BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI and ALACHUA, FL, Feb. 15, 2023 — Hitchcock’s Markets was awarded the top spot in the category of Connections Through Omnichannel in the National Grocers Association annual Creative Choice Award, which honors and recognizes the best marketing and merchandising programs in the grocery industry. Winners of the Creative Choice Awards gain respect throughout the industry and receive national recognition at The NGA Show, taking place Feb. 26-28, at the Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Supported by eGrowcery, developer of the leading retail food industry white label ecommerce platform, Hitchcock’s Markets has done an outstanding job in growing their digital presence through their omni-channel efforts. By continuing to grow on ecommerce, Hitchcock’s shoppers now have a full omni-channel experience, which supports an increase in sales and brand awareness.
“It was essential for Hitchcock’s to grow our omnichannel presence and provide customers with a seamless shopping experience,” said Giselle Alvarez, Vice President of Operations for Hitchcock’s Markets. “We see ecommerce as a great opportunity for us and are working with eGrowcery to continue engaging shoppers both online and in store.”
Hitchcock’s ran coordinated social, digital and in-store promotions to increase awareness of the omnichannel shopping offering. With the rollout of EBT SNAP and EBT Cash, Hitchcock’s did an outstanding job incorporating these options into their ecommerce to help drive new customers and retain existing ones. In terms of results, Hitchcock’s sales increased after the launch of ecommerce stores and EBT SNAP online usage increased as awareness grew.
“Hitchcock’s is a great operator, understanding the individual needs of their customers and working hard to create offers that meet those requirements,” said Patrick Hughes, CEO of eGrowcery. “The eGrowcery team is proud to have supported them in their efforts to be honored by NGA and is committed to delivering even more tools that will help the retailer attract and retain customers.”
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The announcement from The National Grocers Association —
National Grocers Association Reveals 2023 Creative Choice Award Winners
Industry expert Meg Major returning as award host during The NGA Show, Feb. 26-28 in Las Vegas
Washington D.C. – The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, along with sponsoring partners The Kellogg Company and Unilever, have revealed the winners of their annual Creative Choice Awards, which honors and recognizes the best marketing and merchandising programs in the grocery industry.
Winners of the Creative Choice Awards gain respect throughout the industry and receive national recognition at The NGA Show, taking place Feb. 26-28, 2023, at the Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas. Winning campaigns will be recognized during the “Snack and See: Creative Choice Awards” session on Sunday, Feb. 26.
Judged by a panel of industry experts and trade press members, entries were accepted into eight categories in which one winner and at least one honorable mention were chosen. The judges determined category winners based on creativity, clarity, innovation and effectiveness of each entry. Additionally, two special recognition award winners were selected. In all, NGA received nearly 400 award entries.
“Independent community grocers continue to raise the bar in the creative ways they engage with their customers,” said Laura Strange, NGA’s senior vice president of communications and external affairs. “Independents are truly the industry’s most innovative marketers as they create campaigns that not only resonate with consumers, but celebrate their roles in their respective communities.”
From the category winners, one “Outstanding Marketer” and one “Outstanding Merchandiser” will be selected by the independent supermarket community and their supporters through online voting, open now through Feb. 27. Votes can be cast here.
Respected industry expert Meg Major will be returning as emcee of the awards presentation and moderator of the winners’ panel discussion at the 2023 NGA Show on Sunday, Feb. 26. Bringing decades of trade journalism experience, Major created the Top Women in Grocery awards program during her long tenure at Progressive Grocer. Currently the director of industry relations at NielsenIQ, Major offers an extensive knowledge of the grocery industry, adding an increased amount of depth and credibility to Creative Choice.
