NGA Celebrates 2020 Creative Choice Award Winners

The National Grocers Association (NGA) hosted the annual Creative Choice Awards program, presented by Kellogg’s and Unilever, to honor and recognize the best marketing and merchandising programs in the grocery industry. The annual contest also honors the best promotions and community events that have boosted store traffic, increased item or department sales, positively impacted overall store sales and provided a unique benefit to the community to enable them to stand out creatively. Entries were judged by a panel of 26 industry experts.

The contest features 11 categories with two winners from each: one entry from a 1-15 store operator and the other from an operator with more than 15 stores.

From the category winners, one “Outstanding Marketer” and one “Outstanding Merchandiser” will be selected by the independent supermarket community through online voting and will be revealed during the Super Breakfast Session.

Connections Through Social Media

1-15 Store Winner: 
"Hip Foodie Mom"
Metcalfe’s

Honorable Mention: 
"Donut Goes to Space on National Donut Day"
Bowman’s Market

Connections Through Social Media

15+ Store Winner: 
"Healthy Tip Tuesday"
Coborn’s

Honorable Mentions: 
"Pharmacy Clinical Services Launch"
Associated Retail Operations

"ShopeRite Summer Getaway"
ShopRite Supermarkets

Connections Through Digital Market or Mobile

1-15 Store Winner: 
"Donut Goes to Space on National Donut Day"
Bowman’s Market

Honorable Mention: 
"Market Madness"
Dorothy Lane Market

Connections Through Digital Market or Mobile

15+ Store Winner: 
"Daily Delights Loyalty Offers"
Remke Markets

Honorable Mention: 
"Picky on Produce & Fuel Bucks"
K-VA-T Food Stores

Traditional Media: TV or Radio

1-15 Store Winner: 
"Grand Opening"
Shoppers Value Foods

Honorable Mention: 
"Our Patio Is Open for Summer"
My Fresh Basket

Traditional Media: TV or Radio

15+ Store Winner: 
"Butcher Makes It Better"
K-VA-T Food Stores

Honorable Mention: 
“Meatier-ologist” 
Sentry Foods

Traditional Media: Print

1-15 Store Winner: 
"We Believe"
Newport Avenue Market

Honorable Mention: 
"Apple Market"
Docs Food Stores

Traditional Media: Print

15+ Store Winner: 
"Peach Party"
Sendik’s Food Market

Honorable Mention: 
"It’s More Than Food It’s My Big Y"
Big Y

Grand Opening or Remodel

1-15 Store Winner: 
"Gateway West Grand Opening"
Hornbacher's Osgood

Honorable Mention: 
"Grand Opening"
Super One Foods

Local, Specialty, Emerging Products

1-15 Store Winner: 
"Coffee Crawl"
Dorothy Lane Market

Honorable Mention: 
"CBD Central:
Nutrition Smart

Local, Specialty, Emerging Products

15+ Store Winner: 
"That’s Smart Launch"
Coborn’s

Honorable Mentions: 
"Brookshire’s Local Fest"
Brookshire Grocery Co.

"Old Trapper"
Harps Food Stores

Seasonal Store Event

1-15 Store Winner: 
"Holiday Cheese Extravaganza Making the Big Cheese Bigger"
Acquistapace

Honorable Mentions: 
"Black Friday Event"
Dorothy Lane Market

"Make It Merry! Trig’s Mistletoe Market Rebrand"
Trig’s

Seasonal Store Event

15+ Store Winner: 
"Taste of Italy"
Brookshire Grocery Co.

Honorable Mention: 
"Produce Anchored Events"
Associated Retail Operations

Community Engagement

1-15 Store Winner: 
"Facebook Post Goes Viral"
Dill’s Food City IGA

Honorable Mention:
"Wauwatosa Art Show"
Metcalfe’s

Community Engagement

15+ Store Winner: 
"Big Grocery Cart"
Brookshire Grocery Co.

Honorable Mentions: 
"It’s More than Food It’s My Big Y"
Big Y Foods

"Brookshire’s and Super 1 Foods Heroes Run"
Brookshire Grocery Co.

Center Store/GM/Frozen/HBC Category

1-15 Store Winner: 
"Food Explorer Series"
Dorothy Lane Market

Honorable Mention: 
"Holiday Cookie Walk"
Jerry’s Foods Eden Prairie

Center Store/GM/Frozen/HBC Category

15+ Store Winner: 
"Moonlight Madness Sale"
Foodland/Food Giant

Honorable Mention: 
"Craft Soda Pick 6 for $6"
Skogen’s Festival Foods

1-15 Store Winner: Food Explorer, Dorothy Lane Market

Honorable Mention:
"Holiday Cheese Extravaganza Making the Big Cheese Bigger"
Acquistapace Covington Market

Honorable Mention: 
"Plant Based Protein Push"
Burns Family Neighborhood Market

Fresh Departments

15+ Store Winner: 
"Pi Day"
Cub Lake Street

Honorable Mentions: 
"FRESH by Brookshire’s Dry Aged Beef Program"
Brookshire Grocery Co.

"What’s Poppin’ & Hatch Chile Event"
Harps Food Stores

Unilever Sustainable Living Award

"Bag Ban"
Rudy’s Markets

Kellogg’s Fighting Hunger and Feeding Potential

"Spirit of Christmas Food Drive"
Brookshire Grocery Co.