Amy Bennington from Power NI presents Foyle Food Group with Best Sustainability Initiative at Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2021.
ORMO Moments lifted the top award of Best Marketing Campaign for Hovis Ireland Bakeries at the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2021, held in the Culloden Estate and Spa on September 10.
SPAR picked up highly commended for its There for You campaign, with the category sponsored by Mash Direct and one of 10 recognised at the 33rd annual awards.
Female leadership came to the fore in two categories recognising individuals, with the Kestrel Foods-sponsored accolade honouring its co-founder, Lorraine Hall Young Marketeer, going to Rebecca Jess of Linwoods Healthfoods and highly commended to Gemma McAdam of Mash Direct.
Elly Hunter of Tayto bagged Leader in Marketing, sponsored by MXB, with Mash Direct’s Clare Forster highly commended in the category.
Henderson Group picked up a hat trick of wins for a second consecutive year, with Henderson Wholesale enjoy local named Best Brand while highly commended went to Centra NI Because Local Matters (sponsor Henderson Food Machinery).
Northern Ireland’s two biggest symbol retailers also dominated Best In-Store Consumer Sales Promotion sponsored by Aqua Twist, with SPAR NI winning for 12 Deals of Christmas and Musgrave NI highly commended for SuperValu & Centra Cracker Deals.
Best CSR Initiative/Charity Partnership sponsored by Northern Snack Foods went to Henderson Wholesale for SPAR, Always There for Our Communities and highly commended to the Musgrave NI/Action Cancer partnership.
Musgrave NI, meanwhile, secured a fourth award and win with SuperValu Dinner Sorted for Less, named Best Digital Campaign sponsored by MBNI Truck & Van, with Naturo Natural Pet Food Share How You Care highly commended.
Best Sustainability Initiative sponsored by Power NI was awarded to Foyle Food Group, with Lidl NI highly commended, and Best Export Marketing sponsored by Invest NI went to Hinch Distillery with Linwoods Health Foods picking up a second accolade as highly commended.
Denny Meat Free Sausages from Kerry Foods triumphed as Best New Product/Product Relaunch, sponsored by Derry Group Ireland, with a new Iced Coffee line from Boost Drinks highly commended.
A special award also went head judge Michael Maguire, stepping down this year after many years of chairing the judging panel. This year’s panel also included John D’Arcy OBE, Norman Maynes, Professor Barry Quinn and Emma Cowan.
“The local grocery sector has proved its strength, resilience and commitment to keeping Northern Ireland fed throughout the pandemic,” said Alyson Magee, editor, Ulster Grocer. “We are honoured to have been able to continue recognising the sector in person, both in 2020 and with our 33rd annual awards this year.
“Many of the winning campaigns specifically addressed consumers with messages of reassurance and support throughout the lockdowns, while the sector has also continued to demonstrate great innovation and dedication to vital areas of focus such as CSR and sustainability.”
Full coverage of the awards ceremony will feature in the October edition of Ulster Grocer, published on October 4th.
