Idaho Potato Lovers retail display contest seeks eye-catching entries

For the first time, the Idaho Potato Lovers retail display contest will award three grand prizes in 2024. Each lucky random sweepstakes winner will take home a Traeger meat smoker and complete smoking kit, according to a news release.

“As the Idaho Potato Commission contest becomes more popular every year, we wanted to reward more produce managers for all of the time and effort they put into promoting Idaho potatoes,” Ross Johnson, vice president of retail and international for IPC, said in the release. “So this year, we will be doing a sweepstakes drawing in each region of the country, giving entrants an even better chance of winning a grand prize.”

The Potato Lover’s BBQ package grand prize includes a Traeger Pro wood-pellet grill, a full-length grill cover, a Meater block thermometer accessory and a $250 Traeger gift card, according to the release.

In addition, the sweepstakes winner’s category manager will also receive a Potato Lover’s BBQ package grand prize.

“Our goal is to unleash produce managers’ creativity, just as potatoes allow consumers to get creative in their kitchens,” Johnson said. “The Idaho Potato Lovers contest has become something that produce managers all over the country love — it’s an opportunity for them to do something different from what they do every day as they run their departments.”

Produce departments win during the contest too, Johnson said, thanks to higher sales driven by eye-catching secondary displays during what is traditionally a slower sales period of the year. IPC research has found that test stores with secondary displays of Idaho russets deliver a nearly 10 times growth advantage, while comparison stores with no secondary displays achieve an average category growth of only 2.5%, according to the release. Johnson added that secondary displays of any size can generate winning results; it’s creativity that counts with both customers and IPC retail display contest judges.

The Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest runs from Feb. 1 through April 15. Retailers can participate by building an attractive and memorable display in the produce department that incorporates fresh Idaho potatoes (bag, bulk or both) with a clear label showing the Idaho name and the “Grown in Idaho” seal, along with a clearly marked Idaho dehydrated potato product, according to the release. (Displays may not include potato products from other states.) The display must be up in the store’s produce section for at least one week during the contest period.

The display must also use IPC 2024 special-themed POS materials: two double-sided Idaho Potato Lovers logo display signs, one large and two small double-sided signs featuring an appetizing photo, and three inflatable Mylar Idaho potato balloons. More POS clip art and recipes are available at idahopotato.com/retail.

Display entries can be any size but are limited to one per store. Retailers will compete with other same-size stores in one of the following categories: one to five cash registers, six to nine cash registers or 10-plus cash registers. Within each store category, entrants are eligible to win these prizes:

• First place — $1,500.
• Second place — $1,000.
• Third place – $750.
• Fourth place — $500.
• Fifth place — $250.
• Honorable Mention — $100 (100 selected from remaining entries).

The Category Manager Match Program will award equivalent prizes to corporate category managers for stores that qualify for a first- through fifth-place prize, including a chance to win one of the three Traeger grand prizes. 

Idaho Potato Lovers display contest details

Here’s how to enter the 2024 Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest:

• Using fresh Idaho potatoes (bag, bulk or both) and an Idaho dehydrated potato product, develop an eye-catching display following the contest rules.
• Put up the display in your store’s produce section for at least one week between Feb. 1 and April 15.
• Submit up to five photos of the display (taken with a good camera on its highest-quality photo setting) and an entry form (available at idahopotato.com/retail) to the IPC so that it’s received no later than April 15. Top winners will be notified by June 1, and all winners will be posted by June 15 on idahopotato.com/retail.

All entries will be judged on a point system based on creativity of the display, salability of the display and Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest signage, according to the release.