Minnesota Grocers Honor Companies Fighting Hunger

The Minnesota Grocers Association presented its Silver Plate Award to the winners of its 2010 “Minnesota’s Own” display contest, part of a larger campaign that informed Minnesotans about local hunger and provided more than 3.6 million meals to Minnesota families through food drives and donations.

Coordinated statewide by the MGA, Minnesota’s Own brought together more than 215 MGA retail members, 14 vendor partners and community food banks to fill local food shelves across the state. Participating stores and vendor locations offered multiple opportunities for consumers to contribute to the campaign. Some stores encouraged customers to donate grocery items in-store or round up their purchase totals at the register, contributing the price difference to feed local families. Others prominently displayed the names of customers who donated money on grocery bag icons in their stores.

“The success of this unique statewide campaign needs to be credited to our members, vendor partners, community food support agencies and most significantly Minnesota’s grocery customers,” said Jamie Pfuhl, MGA president. “We are so proud of what we have collectively accomplished in the fight to end hunger in our communities.”

The winners of the Silver Plate Award created in-store displays that best depicted the “Fight to End Hunger” campaign and were required to use a combination of in-store advertising and vendor products. In addition to the award, each winner will receive $1,000 to donate to the charity of its choice.

Willie’s Super Valu in Morris and Crystal Farms in Minnetonka won the retailer and vendor Silver Plate awards, respectively, for the Best Single Creative Display. The displays were to create a central theme that educated consumers about the fight to end hunger.

The Best Overall Program Support Silver Plate prize was awarded to companies that met the above requirements, as well as collaborated with other campaign participants. The retailer award in this category was presented to Knowlan’s Super Markets Inc. in Vadnais Heights and the vendor award went to St. Paul-based Kemps.

Rob Zeaske, executive director of Second Harvest Heartland, said the hard work of all of MGA’s members and grocery consumers was critical for Minnesota families. “More than ever, collaboration and partnership is incredibly important to the sustainability of the emergency food system, and to better the lives of our neighbors in need,” Zeaske said. “We’re humbled by the generosity of consumers, grocery stores and vendors. It’s a tremendous showing of benevolence in a time when so many people in our community are counting on us for support. Sincere thanks to the retail food industry for this important work.”

The Minnesota Grocers Association represents more than 200 retail members operating nearly 1,200 stores statewide, as well as 120 manufacturers and distributors. Second Harvest Heartland is the Upper Midwest’s largest hunger-relief organization.