The National Grocers Association, along with sponsoring partners Kellanova and Unilever, celebrated the winners of the annual NGA Creative Choice Awards contest at the 2025 NGA Show at the Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Recipients of the awards, which honor the best marketing and merchandising programs in the independent grocery industry, were recognized during a breakfast session, kicking off the third and final day of the association’s annual meeting and convention. 

From each category winner, one “Outstanding Marketer” and one “Outstanding Merchandiser” were selected by the independent supermarket community and their supporters through online voting.  

This year’s Outstanding Marketer is Harps Food Stores and the Outstanding Merchandiser is Adams Fairacre Farms Hudson Valley Fresh Dairy Farmers. 

“Independent grocers continue to set the standard for creativity and innovation in marketing and merchandising,” said Laura Strange, chief communications & engagement officer and senior vice president. “The Creative Choice Awards celebrate the outstanding efforts of these retailers who are finding unique ways to engage their customers, drive sales, and strengthen their communities. We’re proud to recognize this year’s winners and appreciate the support of Kellanova and Unilever in honoring excellence in the independent grocery industry.” 

In 2024, Grocery TV, the largest in-store retail media network, announced adding 145 stores to its network through a partnership with Arkansas-based Harps Food Stores, a leading regional grocery chain across the South and Midwest.

Through this partnership, Harps leverages Grocery TV's end-to-end in-store retail media solution to engage shoppers with digital displays throughout their stores in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.

Their team is using Grocery TV's Content Management System (CMS) to launch and track in-store digital campaigns, increasing the visibility of marketing initiatives and enhancing the shopper experience with timely, in-store messaging.