MINNEAPOLIS — If you think you can't lick a prize like this one, ask three SUPERVALU associates who were named the winners of the company's employee "Stone Ridge Creamery(R) Name Your Dream Flavor Sweepstakes." In addition to receiving free ice cream for a year and a $500 gift card, the winning associates will have their dream flavors added to the Stone Ridge Creamery lineup and their caricatures featured on the carton.
The winning associates and their "dream flavors" are:
— Tom Lindberg, retail technology specialist for SUPERVALU's supply chain services northern region in Minneapolis, for his "Twisted Pretzel" flavor;
— Amy Youngblood, senior business support specialist at SUPERVALU's innovation center in Minneapolis, for her "Red Velvet Cake" flavor; and
— Joe Agrusa, direct store delivery receiver at the Albertsons store in Chula Vista, Calif., for his "Italian Kiss" flavor.
All three flavors are now available nationwide at SUPERVALU's family of grocery stores, including Acme(R), Cub Foods(R), Farm Fresh(R), Hornbacher's(R), Jewel-Osco(R), Shaw's/Star Market(TM), Shop 'n Save(R) and Shoppers Food & Pharmacy(R), as well as at select independent grocery retailers who are affiliated with SUPERVALU.
Last year, SUPERVALU invited associates from across the company to show their love for the company's private-label Stone Ridge Creamery brand of ice creams, sherbets and tart frozen yogurts by entering their "dream" ice cream flavors in the sweepstakes. The company received nearly 1,500 submissions, of which Lindberg's, Youngblood's and Agrusa's were selected winners.
"To see your dream flavor become a reality — how cool is that?" said Stacy Bergmann, Stone Ridge Creamery brand manager. "SUPERVALU associates' interest in and support for our new Stone Ridge Creamery brand helped us exceed our sales goals for the brand last year. The sweepstakes was our way of recognizing and thanking our associates for the contributions they made to the brand's growth."
Fabulous new flavors Lindberg has always been an ice cream lover, so learning that his "Twisted Pretzel" flavor was going to be churned into reality was a true thrill. Lindberg's "Twisted Pretzel" features sea salt-infused caramel and crunchy dark chocolate-coated pretzel pieces in a bed of rich vanilla ice cream.
"As a kid, I ate ice cream almost every day and put everything imaginable in it, from a variety of syrups and fruits to things like nuts, pretzels and even popcorn. I really like the combination of sweet and salty, as well as having something crunchy," Lindberg said. "Hands down, however, my favorite thing to put on ice cream is caramel. When the contest came up, I discussed it with my family, and we decided that caramel was mandatory, and pretzels would be good, especially if covered in chocolate. All of my friends and family are so excited and can't wait to see it on the shelves."
For Youngblood, the idea of a Red Velvet Cake-flavored ice cream conjured up many happy memories with her family. Her "Red Velvet Cake" ice cream, which will be a first for any major ice cream brand, is deep red in color infused with rich flavors of chocolate and decadent cream cheese frosting.
"Red Velvet Cake has long been a favorite family dessert for any celebration — from birthdays to weddings," Youngblood said. "I also thought this flavor would be a great choice because Red Velvet Cake itself is a classic, nostalgic flavor that would be a natural addition to the retro feel of the Stone Ridge Creamery lineup. However, it still feels modern and innovative since it's a flavor not commonly found in ice cream."
Agrusa came up with "Italian Kiss" after being inspired by memories of growing up in Italy. The new flavor is a blend of chocolate ice cream, hazelnut and dark chocolate chunks, reminiscent of an Italian treat Agrusa enjoyed as a child.
"This is a very intense and complex flavor that I think will have broad mass-market appeal," Agrusa said. "I am excited about being a winner, and I hope this flavor takes off and generates lots of sales."
The new Stone Ridge Creamery Twisted Pretzel, Red Velvet Cake and Italian Kiss ice creams are available in 32-oz. (quart) cartons with a suggested retail price of $3.99.
Ice cream is hot The winning flavors come on the market as industry trends show that ice cream remains a favorite indulgence even in tough economic times. According to a report by Packaged Facts, the U.S. market for ice cream and related frozen desserts increased 2 percent to $25 billion in 2009 despite the recessionary environment. At the same time, the recession has led consumers to seek out the best price and value for their frozen dessert products, as retailers improve and upscale their private-label offerings.(1)
About Stone Ridge Creamery Meeting consumer needs for taste and value, Stone Ridge Creamery offers a broad assortment of premium flavors of ice creams, sherbets and tart frozen yogurts made from high-quality ingredients at a price 10 percent to 15 percent lower than comparable premium national brands.
In addition to the new "Twisted Pretzel," "Red Velvet Cake" and "Italian Kiss" ice cream flavors, the Stone Ridge Creamery brand includes 40 other flavors of ice creams, sherbets and frozen treats. Offerings range from traditional classics like vanilla, chocolate, butter pecan, strawberry and mint chocolate chip to exclusive flavors such as Blueberry Cobbler, Peanut Butter Swirl, Black Raspberry Chip and Caramel Waffle Cone. Stone Ridge Creamery ice creams are available in full-fat, light and 100-calorie options to satisfy the craving of every family member. Assortments change yearly based on top flavor trends.
Other SUPERVALU private-label brands include Baby Basics(R), Wild Harvest(R), Culinary Circle(R), Stockman & Dakota(R), Java Delight(R), homelife(R), Equaline(R), Shoppers Value(R) and WholeCare Pet(R).
About SUPERVALU INC. SUPERVALU INC. is one of the largest companies in the U.S. grocery channel with estimated annual sales of $39 billion. SUPERVALU serves customers across the United States through a network of approximately 4,290 stores composed of approximately 1,160 traditional retail stores, including 840 in-store pharmacies; 1,190 hard-discount Save-A-Lot stores, of which 855 are operated by licensee owners; and 1,940 independent stores serviced primarily by the company's traditional food distribution business. SUPERVALU has approximately 160,000 employees. For more information about SUPERVALU, visit www.supervalu.com.
Sources:
(1) U.S. Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Market Reaches $25 Billion in 2009, Further Growth Forecast as Trend Towards Discounts and New Launches, Packagedfacts.com, Jan. 6, 2010
Source: SUPERVALU INC.