2023 Master Merchandiser Winners

Awards for the best merchandising displays in Canadian grocery were presented at Grocery Innovations Canada’s Merchandising Excellence Awards Event on October 24. The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers’ (CFIG) Master Merchandiser Awards Program (MMAP) honours and recognizes best Point-of-Sale merchandising in the grocery industry. It enables retailer and supportive manufacturers the opportunity to stimulate purchase by building effective displays, promotions and events. A total of 15 prizes will be awarded (3 different store size groupings and 5 different merchandising categories).

A panel of experienced industry judges determined category winners based on: creativity & visual appeal; effective use of signage; display shopability; effective cross-merchandising; and supporting manufacturer compliance. Merchandising displays, promotions and events were held between August 13, 2022 and August 11, 2023.

First To Market – New Product

Small Surface-Gold

London Road Market, Lethbridge, Alberta

Duane Gurr and Team

Supplier – Michael Burrows, Saputo

Description: A display for Canada Day showing off Saputo’s newest creation, “Mystery Milk 2 Go” as well as other Saputo branded products..

Medium Surface Gold

Market Street Vulcan, Vulcan, Alberta

Scott Mitchell and Team

Supplier – Sharon Gower – Saputo
Description: Introducing our NEW Milk2Go Mystery Milk!  This fishing themed display features two custom Milk2Go Mystery Milk displayers filled with our amazing new product!

Large Surface Gold

Lady York Foods, North York, Ontario

Gabriele Torchetti and Team

Supplier – Anthy Kapsalis, Burnbrae Farms
Description New Solar Free Range products, one with added Omega Plus.  Our Solar Farms use high efficiency motors, lighting, and ventilation systems, while using 100% clean energy. Free Range barns powered by the sun from solar panels on the roof. Free Range hens have access to the outdoors, weather and environmental conditions permitting. Hens are free to roam with access to perches, nests, and scratch areas.

Themed Event

Small Surface Gold

Fairway Market #12, Sidney, British Columbia
Cameron Kung and Team

Supplier – Brad Gray, Tree Of Life
Description: Lunar New Year Display – Farkay Noodles, Kikkoman Sauces and Kikkoman Panko, Golden Dragon Sauces & Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk and Thai Kitchen Curry Pastes.

Medium Surface Gold

IGA #36 Marketplace, Coquitlam, British Columbia

Finbar O’Riordan and Team

Supplier – Lilian Paiement, General Mills
Description: Great Super Bowl display.

Large Surface Gold

Save-On-Food #996, Burnaby, British Columbia
Brian Clark and Team

Supplier – Craig Britton, Maple Leaf Foods, WonderBrands, KraftHeinz, Smucker Foods
Description: National Hot Dog Day 2 place runner up. Lots of planning two days to put together. A real team event! Front of store display a one stop shop for all the consumers BBQ or off to the park or beach for a family picnic! Sold over 22 cs of TD wieners 3 % growth vs LY!

Perimeter Display

Small Surface Gold

South Hill Fine Foods, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan,

Jaspreet Nagra and Team

Supplier – Carey Bailey, Saputo
Description: Display of Saputo products for Christmas.

Medium Surface Gold

Longo’s Bayview, Thornhill, Ontario

Longo’s Bayview Team

Supplier – Adam O’Driscoll – Maple Leaf Foods
Description: Bring Home The Taste Of The Blue Jays. Smoked Sausage or Stadium Footlong Wieners. In-Store Tasting of the New limited edition Schneiders Footlong Wieners.

Large Surface Gold

Portage La Prairie Co-op Food Store, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba

Mike Robinson and Team

Supplier – Dallas Alexander – Lactalis Canada
Description: World Cup Qatar 2022 – Kick Up Your Game with Cracker Barrel/Black Diamond

Multi-Manufacturer

Small Surface Gold

Sun Valley Supermarket, Scarborough, Ontario

Jim & Vicki Bexis, and Team

Supplier – Vince Tedesco, Maple Leaf Foods, Bimbo Canada

Description:  Bunker display assorted Maple Leaf, Schneiders, Greenfield sku’s, Dempster’s buns, Lays Chips, PepsiCo drinks.

Medium Surface Gold

Powell’s Supermarket, Bay Roberts, NL

Bay Roberts Team

Supplier – Shane Tipple, PepsiCo Foods, Derek Mercer, Old Dutch
Description: Super Bowl display featuring snacks, beverage and non-alcoholic beer.

Large Surface Gold

Save-On-Foods #980 – Orchard Plaza, Kelowna, BC
Eric Falkenberg, Scott Nazaruk and Orchard Plaza Team

Supplier – Michael Tatchell, Kevin Kentel, Steven MacLean – Coca-Cola and Linda Laidlaw – Nestlé Canada
Description: Halloween display. It’s a full size to actual scale flatbed truck hauling a giant pumpkin for Halloween. Lots of detail with the mirrors and the front grill with lights.

Single Manufacturer

Small Surface Gold

Colemans St. Anthony, St. Anthony, NL
Melanie Powell and St. Anthony Team

Supplier – Kruger Products.
Description: Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Medium Surface Gold

Calgary Co-op 8, Calgary, Alberta
Jerry Kulacz and Team

Supplier – Taylor Bryant, KraftHeinz
Description: Kraft Hockeyville Display.

Large Surface Gold

Save-On-Foods #980 Orchard Plaza, Kelowna

Eric Falkenberg, Scott Nazaruk

Supplier – Kevin Kentel, Steven MacLean, Ken McCaffrey, Michael Tatchell – Coca-Cola
Description: Xmas display. Elf on a shelf is one of the hottest themes for kids at Xmas. Parents stage the little elves doing funny and mischievous things, so the kids wake up and find them leading up to Xmas. Here are two elves hiding from each other around a giant 6 pack of coke glass. One of the elves has a bottle opener as well.