The 27th Annual Category Captains Awards program is now open, inviting suppliers who excel in consumer insights, demand forecasting, and dynamic pricing strategies to put their best foot forward. This prestigious event, hosted by Progressive Grocer, honors supplier companies that lead in category management, a critical discipline in today’s rapidly changing retail landscape.
In order to stand out in this year’s awards, suppliers need to showcase how they’ve maintained an edge over market changes. Key focus areas include innovations implemented between June 15, 2023, and June 15, 2024, particularly those that enhanced shopper insights or collaboration with retail partners. Examples of successful entries might detail strategies that addressed pandemic-driven supply chain challenges, ensuring adequate product availability across diverse retail settings.
Further, companies are encouraged to share how they utilized new operational methods to not only survive COVID-19 related hurdles but to thrive beyond them. Particularly, submissions should reflect on initiatives that increased overall store sales, enhanced basket sizes, and encouraged more shopping trips. Leveraging artificial intelligence to refine product assortments or pricing strategies is another significant angle that entrants should consider.
The awards also honor efforts that invigorate or create categories in response to unmet consumer needs, showcasing the vital connection between various store departments through innovative initiatives. Retail partners often play a pivotal role in these stories, and feedback from them can lend credibility to entries.
This competition promotes not just recognition, but also collaboration across the industry, laying the groundwork for success in retail. Suppliers who are ready to showcase their achievements have until the submission deadline to share their stories of resilience and innovation. For more information and to submit an entry, visit the Progressive Grocer website today.