Meijer Leads Top Certified Angus Beef Retailers

Progressive Grocer is not the only entity to honor Midwestern supercenter retailer Meijer Inc. as its 2015 Retailer of the Year.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer was among a host of grocery retailers to be honored by the Certified Angus Beef brand for their outstanding marketing and sales efforts of the premium product over the past year. Wooster, Ohio-based Certfied Angus Beef presented the awards at its annual brand conference last week in San Antonio.

“These retailers are intent on delivering solutions to customers and the beef they crave,” says John Stika, the beef brand’s president. “We’re proud to align with their focus and engage in the conversation to bring great-tasting beef from our family ranchers to consumers’ dinner tables.”

Topnotch retailers

Meijer was named Retailer of the Year for all-around focus and success with the brand. Meijer refreshed its meat departments with a new look, while innovating with new beef cuts in the meat case. Newly created training materials for the meat department added to their expertise and sales. The efforts also netted Meijer honors for the brand's Top Sales Volume Large Chain Retailer and Top Retail Average Volume per Store with more than 10 stores.

Additionally, conference attendees selected Meijer to receive the People’s Choice Award for its “We Love Meat” campaign. The promotion’s television ads, social media, in-store signage and weekly beef features led customers to the service meat case for top-quality beef.

Fred W. Albrecht Grocery Co., Akron, Ohio, claimed Retail Marketer of the Year honors. Through a “Seven Steaks of Summer” promotion, the Acme group has been building success each of the past five summers with ads in weekly flyers and on radio stations, point-of-sale in stores and social media engagement. The promotion energized the meat team and offered customers the chance to win groceries for a year.

Callejas/Super Selectos, El Salvador, was named International Retail Marketer of the Year. The retailer featured the brand at cooking demonstrations, in-store culinary consultations and through prize offerings to customers. Newspaper ads regularly offered Certified Angus Beef products to complement in-store promotions and grow their success in the market.

Price Chopper Supermarkets, based in Schenectady, N.Y., was named Retail Innovator of the Year. Price Chopper took customers to “higher ground” with themed promotions to introduce a full selection of Certified Angus Beef brand ground beef, replacing its commodity grind program. Promotions included a consumer contest and sales contest, as well as in-store signage and social media.

Giant Eagle, Pittsburgh, received honors as the Retail Rising Star. With nearly 25 years featuring the brand in stores, Giant Eagle redefined the meat case with new point-of-sale materials and extensive advertising. Stores expanded Certified Angus Beef brand offerings, while re-energizing the team with meat and on-ranch training days.

Reasor’s, in Tulsa, Okla., received Retail Brand Extension Marketer of the Year. Reasor’s gives customers the ultimate choice of quality, with Certified Angus Beef brand Prime in the service case and the brand’s Natural beef in select stores. “Grilling Road Shows” featured the brand in radio remotes, samplings and games, as well as on television and cooking school appearances. Fresh Certified Angus Beef brand deli meats and hot deli items also offered premium meal solutions for customers to enjoy.

Lucky Supermarkets, of Modesto, Calif., secured the Retail Rookie of the Year award. Lucky Supermarkets delivered a superior product launch with meat manager trainings and contests, a customer sweepstakes and cooking classes. Promotions also included in-store demonstrations, announcements and signage, as well as social media.

These other companies also received honors for leading Certified Angus Beef brand product sales for the year:

• Strack & Van Til Supermarket, Highland, Ind. – Top Sales Volume Small Chain Retailer
• DeMoulas Market Basket, Tewksbury, Mass. – Top Retail Sales Volume Increase
• Crest Foods, Edmond, Okla. – Top Retail Average Volume per Store with less than 10 stores
• DeKalb Farmers Market, Decatur, Ga. – Top Sales Volume Single Store Retailer
• Topco Associates, Elk Grove Village, Ill. – Top Sales Volume Cooperative
• Central Grocers, Joliet, Ill. – Top Sales Volume Retail Distributor