Randy Bonner, Spains Supermarket, Grenada, Miss., Jeff Stewart, Piggly Wiggly, Bonifay, Fla., and Sharon Brennan, Viking Village Foods, Reedsburg, Wis., were crowned first place winners of the 2008 Idaho Potato Commission's (IPC) Potato Lover's Month retail display contest.


Bonner, (one to five cash register category), Stewart, (six to nine registers), and Brennan, (10-plus registers), were chosen among 1,886 entries. More that $150,000 in cash and merchandise prizes were presented to winning retailers across the country.

First place ad overlay winner was Shawn Parce, Viking Village Foods, while first place military display winners were Robert Nolan, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., (West); and Debbie Clark, McGuire Air Force Base, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. (East).

"Retailers seem to love the opportunity to be creative, increase produce sales and possibly win some cash and prizes," said Seth Pemsler, IPC's v.p., retail/international, noting that for every year for the past 17, retailers have pulled out all stops to build innovative, creative Idaho Potato display. "Feedback from this contest has always been extremely positive," Pemsler said, extending congratulations to the winners and to everyone who submitted an entry.