Food Lion Lets Public Judge Baby Contest

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion is the latest retailer to kick off a baby contest, only it’s putting an interesting spin on it by letting shoppers chose the winner. Baby photos can be uploaded through Feb. 3 on Food Lion’s “Baby Steps” website, foodlion.com/babysteps. One new photo can be uploaded each day. After Food Lion chooses the finalists, shoppers can vote for their favorites Feb. 9-28. “The entry with the most votes will win, so tell all your friends and family to start voting on Feb. 9,” Food Lion says in promotional materials. The grand prize winner will get a $1,000 Food Lion gift card that can be used toward a year's worth of groceries, and a $600 Food Lion gift card for a year's worth of diapers. One first-prize winner will get a $600 gift card that can be used toward diapers, and 25 second prizes winners will get a Food Lion gift basket consisting of a $20 Food Lion gift card, Tossables disposable plates, Huggies baby wipes and other merchandise. Food Lion joins a growing number of retailers who are putting babies in the spotlight. Last year, H.E. Butt Grocery Co. ran a “beautiful baby” contest for a chance to win a grand prize of a $2,000 H-E-B gift card, a $500 shopping spree in a local H-E-B Plus! baby department, and a one-year supply of H-E-B diapers and H-E-B wipes. The winning baby was to be featured on the cover of “H-E-B goodness!” magazine. Likewise, Safeway chose two shoppers’ children to adorn its private-label packaging. Eleven-month-old Matthew Zipper of Portland was chosen for the O Organics for Baby line, and 2-year-old Presley Parsons of Austin for O Organics for Toddler. Both youngsters won a photo contest to have their pictures on packaging and in-store print advertising.

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