RCC announces the winners of the Grand Prix

Toronto – The Retail Council of Canada (RCC) announced the winners of its 19th Annual Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards last night at a gala in Mississauga.

The awards program recognizes 26 food, non-food and private label categories.

There are five special awards for best overall innovation and originality, innovative packaging, consumer acceptance, healthy innovation, and all-Canadian product.

A 32-member jury, which included consumers, journalists and members of the grocery industry, selected the Grand Prix winners. This year Luc Boissy, director of product development for the restaurant chain Baton Rouge, chaired the jury.

The panel gathered in Montreal to evaluate the food products from the national brands and private labels. Judges assessed the non-food products in their homes over six weeks.

The jury narrowed down the entries to 122 finalists after grading each on five criteria: uniqueness and innovation, product characteristics, presentation and packaging, overall consumer value, and consumer acceptance (household penetration rate of a product).

Companies winning multiple Grand Prix awards were Metro Richelieu Inc. and Canada Safeway Limited, which each earned three awards in the Private Label categories.

Metro Richelieu won for the Confectionery, Snack & Dessert (Ice Cream Limited Edition); Prepared Food & Entrees (Irresistibles Frozen French Fries); and Non-Food (Irresistibles Dog Treats) categories.  Canada Safeway captured the awards for best new products in the Bakery (Eating Right Ancient Grains Tortillas with Chia); Beverages (Safeway Select Tea); and Condiments & Sauces (Open Nature Salad Dressing) categories.

Oikos Greek Yogurt from Danone Canada took home two awards (Dairy Products and All Canadian), as did Purina ONE SMARTBlend from Nestlé Purina Petcare (Pet Needs and Consumer Acceptance).

This year’s Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards were open to manufacturers and distributors for products introduced between Jan. 1, 2011 and Dec. 31, 2011.

Here is a list of all the food product winners.

• Bakery
WESTON BAKERIES: Première Fournée de Weston Breads
• Baking Needs
MAPLE LEAF FROZEN BAKERY: Tenderflake Easy Pie! Kits
• Beverages
A. LASSONDE INC.: Oasis Health Break CholestPrevent
• Condiments & Sauces
NEW AGE MARKETING & BRAND MANAGEMENT INC.: Simply Delish Chunky Dips
• Confectionery
KRAFT CANADA INC.: Cadbury Caramilk Secrets
• Dairy Products
DANONE CANADA: OIKOS, Greek yogurt
• Deli, Egg, Meat & Seafood
JANES FAMILY FOODS LTD.: Janes Wild Sockeye Salmon Burgers
• Dessert
SOLOFRUIT INC.: Sorbet
• Frozen or Refrigerated Prepared Food & Entrees
MCCAIN FOODS (CANADA): McCain Ultra Thin Crust Pizza
• Fruits, vegetables & produce
GARDEN PROTEIN INTERNATIONAL: gardein
• Shelf Stable Prepared Food & Entrees
NATURE’S PATH FOODS INC.: Love Crunch
• Snack
DARE FOODS LIMITED: Bear Paws Cereal & Fruit

Private Label
• Bakery
CANADA SAFEWAY LIMITED: Eating Right Ancient Grains Tortillas with Chia
• Beverages
CANADA SAFEWAY LIMITED: Safeway Select Tea
• Condiments & Sauces
CANADA SAFEWAY LIMITED: Open Nature Salad Dressing
• Confectionery, Snack & Dessert
METRO RICHELIEU INC.: Ice cream Limited Edition
• Dairy, Eggs, Meat & Seafood
SOBEYS INC.: Sensations by Compliments Certified Sustainable & Responsibly Caught Seafood
• Non-Food
METRO RICHELIEU INC.: Irresistibles Dog Treats
• Prepared Food & Entrees
METRO RICHELIEU INC.: Irresistibles Frozen French Fries

Special Awards
• All Canadian
DANONE CANADA: OIKOS, Greek yogurt
• Consumer Acceptance
NESTLÉ PURINA PETCARE: Purina ONE SMARTBlend
• Canadian Grand Prix Healthy Innovation New Product Award
MAPLE LEAF CONSUMER FOODS INC.: Maple Leaf Prime Naturally Chicken Breast Portions