Elmer’s County Market, a family-owned, full-service grocery operator based since 1956 in Escanaba, Michigan, has been named UNFI’s 2021 Grand Master Marketer for overall consistent performance.
The Providence, Rhode Island-based wholesaler made the announcement as part of honoring the 22 category winners in its annual Master Marketer competition, which recognizes best-in-class marketing efforts by independent grocery retailers served by UNFI’s wholesale distribution business.
“While the grocery industry continues to fulfill its essential purpose of providing food and services to communities across North America, we at UNFI believe it’s important to recognize the dedication and innovation throughout,” said UNFI Chief Customer Officer Steve Dietz. “We’re proud to work with each of the nominees and winners from this year’s Master Marketer program. Congratulations to all, and to Elmer’s for their achievement as this year’s Grand Master Marketer recipient.”
This year, 155 marketing programs were submitted for the 2021 Master Marketer awards, which are judged based on the creativity, clarity and effectiveness of the stores’ marketing efforts.
Entries were assessed by professors and marketing students from St. Joe’s University, University of Wisconsin and University of Michigan.
The full list of store winners by category is as follows:
Tier 1: Stores 30,000 square feet and smaller
- Extra Effort Advertising – Jong’s (Lake Providence, Louisiana);
- Fresh Department – TIE: Babbs Supermarket (Spencer, Indiana) and Baesler’s Market (Sullivan, Indiana);
- Grand Opening/Anniversary – Solomon’s Lucaya (Freeport, Bahamas);
- Industry Promotion – Babbs Supermarket (Spencer, Indiana);
- Natural, Organic, Specialty – Turnip Truck (Nashville, Tennessee);
- Public Service/Community – Graceway Supermarkets (Providenciales, Turks and Caicos);
- Radio Spots – Bridgewater Foods (Bridgewater, Virginia);
- Website/Social Media – Sunflower (Columbus, Mississippi); and
- Tier 1 Master Marketer – TIE: Babbs Supermarket (Spencer, Indiana) and Graceway Supermarkets (Providenciales, Turks and Caicos).
Tier 2: Stores larger than 30,000 square feet
- Extra Effort Advertising – Chris’ Food Center (Sandstone, Minnesota);
- Fresh Department – Dorothy Lane Market (Dayton, Ohio);
- Grand Opening/Anniversary – Haymaker Shop N Save (Monroeville, Pennsylvania);
- Industry Promotion – Elmer’s County Market (Escanaba, Michigan);
- Natural, Organic, Specialty – Dorothy Lane Market (Dayton, Ohio);
- Public Service/Community – Chris’ Food Center (Sandstone, Minnesota);
- Radio Spots – Elmer’s County Market (Escanaba, Michigan);
- TV Commercials – Dorothy Lane Market (Dayton, Ohio);
- Website/Social Media – Harvest Market – Niemann Foods Inc. (Champaign, Illinois); and
- Tier 2 Master Marketer – Dorothy Lane Market (Dayton, Ohio).
Tier 3: Store groups with five or more locations
- Extra Effort Advertising – Pay-Less Market Inc. (Hagatna, Guam);
- Fresh Department – Duluth Super One Foods (Duluth, Minnesota);
- Grand Opening/Anniversary – Hibbing Super One Foods (Hibbing, Minnesota);
- Industry Promotion – Kirby Foods Inc. (Champaign, Illinois);
- Private Brands – TIE: Duluth Super One Foods (Duluth, Minnesota) & Supermercados La Torre (Guatemala City, Guatemala);
- Public Service/Community – Shop N Save (Greenburgh, Pennsylvania);
- Radio Spots – Sentry Foods (Delafield, Wisconsin);
- TV Commercials – CUB (Stillwater, Minnesota);
- Website/Social Media – CUB (Stillwater, Minnesota); and
- Tier 3 Master Marketer – Pay-Less Market (Hagatna, Guam).
UNFI delivers the widest variety of products to customer locations throughout North America, including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, e-commerce retailers and foodservice customers. It is is the largest publicly traded grocery distributor in America. To learn more, visit unfi.com.
