VOC Announces Retail Display Contest Winners

Vidalia, Ga. (September 23, 2010) – Ogres and Onions encouraged some SHREKtacular creativity in produce aisles this spring and summer! More than 150 retailers in over a dozen states from Iowa to New Jersey participated in the the Vidalia® Onion Committee’s “Ogres and Onions” retail display contest by creating fun, interactive and kid-friendly displays featuring Shrek and Vidalia onion point-of-sale materials.

After being judged on a variety of criteria including size and location, creative display techniques and quality of display, the grand prize was awarded to Macon Ga. Harvey’s Supermarket produce manager, Cathy Harden, for her kid-friendly originality. As grand prize winner, Harden wins a three-day, two-night fairytale vacation for four to Orlando, Fla. including theme park tickets and more.

“We were excited that a couple of large chains had blanket participation, making the contest a competition among the store managers,” said Wendy Brannen, Vidalia® Onion Committee executive director. “One thing I conveyed to the judges was that we aren’t looking necessarily for the slickest display but one that draws shoppers, positively conveys our product messages, and this year in particular appeals to kids. Getting kids to eat more Vidalia onions was a major goal of the Vidalia Onion Committee this season.

Due to the overwhelming response and competitive nature of entries, the Vidalia Onion Committee also awarded additional prizes as follows:

· First Place ($1,000 cash prize): Melissa Price, Produce Manager, Harvey’s Supermarket, Moultrie, Ga.

· Second Place ($500 cash prize): Paul Pogrebneak, Produce Merchandiser, Pennington Quality Market, Pennington, NJ

· Third Place ($100 cash prize) – 5 winners:

Joseph Franklin, Manager, Marsh Supermarkets, Greenfield, IN
Randall Havens, Produce Manager, Bruno’s, Mobile, Ala.
Paul Vandermark, Produce Manager, Food City, Knoxville, Tenn.
Lequitte Perry, Produce Mananger, Food City, Louisa, KY
Josh Bunch and Tim Krehbiel, Produce Managers, Food City, Knoxville, Tenn.

Forty Honorable Mention prizes were also awarded for above-and-beyond displays to produce managers from various retailers including Publix, Hy-Vee Food Stores and Piggly Wiggly. These managers will each receive a Shrek Forever After™ Nintendo DS™ video game.

Beginning in April, produce managers were invited to get down and “swampy” by building the most original, eye-catching Shrek and Vidalia onion in-store display. The retail display contest is a result of the partnership between the Vidalia® Onion Committee and DreamWorks Animation, SKG Inc., to promote the original sweet onion in conjunction with the release of Shrek Forever After®, the last installment of the Shrek series.

The Vidalia® Onion Committee was established in 1989 as Federal Marketing Order No. 955. The order authorizes production research and marketing promotion programs. The Vidalia® Onion Committee administers the order locally and consists of eight producer members and their alternates and one public member and an alternate.

Source: Vidalia Onion Committee