Potato Power Propels Winning Entries in Idaho Potato Commission's 2012 Potato Lover's Month Retail Display Contest

Nation's Biggest Commodity Display Competition Draws 2,300-plus Entries in 21st Year

EAGLE, ID, May 1, 2012—With fuel costs top of mind among most consumers, an Ohio supermarket showcased Idaho’s famous spuds as a personal power source in its top-winning entry for the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) 2012 retail display contest.

This year’s contest awarded more than $150,000 in cash and prizes, including $1,500 to Marysville, Ohio-based Community Market for its “Fuel Up with the World Famous Idaho® Potatoes” display. Featuring a giant potato truck cutout getting fueled up by Mrs. Dash and Molly McButter “gas pumps,” the retail display was the first place winner among stores with 1-5 cash registers.

Community Market in Marysville, Ohio, came in first among stores with 1-5 cash registers.

The IPC contest’s other first place winners also got right to the heart of the matter: Both Sweetbay Supermarket in Spring Hill, Fla. (6-9 cash registers) and Publix at Sabal Palm Plaza in Fort Pierce, Fla. (10+ registers) spotlighted the Idaho® potato’s role in heart health for their winning retail displays.

The IPC’s 21st annual Potato Lover’s Month Retail Display Contest, the largest of its kind, attracted more than 2,300 entries from supermarket chains and independent grocers, according to Seth Pemsler, Vice President, Retail/International, IPC.

“It’s a win-win situation for retailers when they enter the contest,” explains Pemsler. “During what is traditionally a slow month, they can give Idaho® potato sales a big boost with a creative, attention-getting retail display. And retailers have a chance to win substantial cash prizes, including a matching cash prize for the store’s category manager.”

Entrants within each store category competed for these prizes:

• 1st place -- $1,500

• 2nd place -- $1,000

• 3rd place -- $750

• 4th place -- $500

• 5th place -- $250

In addition, 100 Honorable Mention Prizes of $100 were awarded to displays selected from the remaining entries. All retail contest entrants received a free portable iPod docking station.

The IPC also sponsored a similar competition for military commissaries, awarding trips to the Produce Marketing Association’s annual convention in Anaheim, Calif., to the first place winners from the East and West regions. Second place winners received $500 in customer gift certificates/cards, and third place winners took home $250 in customer gift certificates/cards.

“The Potato Lover’s Month display contest has become very popular with the commissaries, and most of them across the country now participate,” says Pemsler.

Retailers and military commissaries entered the contests by designing a produce department display that included fresh Idaho® potatoes, an Idaho® dehydrated potato product, Mrs. Dash Seasoning Blends, and Molly McButter, and putting it up in the store’s produce section for at least one week between Jan. 30 and March 2, 2012.

Visit http://retail.idahopotato.com/plm_2012 for photographs of the winning displays, the complete list of winners and information about how prizes were awarded.

1st Place Retail Display Winners

1-5 cash registers
Ann Schurtz
Community Market
Marysville, Ohio

Community Market, Marysville, Ohio

Community Market in Marysville, Ohio, came in first among stores with 1-5 cash registers.

6-9 cash registers
Ronnie Roddenberry
Sweetbay Supermarket #1865
Spring Hill, Florida

Sweetbay Supermarket, Spring Hill, Florida

Community Market in Marysville, Ohio, came in first among stores with 1-5 cash registers.

10+ cash registers
Leo De Leon
Publix Super Market #567
Fort Pierce, Florida

Publix Super Market, Fort Pierce, Florida

Community Market in Marysville, Ohio, came in first among stores with 1-5 cash registers.

1st place Military Display Winners

East Region
Doug Meisenbach
Fort Bragg South Commissary
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Fort Bragg South Commissary, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Community Market in Marysville, Ohio, came in first among stores with 1-5 cash registers.

West Region
Edmund Keifer
Kaneohe Commissary
MCBH Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

Kaneohe Commissary, MCBH Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

Community Market in Marysville, Ohio, came in first among stores with 1-5 cash registers.

About the Idaho Potato Commission
The Idaho Potato Commission is a state agency that is primarily responsible for expanding the markets for Idaho-grown potatoes through advertising, promotion and research. The Commission also protects the use of the "Idaho® potato" and "Grown in Idaho®" seals, which are federally registered Certification Marks that belong to the IPC. These Marks ensure that consumers are purchasing potatoes that have been grown in the state of Idaho. For more information, visit www.idahopotato.com.

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