NGA Unveils Creative Choice Award Winners

K-VA-T Food Stores’ $100,000 Treasure Hunt campaign commemorating its 100th anniversary in 2018 earned NGA’s Creative Choice award in
the Connections Through Social Media and Digital Marketing/15 store category.

The National Grocers Association revealed its slate of winners of its 2019 Creative Choice Awards contest, which honors the best marketing and merchandising programs in the grocery industry that have positively impacted sales, had a unique benefit to the community and raise the bar for creativity in the independent grocery sector.

Sponsored by Kellogg’s and Unilever, the 2019 Creative Choice winners were selected from more than 500 entries submitted by supermarket operators throughout the country. A panel of 30 industry experts judged entries on the criteria of creativity and effectiveness. The contest featured 10 categories, with two winners for each. Marketing campaigns and merchandising events that occurred between Dec. 1, 2017, and Dec. 1, 2018, were eligible for submission.

Voting is now open for the pinnacle Creative Choice Awards—Outstanding Merchandiser and Outstanding Marketer—through Feb. 18. Click here to cast a vote.

The two top Creative Choice winners will be announced at the NGA Show on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the Super Breakfast Session. Those not planning on attending The NGA Show can watch a Facebook Live broadcast of the awards ceremony at 7:30 a.m. (PST) at facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn.

The full list of 2019 Creative Choice category winners:

Marketing

Category 1: Connections Through Social Media and Digital Marketing

1-15 Store Winner: NuNu’s Cauliflower Boudin, NuNu’s Markets

15 Store Winner: $100,000 Treasure Hunt, K-VA-T Food Stores

Category 2: Connections Through TV Radio

1-15 Store Winner: Cecil K’s First Annual Christmas Tree Decorating Contest, Cecil K’s Hometown Market

15 Store Winner: Coborn’s Delivers TV Spot, Coborn’s Inc.

Category 3: Connections Through Print

1-15 Store Winner: Fresh Grocer Local Vendor Sale, Burns Family Neighborhood Market

15 Store Winner: ShopRite Celebrates Chinese New Year, ShopRite

Category 4: Integrated Marketing Campaign

1-15 Store Winner: App Launch, Macey’s

15 Store Winner: Festival Foods Fresh Is Art Integrated Marketing Campaign, Skogen’s Festival Foods

Category 5: Grand Opening or Remodel

1-15 Store Winner:  Doc’s Country Mart Grand Reopening, Doc’s Food Stores

15 Store Winner: PriceRite Innovation Stores, PriceRite/Wakefern

Merchandising

Category 6: Single Manufacturer Event

1-15 Store Winner: Nutrition Smart and Ancient Nutrition Presents: Dr. Josh Axe & Jordan Rubin, Nutrition Smart

15 Store Winner: Roche Bros. Launches One Mighty Mill Into Retail, Roche Bros. Supermarkets

Category 7: Store Event

1-15 Store Winner:  Prime Rib Dinner for 2!, T.A. Solberg Inc.

15 Store Winner: FY’19 Free Turkey Promotion, Shop ’n Save/Pittsburgh Division, Supervalu/UNFI

Category 8: Public Service or Charitable Cause Event

1-15 Store Winner: Pets Need Food Too, Walla Walla’s Harvest Foods

15 Store Winner: Food for A Cause Campaign, Coborn’s Inc.

Category 9: Center Store/GM/HBC

1-15 Store Winner:  DLM Savings on the 7th Anniversary Sale, Dorothy Lane Market

15 Store Winner: ShopRite Celebrates Chinese New Year, ShopRite

Category 10: Perimeter Departments

1-15 Store Winner: Turkey Red Wheat: Our Field of Dreams, Dorothy Lane Market

15 Store Winner: Chicken Shack, Coborn’s Inc.

More information about NGA’s 2019 Creative Choice winners can be found here.