Thank you for voting for this year's Creative Choice Outstanding Merchandiser and Marketer! Please select one winner from each category listed below.

1.Please vote for this year's "Outstanding Marketer" from the marketing category winners below (select one):

Digital Excellence & Omnichannel Engagement (15 Stores or Less)
Pruett’s Food — “$5 Dollar Friday”

Pruett’s created a bold, digital-first event that delivered real value when families needed it most.
With coordinated promotions across social, email, and in-store screens, “$5 Friday” became more than a deal — it became a destination. The results were clear: Friday sales jumped more than 40 percent, every department felt the lift, and shoppers filled bigger baskets and kept coming back.

Digital Excellence & Omnichannel Engagement (More Than 15 Stores)
Big Y Foods — “Still a Pahty” Big Game Campaign

Big Y took a uniquely regional insight — a season where hometown teams missed the Big Game — and turned shared disappointment into shared celebration. With humor, heart, and a strong omnichannel strategy, “Still a Pahty” reminded shoppers that no matter who’s playing — the party goes on. Running across broadcast, streaming, social, digital, and in-store, the campaign delivered double-digit sales growth in key categories and surging loyalty sign-ups.

Integrated Campaigns & Innovation (15 Stores or Less)
Clark’s Market — “Clark’s Perks”

Facing seasonal slowdowns, Clark’s Market built a smarter way to reach locals — turning a simple promotion into a fully integrated loyalty campaign. By blending rewards, community giveback, and omnichannel marketing, Clark’s Perks generated more than 2,400 new members in six weeks and drove a 5 to 12 percent sales lift across stores.

Integrated Campaigns & Innovation (More than 15 Stores)
Fareway Meat & Grocery

Across 132 locations, Fareway used AI not just to reach shoppers — but to bring them through the door. By combining AI insights, geo-fencing, and localized creative, Fareway generated more than 44,000 in-store visits, beating its goal by over 80 percent and delivering a 10-to-1 return on ad spend.

Community Engagement & Celebratory Milestones (15 Stores or Less)
Pontiac Street Market — “Pack 2 School”

In Southeast Fort Wayne, Pontiac Street Market is more than a grocery store — it’s a lifeline. Located in a former food desert, this single-store created Pack 2 School to ease the burden on families heading into the school year. In just one day, the team served 700 families, providing backpacks, supplies, meals, haircuts, and health services — all through powerful community partnerships. Pontiac Street Market turned a back-to-school event into a true act of care — and doubled participation from the year before.

Community Engagement & Celebratory Milestones (More than 15 Stores)
Houchens Food Group — Clendenin Save A Lot Grand Opening

In Clendenin, West Virginia, the opening of a grocery store wasn’t just a ribbon cutting — it was a homecoming. After nearly ten years without a local grocer, Houchens Food Group brought fresh food access back to town with a brand-new Save A Lot. The grand opening drew hundreds of residents, local leaders, and state officials — celebrating more than a store. With expanded fresh offerings, dependable value, and a strong commitment to local jobs, the Clendenin Save A Lot became what every town needs — a hometown grocery store families can count on.

Multicultural Engagement (15 Stores or Less)
Teloloapan Meat Market — “30 Years Growing With Our Community”

For 30 years, Teloloapan Meat Market has been a gathering place for families and neighbors.
To celebrate, they gave back with $30,000 in store credits, food access events, and a cultural grand opening filled with music, dance, and tradition.

Multicultural Engagement (More than 15 Stores)
Sendik's Markets - Ethnic Festivals Partnership

In Milwaukee, the City of Festivals, Sendik’s Markets found a way to bring those celebrations even closer to home. Through a new partnership with the United Ethnic Festivals, Sendik’s helped connect shoppers with the traditions, food, and music of cultures across the city — from Italian and Polish to Irish, Mexican, German, and more. By offering festival ticket sales in-store and featuring authentic foods tied to each celebration, Sendik’s turned summer festivals into a shared community experience — not just downtown, but in every neighborhood they serve.

Brand & Talent Growth (15 Stores or Less)
Dorothy Lane Market — “Be a Part of the DLM Experience”

Dorothy Lane Market showed that grocery is more than a job — it’s a career. Through heartfelt hiring videos and associate spotlights, they attracted 300 new team members and showcased a culture where people stay for decades.

