Certified Angus Beef Honors Outstanding Retailers

WOOSTER, Ohio -- Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) here recognized retailers from around the country for their beef marketing prowess, at its annual conference last week in Seattle.

Among CAB's retail honorees:
Retail Marketer of the Year -- Abingdon, Va.-based K-Va-T Food Stores, Inc. Under its Food City banner, K-Va-T Food Stores combined sales and marketing to produce a well-penetrated market, said CAB. The effort led Food City to climb one spot to No. 6 in the Top Ten Sales Volume Retailer ranking. The company conducted in-store cooking demonstrations and product samplings at NASCAR Race Nights. Training programs relayed the brand message from staff to customers.

Retail Advertiser of the Year - Virginia Beach, Va.-based Farm Fresh Supermarkets, Inc. Farm Fresh, via a television campaign, featured its meat expertise. Radio coverage was also provided throughout the year, and a Valentine's Day radio feature focused on the brand's quality advantages and grilling cuts. In addition to features in the weekly circular, Farm Fresh also promotes the brand in its premium products booklet and on floral delivery vehicles.

Value-Added Products Marketer of the Year -- Sheboygan, Wis.-based Fresh Brands Distributing, Inc. Featuring value-added products in its 86 stores-in the deli, frozen foods, meat department and processed meat case, the company saw a 33 percent increase in overall CAB sales. Newspaper, television and in-store promotions touted precooked prime rib for the holidays.

Retail Commitment to Integrity -- Westwood, Mass.-based Oxford Trading Co., which proves the CAB brand delivers long-standing benefits to dedicated licensed businesses. After 27 years, the company continues to develop avenues for growing sales for CAB. Oxford is expert at building partnerships and keeping loyal customers. The company boasts an impressive track record of maintaining accounts-six have been licensed for more than 20 years and 19 for more than 10 years. This independent company consistently ranks among the brand's top 10 retail distributors.

Top Volume Retail Store -- Tahlequah , Okla.-based Reasor's sells eight times more than the brand's average licensed store, due to regular features, spring and fall primal sales and 10-pound meat sales. Reasor's #9 store in Owasso, Okla., was also recognized for Top Individual Store Volume as a result of selling CAB products at a rate 12 times more than the average licensed retail store.

Top Sales Volume Retail Distributor - Hatfield, Mass.-based C & S Wholesale Grocers increased sales by 15 percent to move into first place. Licensed since 1994, the team continues to grow sales and commitment to the brand with independent retailers. C & S primarily distributes beef for Tops Markets, which has been a licensed CAB partner since December 2003.

No. 2 Volume Retail Distributor - Harmony, Pa.-based Butler Refrigerated Meats, which is currently celebrating its 15th year as a licensed distributor. The company's brand focus has fortified its partnerships with Giant Eagle and independent retailers in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Butler's selection of CAB products includes dry aged, Prime, ground beef, and value-added products.

No. 3 Volume Retail Distributor - Milford, Del.-based Burris Logistics, which climbed into the top three by supporting Giant of Maryland. As Giant's primary distributor for more than four years, Burris' consistent leadership and service allowed it to reach new levels of performance. It offers a complete selection of CAB products.

Top Sales Volume Retailer - Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer, Inc., which achieved a 24 percent sales increase with aggressive marketing and merchandising strategies. The company produced and aired its own video and used weekly features, cooking classes and promotions to increase sales. Meijer focuses on developing customer loyalty to the brand.

No. 2 Top Sales Volume Retailer - St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets, Inc., which offers a large selection of CAB products in its service and self-service meat cases to ensure leading sales. Throughout the year, Schnuck featured the brand regularly in weekly ads. The company has 104 stores under the Schnucks and Logli's banners from Wisconsin to Mississippi.

No. 3 Top Sales Volume Retailer - Sacramento, Calif.-based Raley's Family of Fine Stores, which continues to be a leader in marketing CAB middle and deli meats. Its innovative "Follow the Flavor" campaign further established a loyal customer base for the brand. Truck wraps, in-store and outside signage, television and radio spots, billboards, Web site and printed bags supported the comprehensive campaign.

No. 4 Top Sales Volume Retailer - Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Giant Eagle, Inc. saw a nearly 10 percent sales increase due to an intense focus on marketing. Regular product features and two-day meat sales drove consumer purchases. Giant Eagle featured the brand at cooking shows and participated in partner promotions. District meat manager trainings added to the company's sales leadership.

No. 5 Top Sales Volume Retailer - Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. featured products in "something special" cases in its nearly 400 stores. Additional space in weekly circulars and more front-page features drove sales. Ongoing meat manager trainings maximized Stop & Shop's ability to grow its success with the brand.

CAB also saluted five other top volume retailers including: K-Va-T Food Stores, Giant Food Inc., Landover, Md., Giant Food Stores LLC, Carlisle, Pa., Price Chopper, Schenectady, N.Y., and Fresh Brands Distributing, Inc., Sheboygan, Wis.

North Charleston, N.C.-based Piggly Wiggly claimed CAB's Top Retail Sales Volume Increase award, which was achieved by scoring an 84 percent increase in sales. CAB staff trained meat managers in all six Piggly Wiggly districts. Also adding to its sales increase was a focus on end meats, which the company regularly promotes in its weekly circular.

Top Sales Volume Cooperative was presented to Topco Associates, Inc., of Skokie, Ill. Fresh meat is Topco's mainstay, but it continues to be increasingly successful at bringing Dining In convenience items to customers. The company saw a 7 percent increase this year. This is Topco's eighth consecutive win.

The Retail Rising Star award was presented to Skogens Festival Foods of Onalaska, Wis. Skogens is a 10-store, high-volume retailer and the CAB brand is at the center of its merchandising efforts. Point-of-sale materials and regular features continue to introduce brand benefits to customers. Extensive training for meat associates and other store employees help expand the effort and assist customers with product selections.

More than 13,500 partners sell CAB brand products throughout the United States and internationally. Annual sales top $2.5 billion.
X
This ad will auto-close in 10 seconds