CEO of NGA. “It brings attention and acclaim to these fantastic events that add an element of fun and excitement to the shopping experience, and are largely unseen outside of the local market.”
The annual Creative Choice Awards contest, sponsored by Kellogg’s and Unilever, honors the best marketing and merchandising programs in the independent supermarket industry that have boosted store traffic, increased item or department sales, positively impacted overall store sales or provided a unique benefit to the community. Marketing campaigns and merchandising events or promotions held between December 1, 2015 and December 1, 2016 were eligible for this year’s contest. To learn more, visit www.NGACreativeChoice.com.
Full list of 2017 Creative Choice Awards winners are posted below:
Marketing
Category 1: Connections through Social Media and Digital Marketing
1 – 15 Store Winner: Broulim’s Video Campaign: Hear from Customers
Like You, Broulim’s Fresh Foods
15+ Store Winner: HARPS 50% Off Produce, Harps Food Stores
Category 2: Connections through TV and Radio
1 – 15 Store Winner: Kaune’s Branding Campaign,
Kaune’s Neighborhood Market
15+ Store Winner: It’s the Little Things, Festival Foods
Category 3: Connections through Print
1 – 15 Store Winner: Shindigs (Holiday Recipe Guide), Newport Avenue Market
15+ Store Winner: MORE Rewards Ad Scape in St. Cloud Times, Coborn’s
Category 4: Integrated Marketing Campaign
1 – 15 Store Winner: Black Box Coffee Bar and Donuttery Grand Opening, Country Harvest
15+ Store Winner: Battle at Bristol Campaign, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc.
Category 5: Grand Opening or Remodel
1 – 15 Store Winner: Ron’s Country Market Remodel, Ron’s Country Market
15+ Store Winner: Harvest Market Grand Opening, Niemann Foods, Inc.
Merchandising
Category 6: Single Manufacturer Event
1 – 15 Store Winner: Kids Week – “Surf’s Up!” with Kemps, Chris’ Food Center
15+ Store Winner: Race for the Ryder Cup, Karns Food
Category 7: Store Event
1 – 15 Store Winner: Meet the Ranchers Store Event, Newport Avenue Market
15+ Store Winner: Eat Fresh. Eat Local., Associated Retail Operations
Category 8: Public Service or Charitable Cause Event
1 – 15 Store Winner: WPVGA Potato Contest, Trig’s (T.A. Solberg Co., Inc)
15+ Store Winner: World Largest Pineapple Display, Coborn’s
Category 9: Center Store/GM/HBC
1 – 15 Store Winner: Champagne’s Market & Kitchenary,
Champagne’s Market & The Kitchenary
15+ Store Winner: Eat Well ad campaign, Festival Foods
Category 10: Perimeter Departments
1 – 15 Store Winner: Fromage Fantastique, West Seattle Thriftway
15+ Store Winner: Birchberry Soup Program, Associated Food Stores
Contact:
Tel: (703) 516-0700
Fax: (703) 516-0115
Source: NGA