NGA Reveals 2022 Creative Choice Awards Winners

The National Grocers Association, along with sponsoring partners The Kellogg Co. and Unilever, have announced the winners of its annual Creative Choice Awards Contest, which honors and recognizes the best marketing and merchandising programs in the grocery industry.

Judged by a panel of industry experts and trade press members, the contest features eight categories in which one winner and at least one honorable mention are chosen. The judges determined category winners based on creativity, clarity, innovation and effectiveness of each entry. Additionally, two special recognition award winners were selected. The contest received more than 300 entries and winners will be recognized at The NGA Show, set for Feb. 27-March 1 in Las Vegas.

“After another year of challenges driven by the coronavirus pandemic, independent community grocers continued to demonstrate their creativity and ability to innovate,” said Laura Strange, NGA’s SVP of communications and external affairs, in a statement. “Their uncanny ability to create campaigns and deliver messages that resonate with consumers shined brightly and impressed our judges yet again.”

From the category winners, one Outstanding Marketer and one Outstanding Merchandiser will be selected by the independent supermarket community and their supporters through online voting, open now through Feb. 23. Marketing and merchandising category winners will be highlighted at The NGA Show. Winners of the Outstanding Marketer/Merchandiser title will receive complimentary registration to the 2023 NGA Show.

Here are the winners, by category:

Connections Through Social Media 

1- to 15-stores winner – Harvest Market/Niemann Foods – Cooking with Emily

15-plus stores winner – Pioneer Supermarkets/Associated Supermarket Group – Be the Good Neighbor

Connections Through Digital Marketing or Mobile

1- to 15-stores winner – Dorothy Lane Market – Self Care 

15-plus stores winner – ARS Food Town – Three Ingredient Challenge

Traditional Media: TV, Radio and Print

1- to 15-stores winner – Dorothy Lane Market – Difference Commercials

15-plus stores winner – Fresh Encounter – Nourish Your Mind

Grand Opening or Remodel

1- to 15-stores winner – Trig’s Minocqua

15-plus stores winner – Coborn’s Buffalo

Local, Specialty or Emerging Products

1- to 15-stores winner –LaBonne’s Market – Luke, I Am Your Fascia

15-plus stores winner –Roche Bros. – Football Food Fun

Community Engagement

1- to 15-stores winner –Metcalfe’s – Social Bands

15-plus stores winner – Weis Markets – Honoring Our Veterans

Center Store/Frozen/GM/HBC

1- to 15-stores winner – Chris Food Center – Stars of the Store Featuring March Frozen Food 

15-plus stores winner – SpartanNash – Score Big

Fresh Departments

1- to 15-stores winner – Metcalfe’s – Build Your Feast

15-plus stores winner – Lowe’s Market – Mealtime Made Easy

Special Recognition

Supermarket Superheroes Award, presented by Kellogg’s – Fresh Encounter Inc. – Nourish Your Mind

Excellence in Agility Award, presented by Unilever – SpartanNash – Cheers! Beer & Wine Sale