Retailer Awards Program

Learn about the produce industry's leading competition recognizing excellence in display, promotion of Ontario foods and support of Foodland Ontario.

Overview

The Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards Program is the produce industry’s leading competition.

It recognizes grocery retailers’ efforts to raise consumer awareness about the diversity of foods locally grown and harvested in the province of Ontario.

Retail grocery teams build a display featuring fresh Ontario foods, and then Foodland Ontario (or the team) will merchandise it with a tasteful selection of Foodland Ontario Point of Sale (POS) materials. Send in photos with supporting information and you could be a winner!

Each year, several hundred entries compete for Platinum, Gold and Silver Awards. The prestigious Foodland Ontario Award of Excellence may also be awarded to up to four of the top Ontario retailers in recognition of consistent merchandising achievement over two consecutive years.

Benefits of winning our award include:

  • improving your bottom line
  • selling more and faster when you merchandise with POS material
  • receiving recognition from head office, industry peers and your customers
  • gaining personal satisfaction and pride
  • encouraging teamwork among your staff
  • tapping into your creativity
  • attending a luncheon held in your honour

 

How to enter

Follow these steps to enter:

  1. Choose one or multiple categories:
    • Seasonal — showcase the seasonal Ontario foods of your choice
    • Creative — imaginative use of themes or display props, unique signage, etc.
    • Cross-Merchandised — use products from other departments to boost interest and sales
  2. Build your fresh Ontario food display, merchandise with Foodland Ontario POS material and take photos:
    • Submit up to five photos per entry.
    • Write your store name, address, phone number and store-size category (up to 15,000 ft.2, 15,001 to 50,000 ft.2, or 50,000+ ft.2) on the back of each photo.
  3. Submit your completed entry form and your photos using either:

To maximize your points, include the following information:

  • your store name and number, full address, postal code and phone number
  • your full name and those who helped build the display
  • your store size category (up to 15,000 ft.2, 15,001 to 50,000 ft.2, or 50,000+ ft.2)
  • the categories you are entering — Seasonal, Creative, and/or Cross-Merchandised
  • sales lift information — regular case sales and the number of cases sold as a result of your display
  • brief description of the display — cross-merchandising items, product sampling, theme, etc.

 

Award levels

Foodland Ontario Award of Excellence

Presented to up to four Ontario retailers that have won the Platinum Award for two consecutive years with the highest average scores.

Platinum All Seasons Award

Recognizes 12 Ontario retailers for consistent merchandising excellence with Ontario grown commodities through all three seasonal groupings (spring, summer and fall/winter) with the highest average scores.

Gold Category Award

Awarded to 12 Ontario retailers for distinguished excellence in three specific categories: seasonal, creative and cross-merchandised.

Seasonal

Presented for supporting the Ontario seasonal commodities of your choice.

Creative

Presented for the most creative display of Ontario commodities using themes, display props, unique signage, etc.

Cross-Merchandised

Based on the number of non-produce items cross- merchandised with the Ontario commodity of choice, the compatibility of products, and appropriate signage.

Silver Award of Merit

Honours 36 top Ontario retailers for excellence in promoting Ontario produce in a display.

Features of a winning entry

Winning entries should include the following:

  • display is creatively laid out and well stocked with a wide variety of Ontario produce
  • diverse mix of Foodland Ontario POS material is present (for example base wrap, balloons, flag, danglers, posters, recipes)
  • display size is appropriate, relative to store size
  • secondary display is merchandised with Foodland Ontario POS material
  • incorporated a variety of related non-produce items to create a superior cross-merchandised display (sugar, dips, etc.)
  • creatively decorated display invites customers to sample the fresh produce displayed.

 

Browse last year’s award winners

Point-of-sale and merchandising resources

Foodland Ontario can provide you with a variety of dynamic merchandising materials that will energize your retail space — from posters to commodity cards, balloons to logo cards, and base wrap to backer cards.

Learn more about our point-of-sale merchandising resources.

Evaluating your display

Use of Foodland Ontario point-of-sale materials (POS)

Point value: 20%

Use of our merchandising materials is a key element for your display. This includes:

  • a large assortment, quantity and placement of Foodland Ontario POS material
  • utilizing Foodland Ontario POS such as:
    • posters
    • base wrap
    • commodity cards
    • logo cards
    • price-backer cards
    • price cards
    • balloons
    • stickers
    • recipes
    • flags
    • banners
  • creating your own signage using the Foodland Ontario logo

 

Display impact

Point value: 76%

Making your customers take notice by doing the following with your display:

  • Ensure your display maximizes floor space relative to store size.
  • Going over and above the department planogram.
  • Theme your display creatively by including a clever use of props, add a distinctive theme and/or incorporate artistic food arrangements.
  • Cross-merchandise with three or more complementary products from other departments that encourage the sale of Ontario foods, leading to higher sales and a higher score for your entry.
  • Stock your display with good quality Ontario foods and include multiple varieties where applicable.
  • Have you created a secondary display using Foodland Ontario POS material? Include a photo of this display to earn extra points.

 

Sales lift information

Point value: 4%

Please provide the following for additional points:

  • Share with us the impact your display had on sales. The more information you provide – the higher your points.
  • What was your volume lift? And your regular weekly display sales vs. sales as a result of having Foodland Ontario merchandised display?
  • New store or new to the job? Then tell us when and how much you had to re-order as a result of the display impacting your regular weekly sales.

 

Contact us

For questions about the Retailer Awards program, or assistance ordering point-of-sale materials, contact us by: