Nature’s Food Patch Wins National Rice Month Store Contest

The USA Rice Federation has recognized Clearwater, Fla.-based Nature’s Food Patch as the grand-prize winner of its 2012 September National Rice Month Store Promotion Contest. The second and third prizes were awarded to Beaver Dam, Wis.-based Rechek’s Food Pride and Weirton, W. Va.-based Weirton Shop-N-Save, respectively. Contest entrants were judged on creativity of in-store displays of U.S.-grown rice products as well as the impact of promotional efforts on rice sales throughout the promotional period.

Nature’s Food Patch was awarded $3,000 for utilizing a variety of engaging methods to promote U.S.-grown rice to customers, including in-store recipe demonstrations, Facebook communications, incentives for purchasing three rice products, and placement of USA Rice Federation point-of-sale materials throughout the store.  The promotional efforts -- which were spearheaded by Nature Food's Kathi Allen and Theo Tillson (pictured above) -- grew rice sales 52 percent throughout the previous September. 

Rechek’s Food Pride won $1,000 for its road-side marquis, reduced prices on rice in weekly flyers, and a rice sales increase of 74 percent throughout the promotional period. Weirton Shop-N-Save earned $500 with an Olympic theme of “Rice: The Food of Champions,” and for featuring USA Rice POS and large rice product displays, increasing sales 50 percent throughout the same period.

The USA Rice Federation is the global advocate for the U.S. rice industry, conducting programs to inform consumers about domestically-grown rice.