Connections Through Omnichannel
– Smaller operator (1-15 stores)
- Winner: Hitchcock’s Markets Omnichannel Experience
- Honorable Mention: Wright’s Market Staff Spotlights
– Larger operator (15+ stores)
- Winner: Allegiance Retail Services/Foodtown $9 a Day Challenge
- Honorable Mention: ShopRite Well Everyday
Community Engagement
– Smaller operator (1-15 stores)
- Winner: Briar Patch PatchWorks
- Honorable Mention: Dorothy Lane Market Good Neighbor 5K and Fill the Truck Challenge
– Larger operator (15+ stores)
- Winner: Needler’s Fresh Market Local Food Fest
- Honorable Mention: Cub Foods Gopher Cub Kindness September Campaign
Traditional Media – TV, Radio and Print
– Smaller operator (1-15 stores)
- Winner: Newport Avenue Market We’re Worth the Detour
- Honorable Mention: D&W Fresh Market Prime & Choice Beef Dating Profile
– Larger operator (15+ stores)
- Winner: Cub Foods Title IX 50th Anniversary Commercial
- Honorable Mention: Coborn’s Penny Pincher
Grand Opening or Remodel
– Smaller operator (1-15 stores)
- Winner: Bristol Farms Newfound Market Grand Opening Celebration
- Honorable Mention: Reynolds Market Glasgow Reynoldspalooza Grand Re-Opening
– Larger operator (15+ stores)
- Winner: Food City Cookeville Campaign
- Honorable Mention: Coborn’s Willmar, Owatonna and Williston Cash Wise
Local, Specialty or Emerging Products
– Smaller operator (1-15 stores)
- Winner: Metcalfe’s Markets We Love Local Sale
- Honorable Mention: Chris’ Food Center 2022 Stew’n It Up with MN Grown
– Larger Operator (15+ stores)
- Winner: Niemann Foods Hey Clay Fruit and Veg Friends Promotion
- Honorable Mention: Freson Bros. Peace River Sourdough
Seasonal Event
– Smaller operator (1-15 stores)
- Winner: Neiman’s Family Market Hal of a Shrimp Show
- Honorable Mention: Pay-Less Markets Earth Month
– Larger operator (15+ stores)
- Winner: Coborn’s Valentine’s Day
- Honorable Mention: Homeland Stores Home for the Holidays
Center Store/Frozen/GM/HBC
– Smaller operator (1-15 stores)
- Winner: Chris’ Food Center Frozen Food Month Never Let It Go
- Honorable Mention: Dorothy Lane Market Run for the Roses
– Larger operator (15+ stores)
- Winner: Pyramid Foods Show Me Beef
- Honorable Mention: Coborn’s Nostalgic Candy
Fresh Departments
– Smaller operator (1-15 stores)
- Winner: Dorothy Lane Market BaconFest
- Honorable Mention: AG Supermarkets Specialty Spotlight
– Larger operator (15+ stores)
- Winner: Freson Bros. Charlie’s Birthday
- Honorable Mention: Coborn’s Citrus Sale
Special Recognition
Excellence in ESG Award, presented by Kellogg: Coborn’s Inclusive Playground
People Positive Award, presented by Unilever: Coborn’s Women’s History Month
About NGA
NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visit www.nationalgrocers.org.
About Hitchcock’s Markets
Hitchcock’s Markets is a family owned and operated chain of grocery stores based out of Alachua, Florida. Since 1945, Hitchcock’s has recognized the need for rural towns in Central Florida to have clean, well-stocked, and service driven food stores. The Hitchcock’s company has continued to grow over the years to locations across the state of Florida providing full-service grocery stores in many towns that used to be considered food deserts. Today, Hitchcock’s has 10 stores and two pharmacies. Hitchcock’s prides itself in having the best meats and butchers and being a place where locals can count on the highest quality products, competitive prices, clean stores, and well trained and knowledgeable employees. More information is available at www.myhitchcocks.com.
About eGrowcery
eGrowcery is the market-leading, white-label, SaaS based e-commerce solution designed to service grocery retailers. The eGrowcery platform is a true end-to-end, omnichannel solution that integrates with back-office/point of sale systems while enabling retailers to personalize their own shopper experience. Serving companies in the US and abroad, eGrowcery empowers retailers with the ability to personalize their shopping experience while providing the most efficient in-store fulfillment solution in the industry.
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