HARRISBURG, Pa. (August 18, 2026) — The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has announced the winners of the 2026 March Frozen Food Month Golden Penguin Awards, recognizing innovative and impactful marketing programs that elevated consumer awareness, drove category growth, and celebrated the value of frozen foods with shoppers nationwide.
Each year, NFRA honors outstanding efforts led by retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, sales agents, and industry partners for their creativity and commitment to advancing the frozen food category. This year’s winning entries demonstrated excellence across a variety of marketing disciplines, from in-store merchandising and community outreach to digital engagement and fully integrated marketing campaigns.
A total of 28 Gold Awards and 25 Silver Awards were announced across multiple categories. A complete list of winners is available at nfraweb.org.
“As consumer preferences continue to evolve, frozen foods remain a relevant solution for households seeking flexibility, variety and value,” said Tricia Greyshock, President and CEO of NFRA. “The programs recognized through this year’s Golden Penguin Awards reflect the passion, creativity, and commitment our members bring to help consumers discover frozen food solutions that simplify mealtime and deliver meaningful value every day.”
The Golden Penguin Awards celebrate marketing excellence across categories that reflect today’s evolving retail landscape, including:
- In-Store Display
- In-Store Event
- Community Involvement
- Social Media Campaign
- Retail Dietitian Wellness Program
- Private Brand Campaign
- Overall Marketing Campaign
Winning programs reflected several key trends shaping today’s marketplace, including omnichannel shopper engagement, strategic use of social media, health and wellness messaging, and collaborative retailer-manufacturer partnerships. Together, these initiatives helped inspire consumers to discover new frozen food solutions while reinforcing the category’s convenience, quality, and value.
Gold Award recipients will be recognized during the Golden Penguin Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, October 20 at 12:00 p.m. at the 2026 NFRA Convention in National Harbor, Md., where the association will also reveal its prestigious Top Marketer Awards. These honors are reserved for the highest-scoring entries in the Overall Marketing Campaign categories and recognize the industry’s most exceptional promotional efforts. To attend the Golden Penguin Awards Luncheon and other Convention events, register for the 2026 NFRA Convention at nfraconvention.org/register.
About National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA)
NFRA is a non-profit trade association representing all segments of the frozen and refrigerated foods industry. NFRA sponsors national promotions ReDiscover Dairy & Frozen (January), March Frozen Food Month, June Dairy Month, and Summer Favorites Ice Cream & Novelties (June/July); and provides consumer information such as lifestyle content, meal preparation tips, recipes and sweepstakes opportunities through its Easy Home Meals consumer website and social media properties. To learn more, visit nfraweb.org and easyhomemeals.com.
