May 17, 2001
WASHINGTON, DC — May 17, 2000 — Recognizing outstanding creativity and originality in supermarket advertising, Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Good Housekeeping magazine announce the winners of the 52nd Annual Supermarket Advertising Merit Awards competition.

“We received many clever, creative entries from across the country for the 2001 competition,” said Pat Shinko, FMI’s director of education and the awards coordinator. “The advertising campaigns viewed by the judges displayed colorful imagination while communicating value and loyalty to the consumer.”

The awards recognize innovation and achievement among supermarket advertisers. Judging is done on the basis of creative communication, relationship-building and the ability to generate quick turnaround at point-of-purchase. Award categories, first place finishers and merit award winners are:

Newspaper Advertising – Black and White: (First Place) Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Rochester, NY; (Merit) Price Chopper Supermarkets, Schenectady, NY

Newspaper Advertising – Color: (First Place) Haggen, Bellingham, WA; (Merit) Bruno’s Supermarkets, Inc., Birmingham, AL

Newspaper Advertising – Price Promotion: (First Place) Associated Wholesale Grocers, Kansas City, MO; (Merit) Kings Super Markets, Parsipanny, NJ

Newspaper Advertising – Weekly Circular: (First Place) Associated Wholesale Grocers, Kansas City, MO; (Merit) Wild Oats Markets, Inc., Boulder, CO

Newspaper Advertising – Public Service: (First Place) Brown & Cole, Bellingham, WA; (Merit) Price Chopper Supermarkets, Schenectady, NY

Newspaper Advertising – Customer Service/Store Image: (First Place) Haggen, Bellingham, WA; (Merit) Wild Oats Markets, Inc., Boulder, CO

Direct Mail: (First Place) Byerly’s, Edina, MN; (Merit) Farmer Jack’s Supermarkets, Detroit, MI; Harris Teeter, Matthews, NC; Grupo Ramos, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Magazine: (First Place) Heinen’s, Cleveland, OH; (Merit) Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., Rochester, NY

Company Web Site: (First Place) Dick’s Supermarkets, Platteville, WI; (Merit) Ralphs Grocery Company, Compton, CA

Radio – Price Promotion: (First Place - tie) Price Chopper, Schenectady, NY and Roundy’s, Pewaukee, WI; (Merit) K-VA-T Food Stores/Food City, Abingdon, VA

Radio – Customer Service/Store Image: (First Place) Wegmans, Rochester, NY; (Merit) Fleming Companies, Inc., Dallas, TX

Television – Price Promotion: (First Place) Wegmans, Rochester, NY; (Merit) Harris Teeter, Matthews, NC

Television – Customer Service/Store Image: (First Place) Fleming, Dallas, TX;
(Merit – tie) Giant Food, Inc., Landover, MD; The Stop & Shop Company, Quincy, MA

Multi-Media Campaign: (First Place) Bruno’s, Birmingham, AL; (Merit) Fleming Companies, Inc., Dallas, TX

The contest, founded in 1949, is one of the oldest ad awards programs in the country. McCall’s magazine was the initial sponsor, continuing until 1967 when Woman’s Day assumed that role. Good Housekeeping magazine became the official sponsor in 2000.

For details about the 2002 FMI Advertising Merit Awards competition, please contact Pat Shinko at FMI (202-452-8444).