
Idaho Potato Lovers 2024 retail display contest sizzles with new grand prizes
For the first time ever, the Idaho Potato Lovers retail display contest will award three grand prizes in 2024: Each lucky random sweepstake winner will take home a high-end Traeger meat smoker and complete smoking kit, perfect for backyard get-togethers featuring Idaho spuds.
“As the Idaho Potato Commission contest becomes more popular every year, we wanted to reward more produce managers for all of the time and effort they put into promoting Idaho potatoes,” said Ross Johnson, IPC vice president of retail and international. “So we will be doing a sweepstakes drawing in each region of the country, giving entrants an even better chance of winning a grand prize.”
The Potato Lover’s BBQ package grand prize includes a Traeger Pro wood pellet grill, a full-length grill cover, a Meater block thermometer accessory, and a $250 Traeger gift card. Traeger’s WiFIRE technology lets home chefs monitor and control their grill from anywhere using the Traeger app, and the powerful D2 controller maintains precise temperatures to deliver maximum wood-fired flavor. The smoker also features a meat probe, porcelain-coated grill grates, all-terrain wheels, locking caster wheels, and easy hopper cleanout.
In addition, the sweepstakes winner’s category manager will also receive a Potato Lover’s BBQ package grand prize.
“Our goal is to unleash produce managers’ creativity, just as potatoes allow consumers to get creative in their kitchens,” said Johnson. “The Idaho Potato Lovers contest has become something that produce managers all over the country love — it’s an opportunity for them to do something different from what they do every day as they run their departments.
“A lot of our IPC efforts throughout the year are at a higher level above the store floor,” added Johnson. “The retail display contest is when we get into the trenches with the produce managers who are doing the customer-facing work. In fact, that’s why we thank everyone who enters with a prize.”
All entrants in the 33rd annual IPC retail display contest, who will compete for more than $150,000 in cash and prizes, will receive a free BBQ grill tool kit just for entering. The stylish, sturdy aluminum storage case holds a stainless steel spatula, BBQ fork, meat knife, grill tongs, basting brush, eight corn holders, grill cleaning brush, and four steak knives.
Produce departments can win during the contest too, said Johnson, thanks to higher sales driven by eye-catching secondary displays during what is traditionally a slower sales period of the year. IPC research has found that test stores with secondary displays of Idaho russets deliver a nearly 10 times growth advantage, while comparison stores with no secondary display achieve an average category growth of only 2.5 percent.
The Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest runs from Feb. 1 through April 15, 2024. Retailers can participate by building an attractive and memorable display in the produce department that incorporates fresh Idaho potatoes (bag, bulk or both) with a clear label showing the Idaho name and the “Grown in Idaho®” seal, along with a clearly marked Idaho dehydrated potato product. (Displays may not include potato products from other states.) The display must be up in the store’s produce section for a least one week during the contest period.
The display must also use IPC 2024 special themed point-of-sale materials: two double-sided Idaho Potato Lovers logo display signs, one large and two small double-sided signs featuring an appetizing photo, and three inflatable Mylar™ Idaho potato balloons. For more point-of-sale clip art and delicious recipes, go to the Idaho potato website: idahopotato.com/retail.
Display entries can be any size but are limited to one per store. Retailers will compete with other same-size stores in one of three categories: 1-5 cash registers, 6-9 cash registers, or 10-plus cash registers. Within each store category, entrants are eligible to win these prizes:
- 1st place – $1,500
- 2nd place – $1,000
- 3rd place – $750
- 4th place – $500
- 5th place – $250
- Honorable Mention – $100
- (100 selected from remaining entries)
The Category Manager Match Program will award equivalent prizes to corporate category managers for stores that qualify for a 1st through 5th place prize, including a chance to win one of the three Traeger grand prizes.
The Idaho Potato Lovers Display Contest Review Committee will judge all displays on a point system based on use of fresh and dehydrated Idaho potato products, use of IPC-provided point-of-sale materials, salability of the display, and creative elements. The top winners will be notified by June 1, 2024, and all winners will be posted on the IPC website by June 15, 2024.