Watermelon board announces display contest award winners

The National Watermelon Board received 220 entries from retail chains, independent retailers and commissaries for its annual display contest, and the board has named Powell’s Supermarket in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, as the grand prize winner for 2020.

“The entries we received this year went above and beyond,” Juliemar Rosado, director of retail and international marketing for the watermelon board, said in a news release. “Powell’s Supermarket — this year’s grand prize winner — really explored every avenue of promotion and merchandising, using in-store optics and collateral materials and extending health messaging online and in their social media. It was great to see all the unique spins on merchandising across the stores.”

Valerie Morgan, public relations and marketing coordinator for Powell’s Supermarket, said the store had great fun getting creative with fresh watermelons.

“Our team not only put together an eye-catching watermelon display, but we included fun and educational information to accompany it both in store and online as well,” Morgan said in the release. “We are thrilled to be recognized as first-place winners, but perhaps the biggest prize of all was watching how this display put a smile on our customers’ faces as they entered our store.”

Criteria for the contest included:

  • Category visibility
  • Point-of-sale materials
  • Good visual merchandising
  • Messaging nutritional benefits, recipes and/or selection education
  • Use of print, online and/or digital platforms

Powell’s Supermarket employed tactics from time-lapse social media posts to compelling displays to virtual store tours, according to the release.

Pic
Courtesy National Watermelon Promotion Board

The other awards for the contest were:

  • Second place (two winners): Chuck’s Produce & Street Market Stores, Vancouver, Wash. — Salmon Creek and Mill Plain locations
  • Third place: Schnucks Hampton Village, St. Louis, Mo.
  • Honorable mentions: Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas; Mandela Grocery Cooperative, Oakland, Calif.; Lowes Food Store #245, Hickory, N.C.; United Grocery Outlet #30, Brevard, N.C.

The grand prize winner received $5,000, each of the second-place winners received $1,250, the third-place winner received $1,000, and each honorable mention received $500.

 

Latest News

Continental Fresh spotlights Water For All program
Continental Fresh spotlights Water For All program

Continental Fresh LLC, a grower, shipper and importer of fresh fruits and vegetables from Latin America is celebrating its Water For All program.

The impact of postharvest research on produce quality and flavor
The impact of postharvest research on produce quality and flavor

Elizabeth Mitcham, director emeritus of the Postharvest Technology Center, talks about innovations in postharvest technology, challenges to delivering fresh fruits and vegetables and the future of postharvest research.

Retailers discuss contending with changing consumers, supply chain issues
Retailers discuss contending with changing consumers, supply chain issues

Representatives with three U.S.-based retailers addressed challenges and opportunities the produce industry faces during a panel at the recent Canadian Produce Marketing Association Conference and Trade Show.

Sunkist holding California Star Ruby grapefruit display contest
Sunkist holding California Star Ruby grapefruit display contest

Sunkist’s National Display Contest for its California Star Ruby grapefruit will award prizes to the produce managers of the top three winning stores.

Industry alliance: European packaging rules raise trade and food safety concerns
Industry alliance: European packaging rules raise trade and food safety concerns

New packaging rules adopted by the European Parliament raise serious trade and food safety concerns, says the Alliance for Sustainable Packaging for Foods.

Consumers, retailers drive growth of new grape varieties
Consumers, retailers drive growth of new grape varieties

The world of table grapes has expanded exponentially from traditional red and green varieties to today’s plethora of cultivars with appearance, flavor and size characteristics.