RCC announces new product winners

Toronto – The Retail Council of Canada (RCC) announced the winners of the 20th annual Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards this week.

The awards program recognizes the top new food, non-food and private label products across 26 categories.

All of the winners were announced June 5, 2013 at Toronto Congress Centre, as part of the STORE 2013 retail conference presented by RCC.  This year’s Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards was open to manufacturers and distributors for products introduced during the 2012 calendar year.

The Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards were judged by a 32-member panel, representing consumers, media, distributors, award sponsors, and students from across Canada.

The jury gathered in March in Montreal to evaluate the food and private label products.  They assessed the non-food products in their own homes over six weeks.

The panel scored the entries for uniqueness and innovation, product characteristics, presentation and packaging, overall consumer value, and consumer acceptance.  The 127 finalists each scored at least 70% in the judging.

The winners and finalists in this competition can use the Grand Prix Awards logo on their packaging for the next two years.

Here are the food winners:

Bakery
WESTON BAKERIES LIMITED
Country Harvest 100% Whole Grain Bread

Beverages
KRAFT CANADA INC.
NABOB Bold

Condiments & Sauces
7000 ISLANDS FOOD CORP.
Pulo Philippine Cuisine

Confectionery
DARE FOODS LIMITED
RealFruit Gummies

Dairy Products
LIBERTÉ
Liberté Froúto Greek Yogurt

Deli, Egg, Meat & Seafood
VITALA FOODS
Vita-D Sunshine Eggs

Dessert
SUNRISE SOYA FOODS
Sunrise Super Squeezies Dessert Tubes

Frozen or Refrigerated Prepared Food & Entrees
HAPPY PLANET FOODS, INC.
Happy Planet Fresh Soup

Fruits, vegetables & produce
GARDEN PROTEIN INTERNATIONAL
gardein

Shelf Stable Prepared Food & Entrees
BEST BRANDS LTD.
St-Hubert Chicken Broths (900mL)

Snack
OLD DUTCH FOODS LTD.
Northern Choice Chickpea Tortilla Chips

Private Label:

Bakery
METRO RICHELIEU INC.
Fresh 2 Go Toscana Focaccia

Beverages
CANADA SAFEWAY LIMITED
Edwards Coffee, 326 g

Condiments & Sauces
SOBEYS INC.
Sensations by Compliments Extra Virgin Olive Oil 3L

Confectionery, Snack & Dessert
METRO RICHELIEU INC.
Irresistibles Dark Chocolate Covered Caramels with sea salt

Dairy, Eggs, Meat & Seafood
LOBLAW BRANDS LIMITED
PC “Free From” Angus Beef Burgers

Prepared Food & Entrees
CANADA SAFEWAY LIMITED
Safeway Tuna, 170 g

Special Awards:

All Canadian
WESTON BAKERIES LIMITED
Country Harvest 100% Whole Grain Bread

Consumer Acceptance
ULTIMA FOODS INC.
iögo Nano – Drinkable Yogurt

Canadian Grand Prix Healthy Innovation
VITALA FOODS
VITA-DTM Sunshine Eggs