National Rice Month Promotion Rings Up Retail Sales

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2006 — It’s time to start planning your September National Rice Month promotion! The annual National Rice Month Store Display Promotion Contest is your chance to win up to $2,500 in cash prizes for creatively promoting rice in your store this September.

Your promotion will result in increased profits as well – National Rice Month is a proven business-builder. Last year, stores that participated in our annual display contest saw their rice category sales grow an average of 109 percent more than the previous month, and 62 percent more than the previous year. There were 8,400 rice displays created in grocery stores nationwide. Consumer impressions of the NRM message totaled 300 million.

Twenty-two prizes will be awarded evenly to chain and independent retailers with winners selected on the basis of creativity and impact on rice sales. Two grand prizes of $2,500 each and 20 runner-up prizes for $500 will be awarded. The USA Rice Federation can help you grow your rice category sales with promotional ideas and materials. For more information or to order an NRM promotion planning kit, go to .

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Contact: Molly Johnson, (703) 236-1448, mjohnson@usarice.com

USA Rice Federation is the national advocate for all segments of the rice industry, conducting programs to build awareness of the many attributes of rice and increasing worldwide demand for U.S. rice.