Launch your Idea

THE JUDGES ARE READY FOR YOU

Spark Tank is an innovation program designed specifically for participants of our Enterprise Leadership Program, where they are challenged to devise, and then present a whole new value proposition or business venture for Alex Lee or our customers. Participants are challenged to pitch an idea that will drive explosive growth through the organization, which includes being able to create fully vetted business plan, and then present their pitch to a panel of judges consisting of the CEO and COO Alex Lee, as well as the presidents of Alex Lee Retail,
Alex Lee Wholesale.

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Invitation Only

Who is the Program For?

calling All innovators!

Spark Tank is designed specifically for the Enterprise Leadership Program (ELP) participants. This is an accelerated leadership development program for high-potential leaders across the Alex Lee enterprise.

How it works

Participants within the Enterprise Leadership Program are organized into cross functional teams of 3-4. The challenge to each team is to disrupt the convention and to embrace innovative thinking – and pitch ideas in real time to the Spark Tank Judges.

Great Thoughts = Great Rewards

Winning teams will receive seed money to pilot and test their ideas within the business, and watch them grow!

Past Winners

When innovation wins

Ready, Set, Supper

The answer to that eternal question: “What’s for dinner?”. Not just one but 3 surprisingly easy meal options to solve every dinner dilemma. Option one, grab and go and ready to eat. Option two just heat and eat. Option three all the ingredients you need and instructions.

Idea by James Lamb, Audrey Amoroso, Jessica Cribb, & Nathan Hux

see the brilliant idea!

Spiced Right

Offer guests a convenience solution to meal preparation in store. Use our existing Spice Bazaar concept to inspire guests with an opportunity to have their choice of protein seasoned in their choice of style – live and on-demand in store.

Idea byRyan Mikeal, Gabe Willison, Melissa Shillinglaw & Shawn Sleep

see the brilliant idea!

Cheer All Year

Build off of the success of our Cheer Box program (a former winner of Spark Tank) by expanding our offerings to more products with a focus on private label, and themed around gifting holidays throughout the year.

Idea byAngie Ledford, Kevin Willis, Dustin Marshall & Brandi Goodin

see the brilliant idea!

Ice, Ice Baby

Build an internal dry ice production capability that could be used to both reduce our dependency on external suppliers and assuring abundant supply for our own internal needs, as well as the ability to offer a new product at retail for our customers and guests.

Idea byKeith Arnder, Wesley Ryder, John Epps & Wayne Perdun

see the brilliant idea!

Bark Bag

Provide a fresh, nutritious and all natural made-to-order dog food meal solution in our stores, using our own Brown Bag label ingredients for a treat that our fur-guests will love.

Idea byKimberly Graham, Jennifer Enoch, Amanda Peralta & Ryan Mikeal

see the brilliant idea!

Supercharge Your Shop

Expand our current EV charging locations for our guests, and also create experience driven destination charging stops that both current and future guests will seek out because of the differentiated amenities we provide.

Idea byMike Merritt, Justin Browning, Andy Schenck & Nathan Hux

see the brilliant idea!

First to Fresh

Re-purpose, upgrade and expand sections of the banana ripening room in the MDI warehouse to create a ripening program for a variety of different types of produce, and thus assure perfect freshness of produce for MDI customers.

Idea byTodd Loendorf, Jeremy Harwell, John Epps, Wes Doub & Kimberly Graham

see the brilliant idea!

Drop Ship

Expand on the online ‘MDI Marketplace’ as a platform to enable customers to select product from a vastly expanded assortment – without having to overburden the MDI warehouse facility.

Idea byTed Croitor, Grant Buckner, Pete Dhuse & Darrell Moore

see the brilliant idea!

CDP

Create a solution for retailers to merge available customer data into a usable platform, in order to be able to provide deeper analytics – and a deeper understanding – of their customers and shopping behavior, to help better run their business.

Idea byWesley Ryder, Jason Dunst, Marcus Taylor & Rich Teague

see the brilliant idea!

Your Sparx Programs. Enter One, Enter All!

innovation starts with a spark

It starts with a spark

Every great innovation starts with a spark. No matter how small or big your brainwave is, greatness could await you. So get your ideas together or brainstorm with your colleagues and start firing off your concepts today! Winners for the Sparx Challenge are drawn Annually but submissions can be made at any time.

I have an idea

    From Vroom to Kaboom!

    Get your ideas off the ground with Fast Sparx. Got a hot idea that cannot wait? Fast Sparx it here and get ready, set, GO to recognition, cool prizes, automatic entry into the annual Sparx Challenge– and beyond! Winners for the Fast Sparx Ideas are drawn Monthly but submissions can be made at any time.

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      What’s The Big Idea?

      You can’t fire up a flame without a spark! Our annual Sparkathon contest always has a special theme to it – and challenges all company members to team up and come up with an earth-shattering idea to improve and accelerate success in our business. What are you waiting for…! Login and post your big ideas to the current Sparkathon Challenge Winners.

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        Prepare to be Judged.

        This Sparx challenge sees management-designated teams being dared to put together – and present to the expert judging panel – innovative bold, creative ideas that we can take to the bank. Sparktank runs annually in March.

        Learn More

          We Have Ignition!

          It’s you vs the world! Our only public Sparx program that invites anyone with a computer (and a fiery imagination) to answer a specific challenge. The winning submission walks away with a significant cash prize – but be warned, the competition is tough! Think you’ve got what it takes – submit your idea anytime! Winners win significant cash prizes.

          Crowd Sparx