New Digital Category Added to the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards

Unseasonably warm weather greeted sponsors and past winners assembling at the Culloden Hotel & Spa on February 21 for the launch of the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2019.

To be held at the GroceryAid Ulster Grocers' Ball in the Culloden on May 10, the 31st annual Awards will recognise marketing excellence in the local grocery industry from producers, suppliers, wholesalers and independent retailers to retail groups.

Entry closes on March 15 for the Awards, which total 10 in number, and include the new accolades of Best Digital Marketing and Best Green Marketing (formerly Green Retailer of the Year).

Returning in 2019 after its successful debut last year is the Lorraine Hall Young Marketeer Award, recognising up and coming stars in memory of the co-founder of Forest Feast.

Further accolades include Best Marketing Campaign, Best Brand, Best In-Store Consumer Sales Promotion, Best New Product Launch/Relaunch, Best CSR Initiative/Charity Partnership, Best Artisan Campaign and Best Export Marketing.

Sponsors on board for this year's Awards include Aqua Twist, Derry Refrigerated Transport, Food NI, Henderson Food Machinery, Invest NI, Kestrel Foods, NI Trucks, Northern Snack Foods and PRL In-Market Solutions.

"We are excited to launch the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2019," said Alyson Magee, editor of Ulster Grocer. "The Awards are unique in their focus, highly regarded and offer an unparalleled opportunity for both established and up-and-coming companies to showcase their work at Northern Ireland's most prestigious grocery retail event, the GroceryAid Ulster Grocers' Ball."

Pic caption: Launching the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards 2019 at the Culloden Hotel & Spa on February 21 are, back row from left, John Hood (Invest NI); Bronagh Clarke (sponsor, Kestrel Foods); Stephen Anton (sponsor, NI Trucks); Gary Bridge (sponsor, NI Trucks); Alyson Magee (Ulster Grocer); Jamie Thompson (2018 winner, Punjana); Chris Keenan (Ulster Grocer); Camille Thompson (2018 winner, Punjana); Norma Gray (2018 winner, M&S); Nigel Morton (sponsor, Northern Snack Foods); Conor Toland (2018 winner, Henderson Wholesale); and David Henderson (sponsor, Henderson Food Machinery) and, front row from left, Laura Rafferty (2018 winner, Mackle Petfoods); Russell Johnston (sponsor, PRL In-Market Solutions); Richard Pakenham (Independent News & Media); Trevor Magill (GroceryAid, Musgrave); Desi Derby (2018 winner, Musgrave); and Debra Henderson (sponsor, Henderson Food Machinery).

Awards categories include:

Lorraine Hall Young Marketeer Award (sponsored by Kestrel Foods)

Best Marketing Campaign ( sponsored by PRL In-Market Solutions )

Best Brand (sponsored by Henderson Food Machinery)

Best In-Store Consumer Sales Promotion ( sponsored by Aqua Twist - DCS Ltd)

Best New Product Launch/Relaunch ( sponsored by Derry Refrigerated Transport)

Best CSR Initiative/Charity Partnership (sponsored by Northern Snack Foods)

Best Green Marketing ( sponsored by NI Trucks)

Best Artisan Food Product Campaign ( sponsored by Food NI )

Best Food Export Marketing ( sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland )

Best Digital Marketing Campaign

For further information or to enter, visit ulstergrocer.com or contact Ulster Grocer Manager Chris Keenan at c.keenan@independentmagazinesni.co.uk.

To book seats at the GroceryAid Ulster Grocers' Ball, contact GroceryAid NI Committee representative Jim McAlea at Jim.mcalea@yahoo.co.uk.