Brand & Talent Growth (More than 15 Stores)
Freson Bros. — “Future of Alberta Food”

Freson Bros. invested in the future by supporting the next generation of chefs, bakers, and butchers through the Future of Alberta Food competition. With a sold-out event and former students returning as judges, they proved that when you grow talent, talent grows the industry.

2.Please vote for this year's "Outstanding Merchandiser" from the merchandising category winners below (select one):

Local, Specialty & Emerging Products (15 Stores or Less)
Bianchini’s Market — “Love Local: A Taste of Place”

Bianchini’s Market celebrated Northern California by highlighting the people, farms, and flavors that define the region.
Their Love Local campaign showcased local products across every department, connecting taste and terroir through producer stories, recipes, and a one-day Taste Local event featuring 15 vendors. Customers responded with strong engagement and sales growth across both stores.

Local, Specialty & Emerging Products (More than 15 Stores)
Coborn’s — Beer Brats with Castle Danger Brewery

Coborn’s teamed up with longtime partner Manea’s Meats and regional favorite Castle Danger Brewery to create something uniquely local — Beer Brats made with real craft brews. The Brat of the Month promotion energized summer grilling season, selling more than 4,000 brats and generating nearly $180,000 in sales.

Fresh Innovation (15 Stores or Less)
Edwards Food Giant

In North Little Rock, Edwards Food Giant reimagined grocery food service with a focus on freshness and variety.
From handcrafted sushi and fresh salad bars to take-and-bake pizzas and house-made sauces, their upgraded program delivers quality, choice, and convenience. Backed by modern kitchens, trained teams, and digital menu boards promoted across social media, the results were clear: stronger engagement, higher traffic, and a fresh department that truly stands out.

Fresh Innovation (More than 15 Stores)
Freson Bros.

Freson Bros. took a seasonal favorite and turned it into a full-scale celebration.
Their 2025 Hatch Chile Season evolved into an immersive festival, complete with cross-department innovation and a one-day Hatch Chile Fest that kicked off record demand. With new bakery, deli, meat, and prepared food items — and authentic storytelling from their own teams — the campaign delivered 33 percent year-over-year growth, sold-out new products, and lasting loyalty.

Center Store & Beyond (15 Stores or Less)
Pruett’s Food — “$5 Dollar Friday”

Pruett’s Food turned center store into a monthly destination by building a storewide merchandising event around a simple $5 theme. High-value items were carefully selected and featured across the store — supported by bold displays, clear signage, and strong endcap execution that guided shoppers through the entire store. The results spoke for themselves: Friday sales jumped more than 40 percent, baskets grew well beyond the promoted items, and lines formed at opening.

Center Store & Beyond (More than 15 Stores)
Coborn’s — Banner Program

Coborn’s kept center store top of mind with its Daily Deals Banner Program — featuring a hot item every day of the week, month after month. The results were decisive: featured items saw a 95 percent year-over-year sales increase, contributing to a 3 percent lift in total sales.

Private Label Excellence (15 Stores or Less)
Living Fresh Market — Increasing Private Label Sales

Living Fresh Market put AWG Brands front and center through end caps, cross-merchandising, and digital support.
The payoff was immediate: a 23.5 percent increase in cases sold and a 13.5 percent lift in dollar sales.

Private Label Excellence (More than 15 Stores)
Fareway Stores — Truly Yours

Fareway elevated private label with Truly Yours — a modern, trend-driven brand featuring premium packaging, better-for-you attributes, and limited-time flavors.

The launch drove trial, loyalty, and excitement without discounting the brand.

Cross-Department Merchandising (15 Stores or Less)
H.G. Hill — “Peach Paradise”

H.G. Hill turned summer into a storewide celebration with Peach Paradise, partnering with The Peach Truck to deliver fresh peaches straight from the orchard. From bakery to produce to meat, peaches appeared everywhere — supported by bold displays and sampling. Sales soared from 750 pounds to more than 20,000 pounds, making H.G. Hill the destination for the taste of summer.

Cross-Department Merchandising
Coborn’s — Fall Festival

Coborn’s brought fall to life with a one-day Fall Festival combining parking lot fun and in-store promotions. The results were unmistakable: 26,000 pumpkins sold in one day, a 53 percent jump in meat sales, and a 12.8 percent increase in total sales.

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