LIVE FROM NGA: Creative Choice ‘Best of Show’ Winners Revealed

The National Grocers Association (NGA) unveiled on Monday its slate of Creative Choice “Best of Show” award-winners in the marketing and merchandising categories, during the 2014 NGA Show in Las Vegas.

NGA named Abingdon, Va.-based K-VA-T Food Stores the winner of the Best of Show in Marketing award, in recognition of the grocer’s “Salute” TV spot which honors the country’s armed forces.

The Best of Show in Merchandising was awarded to Baltimore-based B. Green & Company for its “Food Depot and Eat Right, Live Well” campaign. The effort aimed to encourage low-income shoppers to buy more healthy items in-store, the ideas of which were highlighted by Food Depot as part of its grand re-opening.

Sponsors of the program, Kellogg’s and Unilever, as well as the reception sponsor, Anheuser Busch, each chose entries to be given special recognition at the reception. Anheuser Busch selected “Ptacek's Fundraising with World Record Beer Brat,” created by Ptacek’s IGA and submitted by Affiliated Foods Midwest. Kellogg’s selected “Kellogg’s Promotion – Back to School,” created by Coborn’s Inc. And Unilever selected “Cart Race for Hunger,” created by Chris’ Food Center.

The Creative Choice Awards received more than 350 entries and were judged based on creativity, clarity and effectiveness by a panel of industry experts.

The National Grocers Association (NGA) is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry.