CAB Honors Retailers For Beef Expertise
Retailers and distributors that satisfy demand for premium beef were recently honored for their roles as beef experts in their markets by Certified Angus Beef (CAB) at the brand’s annual conference at The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., which was attended by retailers, chefs, food distributors and cattle ranchers.
“These retailers have elevated the meat case through creative marketing, merchandising and staff training,” said John Stika, CAB’s president. “Through these efforts, they have satisfied consumer demand for great-tasting beef and affirmed their role as beef experts in their markets.”
Six retail companies were recognized at the conference for CAB promotions and brand integrity.
• Skogen’s Festival Foods, Onalaska, Wis., received the Retail Commitment to Integrity Award, for their efforts to protect and promote the CAB brand name and the quality it represents.
• Meijer Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., Retail Marketer of the Year, redoubled its commitment to the brand and features it across its meat cases in all stores. Its extensive marketing efforts include new in-store signage and a focus on middle meats in circular features. The brand was featured in “Taste of Meijer” magazines, in-store demos and social media, as well as a series of staff trainings.
• Longo’s, Toronto, International Retail Marketer of the Year, demonstrated commitment to the brand through in-store signage, product conversions and single-sourcing beef cuts. The Canadian retailer featured the brand and rancher partners in its magazine, and conducted in-store promotions.
• United Supermarkets received Retail Brand Extension Marketer of the Year honors. The Lubbock, Texas-based regional retailer offers customers traditional CAB products, as well as the brand’s Natural and Prime options.
• Giant Eagle, Retail Advertiser of the Year, spotlighted the brand in a series of television and radio ads, in addition to a social media campaign driving customers to its meat case. The Pittsburgh-based chain featured the beef brand in circulars throughout the year, and new in-store signage greeted customers at the meat case.
• Dahl’s Foods, Retail Rising Star, began carrying the brand exclusively last summer. The Des Moines, Iowa-based retailer has encouraged meat managers and management teams to participate in brand trainings, and found the brand helps distinguish it from other retailers.
Eight companies also received awards for the most CAB product sold during the past year.
• Meijer Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., Top Sales Volume Large Chain Retailer
• Skogen’s Festival Foods, Onalaska, Wis., Top Sales Volume Small Chain Retailer
• Skogen’s Festival Foods, Onalaska, Wis., Top Retail Average Volume Per Store – More than 10 stores
• Crest Foods, Edmond, Okla., Top Retail Average Volume Per Store – 10 or fewer stores
• DeKalb Farmers Market, Decatur, Ga., Top Sales Volume Single Store Retailer
• Bi-Lo Inc., Greenville, S.C., Top Retail Sales Volume Increase
• C&S Wholesale - Southeast, Greenville, S.C., Top Sales Volume Retail Distributor
• TOPCO Associates Inc., Skokie, Ill., Top Sales Volume Cooperative
Conference attendees selected Foodland Super Markets, Ltd., Honolulu, Hawaii, to receive the People’s Choice Award for its radio and television campaign, which featured store meat managers and other department heads. By putting a personal face on the retail chain, Foodland’s campaign reinforced the connection between customers and employees.
Nearly 16,000 businesses partner with the CAB brand, generating an estimated $4 billion in consumer sales annually, with retailers and restaurants in the United States and 43 other countries. Introduced in 1978, the CAB brand is a cut above USDA Prime, Choice and Select, thanks to 10 strict quality standards.