The National Grocers Association Foundation (NGA) has named Cal Poly San Luis Obispo the winner of the NGA Foundation Student Case Study Competition following presentations at The NGA Show in Las Vegas.
This year’s case study, “Keeping Shelves Relevant and Customers Inspired,” challenged students to develop innovative, practical solutions for Nugget Markets, a 16-location independent grocer across Northern California. Known for its European marketplace setting, Nugget Markets offers an expansive assortment of high-quality perishables, chef-prepared foods, organic and specialty grocery items, and conventional products designed to meet a wide range of customer lifestyles.
Students were tasked with addressing how Nugget Markets can continue to keep their shelves engaging and relevant while inspiring customers in an increasingly dynamic grocery environment.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo prevailed against the University of Findlay.
“The NGA Foundation Student Case Study Competition showcases the exceptional talent and future leadership within our industry,” said Kelly Hanson, director of education and insights.
“The solutions presented this year demonstrated a strong grasp of innovation, customer experience, and the evolving role of independent grocers like Nugget Markets. I congratulate Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on their impressive performance and look forward to seeing their impact on our industry in the years to come.”
The NGA Foundation student case study competition brings students from across the country to The NGA Show where they present solutions to an issue currently impacting the independent grocery industry. The program allows student teams to interact with an independent grocer and ground their education with real-life experience.
Participants move through three rounds of judging from food industry professionals. The winners and their schools receive a cash prize. Each year, an independent retailer is selected as the subject of the competition, providing a budget and relevant details to aid in students’ presentation.
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