Golden Penguin Awards Recognize Outstanding Merchandising for March Frozen Food Month in USA
The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA-headquartered National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has awarded 21 Gold Penguins and three Amber Penguins in recognition of the best promotions for the 30th annual March Frozen Food Month. In addition, 35 companies were recognized with Silver Penguin awards. The prestigious Golden Penguin Award symbolizes excellence in merchandising and promotion in the frozen food industry.
The special Amber penguin commemorates three consecutive Gold awards in the same category. The Gold and Amber awards will be presented at the Grand Awards Banquet during NFRA’s Convention in San Diego, California, October 22, 2013. Silver awards are typically presented at the local level at appropriate frozen food association meetings.
A complete list of the winners follows:
GOLD WINNERS
Co-Op Wholesaler
- Wakefern Corporation, Keasbey, NJ
- Corporate Wholesaler
Bozzuto’s Inc., Cheshire, CT
Local Frozen Food Assn. Over 50 Members
- Frozen Food Council of Northern California, Hollister, CA
- Manufacturer – Branded
- Ateeco Inc./Mrs. T’s Pierogies, Shenandoah, PA
Military Commissary Overall Store Promotion
- Yokota Commissary, APO AP*
Assisted By: Acosta Sales & Marketing (Military Division), APO AP
Military Commissary Best Department Display
- Yokota Commissary, APO AP,
Assisted By: Acosta Sales & Marketing (Military Division), APO AP
Military Commissary Best Endcap Display
- Fort Bragg North Commissary, Fort Bragg, NC
Assisted By: Acosta Sales & Marketing, Jacksonville, NC - Sheppard AFB Commissary, Sheppard AFB, TX
Military Sales Agent
- Acosta Military, Norfolk, VA*
Retail Corporate Chain or Division 10 – 50 Stores
- Harmons Grocery, West Valley, UT
Retail Corporate Chain or Division Over 50 Stores
- Weis Markets, Sunbury, PA
Assisted By: Crane Communications Inc., Bala Cynwyd, PA
Retail Sales Agent
- Douglas Sales Associates, Inc., Piscataway, NJ
Retail Supermarket Overall Store Promotion
- Chris’ Food Center, Sandstone, MN
Assisted By: Dean Foods, Esko, MN
Retail Supermarket Best Department Display
- Kings Supermarket #49, Bedminster, NJ
Assisted By: Douglas Sales Associates,Inc., Piscataway, NJ - Wharton ShopRite, Wharton, NJ
Assisted By: Douglas Sales Associates,Inc., Piscataway, NJ
Retail Supermarket Best Endcap Display
- Top Supermarket #520 – Dansville, Dansville, NY
Assisted By: Nestle USA – Pizza Division, Derby, NY
* Will Receive an Amber Penguin
SILVER WINNERS
Co-Op Wholesaler
- Associated Wholesalers, Inc., Robesonia, PA
Corporate Wholesaler
- Supervalu, Pleasant Prairie, WI
Local Frozen Food Assn. Over 50 Members
- Frozen & Refrigerated Foods of Central Florida, Temple Terrace, FL
- North Florida Frozen & Refrigerated Food Association, Fleming Island, FL
Military Commissary Overall Store Promotion
- Camp Foster Commissary, APO AP, CA
Assisted By: Ruiz Foods, Dinuba, CA
Military Commissary Best Department Display
- Fort Bragg North Commissary, Fort Bragg, NC
Assisted By: Acosta Sales & Marketing - Ft. Leonard Wood Commissary, Fort Leonard Wood, MO
Assisted By: Acosta Sales & Marketing (Military Division), Norfolk, VA - McClellan AFB, McClellan AFB, CA
Military Commissary Best Endcap Display
- Eglin Commissary, Eglin AFB, FL
Assisted By: Acosta, Fort Walton Beach, FL - Ft. Sam Houston Commissary, San Antonio, TX
Assisted By: Advantage Marketing, San Antonio, TX
Military Sales Agent
- Dunham & Smith Agencies, Prince George, VA
Retail Corporate Chain or Division Less than 10 Stores
- Dan’s Supreme Key Food, Hempstead, NY
Retail Corporate Chain or Division 10 – 50 Stores
- Albertsons LLC South West, Tolleson, AZ
- Food Maxx Supermarkets, Turlock, CA
- Kings Food Markets, Parsippany, NJ
- Mars Supermarkets, Baltimore, MD
Retail Corporate Chain or Division Over 50 Stores
- A & P, Montvale, NJ
- Ahold USA, Carlisle, PA
- Key Foods, Staten Island, NY
- Roundys Supermarkets Inc., Milwaukee, WI
- Safeway Inc., Pleasanton, CA
- Save Mart Supermarkets, Modesto, CA
Retail Sales Agent
- Acosta Sales & Marketing – Safeway Team, Pleasanton, CA
Retail Supermarket Best Department Display
- Save Mart #94, Lathrop, CA
- Shoprite of Manahawkin, Manahawkin, NJ
Assisted By: Douglas Sales Associates, Inc., Piscataway, NJ
Retail Supermarket Best Endcap Display
- Albertson’s #981, Chandler, AZ
Assisted By: Co-Sales Co., Phoenix, AZ - Bashas #110, Mesa, AZ
Assisted By: The Pictsweet Company, Bells, TN
Judging was done by qualified marketing professionals from accredited colleges and universities. Judges looked for the best creative effort during a full 30-day program. Winning entries demonstrated the effective use of promotional elements such as in-store programs, advertising, consumer education, creative use of merchandising materials and special displays.
Joined by 18 participating brands, NFRA increased awareness for March Frozen Food Month by distributing a three-page free standing insert including coupons and package shots to over 36 million consumers across the country on March 3, 2013. NFRA partnered with DreamWorks Animation and the theatre release of The Croods. The tie-in encouraged consumers to “Discover A Whole New World of Frozen” and enter the DreamWorks Family Adventure Sweepstakes hosted on NFRA’s EasyHomeMeals.com consumer website. Fans of NFRA’s Easy Home Meals Facebook page had the chance to win a Freezer Giveaway courtesy of Hussmann. A Hussmann® 6.73 cu. ft. glass top freezer was awarded each week during March.
The promotion was enhanced by many PR initiatives. A behind-the-scenes video told the story of the frozen food journey from the field to the family table and was pitched to national media and used online. A Cool Food panel of bloggers acted as frozen food ambassadors illustrating the message that frozen food is Real Food – Frozen.
Golden Penguins will also be awarded for quality marketing plans during June Dairy Month and the June/July Ice Cream & Novelties display contest. For more information on any of the Golden Penguin competitions, contact NFRA by telephone: 1 717-657-8601.
