Category Captains Nomination Form

Convenience Store News' Category Captains Awards competition recognizes overall excellence in innovative, creative and profit-generating category management platforms. Awards are presented in 21 categories.

The Category Captain is generally the retailer's most important vendor, supplier or manufacturer in a particular category. This Category Captain works alongside the retailer to provide relevant consumer data, improve performance in their category and increase overall profit and growth.

As each retailer has a distinct set of expectations and deliverables for Category Captains, a supplier's ability to customize its products, services, promotions, merchandising materials and programs is a key factor in determining Category Captains Awards winners.

Above all else, a Category Captain's efforts contribute to the growth and success of an entire category, not just the supplier's own products or brands. Category Captains will be able to demonstrate in their entry submissions the innovative ways that they do this, as well as discuss the resources they devote to supporting category growth for the retailer.

Additionally, financial results (in percentages, not actual dollars) are key for an award based on data and performance. (Upon request, financial information can be withheld from eventual coverage of winners.) Examples of specific successful retailer partnership programs are also very beneficial in entry submissions.

Last year's Category Captains Awards winners can be seen here.

ELIGIBILITY RULES

Convenience store industry suppliers that provide their retail customers with category leadership and innovation in any of the listed award categories are eligible. If a submission could fall into more than one category, nominators should choose one, with the judging panel having final say.

There is no fee for entry and no limit to the number of entries a company can submit.

ABOUT THE JUDGING PROCESS

Past Times Marketing, a consumer research and product evaluation firm based in New York, will judge entries based on information supplied by participating companies.

Past Times President and CEO Susan Durtschi has more than 40 years of experience as a buyer, merchandise manager, private label product developer and online marketer for a variety of national and regional retailers and her own retail company.

ENTRY DEADLINE

Entries must be received by January 12, 2024.

HOW TO ENTER

Fill out the online entry form below and attach one copy of the company logo and up to five supporting images.

CONTACT

For questions, contact Angela Hanson at [email protected].