Meijer, Johnsonville Sausage Team Up For Creative Football-Themed Facebook Poetry Contest

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As excitement builds toward the biggest football game of the year, Meijer and Johnsonville Sausage are giving their customers an opportunity to get their creative juices flowing – and a chance to win a football fan's ultimate tailgate package – with a football-themed Facebook poetry contest, entitled "Meijer Pigskin Poetry."

The contest invites participants to go to the Meijer Facebook page, www.facebook.com/meijer, and create a fun football-themed poem in 30 words or less through Feb. 4 for a chance to win the ultimate fan package.

"The Meijer digital team is very excited to give our online fans another great opportunity," said Kevin Brown, chief marketing officer for the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. "As Meijer approaches one-half million Facebook 'likes,' this provides a fun and unique way for our customers to showcase their creative prose through digital and social channels. Plus, we know this is right up their alley with things they love: Facebook, football and grilling."

In addition to entering their own poems, the Meijer Facebook community will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite football poems through Feb. 4. The top 10 vote-getters will receive the grand prize package, including a portable grill, gourmet grilling kit, grill mitt, apron, a variety of Johnsonville bratwurst and a flat screen TV.

"Johnsonville Sausage and football go hand-in-hand, which is why we're thrilled to partner with Meijer on this fun and unique contest," said Nicole Boelman, Johnsonville Sausage business manager. "We're looking forward to seeing the creativity Meijer shoppers are sure to show through the Pigskin Poetry contest."

The "Meijer Pigskin Poetry" contest follows on the heels of several other online contests unveiled during the holiday season. The company's recent digital efforts continue to focus on the digital channels and topics that matter most to its customers, resulting in more customer engagement with the retailer's various online offerings. For example, just this week, the Meijer mPerks digital coupon program exceeded 500,000 subscribers.

The contest winners for "Meijer Pigskin Poetry" will be announced on the Meijer Facebook page the week following the Big Game. For more information on the "Meijer Pigskin Poetry" contest, please log onto www.facebook.com/meijer.

About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 197 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. As the inventor of the "one-stop shopping" concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. For more information on Meijer and the ability to shop for more, please visit www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/meijer or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

About Johnsonville Sausage, LLC: Wisconsin-based Johnsonville Sausage is the No. 1 national brand of brats, Italian sausage, smoked-cooked links and fresh breakfast sausage links. Johnsonville employs approximately 1,300 members. Each member takes ownership of product quality to ensure the excellence and "Big Flavor" of Johnsonville Sausage. Founded in 1945 by Ralph F. and Alice Stayer, the company remains privately owned today. www.johnsonville.com.

SOURCE Meijer