Grocery industry celebrates top new items in Canada

June 6, 2014, Toronto – Première Moisson
and Smucker Foods were among the winners of the annual Canadian Grand Prix New
Product Awards, held June 4 in Toronto.

June 6, 2014, Toronto – Première Moisson
and Smucker Foods were among the winners of the annual Canadian Grand Prix New
Product Awards, held June 4 in Toronto.

Mini pastries 189 Harwood by Première
Moisson (Bakery), Robin Hood Nutri Flour Blend by Smucker Foods of Canada Corp.
(Baking Needs), Dessert

Fruttare Frozen Fruit Bars by Unilever
Canada (Desserts) and Metro Brands Irresistibles Mini Sorbet Bars (Confectionery,
Snack & Dessert) were among the winners in baked goods categories. See
below for a complete list of winners.

Finica Food Specialties Limited was the big
winner at the awards. The company earned two awards for its Zerto Fresh
Mozzarella Pre-Sliced – Best Dairy Product category, and the coveted
All-Canadian Award for the highest-scoring overall Canadian product in the
competition.

The awards, presented by Retail Council of
Canada (RCC), were handed out at a gala as part of RCC’s annual STORE
conference. The Grand Prix program, which honours the top new food, non-food
and private label products across 24 categories, includes five special awards.

Diane J. Brisebois, RCC’s president and
CEO, said in a media statement that the Grand Prix is special because it looks
at varied pillars of success. Judges evaluate uniqueness and innovation,
product characteristics, presentation and packaging, and overall consumer
value, and also factor in consumer acceptance (the household penetration rate).

“These qualities underscore what's at the
heart of the grocery industry ­– a commitment to create products that reflect
and shape consumer preferences and trends,” said Brisebois. “Each winner is a
testament to the dedication and ingenuity of product development, design and
brand management teams.  Their goods
continue to inspire and delight consumers.”

That tied Clorox with Metro Brands, which
won three awards for their Irresistibles private label line: Beverages for
Irresistibles Life Smart Smoothie; Confectionery, Snack & Dessert for
Irresistibles Mini Sorbet Bars; and Prepared Food & Entrees for
Irresistibles Gluten Free Frozen Meal.

The only other company to win multiple
Grand Prix Awards was Sobey's Inc., which grabbed private label awards in the
Dairy, Eggs, Meat & Seafood category for Sensations Stuffed Burger, and in
the Non-Food category for Debi Lilly Fluted Petite Vase. 

In the night’s two other special award
categories, Dempster’s Garden Vegetable Bread from Canada Bread Company, Limited
won for Consumer Acceptance. T-Fall OptiGrill from Groupe SEB ­– an indoor
grill with built-in technology that senses the thickness of food and indicates
the level of cooking – won the special award for Healthy Innovation.

This was the 21st edition of the Canadian
Grand Prix New Product Awards, which was open to manufacturers and distributors
for products introduced during the 2013 calendar year.

The 32-member Grand Prix jury included
consumers, students, media, distributors and award sponsors. Marcus Von
Albrecht, a B.C. chef and president of Mava Foods, served as chair. The jury
evaluated the food and private label products in March at Montreal’s Institut
de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec and assessed the non-food products at
home over six weeks.

Among the award presenters at the gala were
representatives from sponsors CHEP Canada, Crossmark Canada, the Dairy Farmers
of Canada and Interac.

Grand Prix winners and finalists can use
the Grand Prix Awards logo on their packaging for the next two years. Brisebois
said the awards not only salute deserving products and companies but also
create role models for the industry.

Winners
by Category

Food

Bakery

PREMIÈRE MOISSON

Mini pastries 189 Harwood by Première
Moisson

Baking Needs

SMUCKER FOODS OF CANADA CORP.

Robin Hood® Nutri Flour Blend™

Beverages

A. LASSONDE INC.

Del Monte World

Condiments & Sauces

B&G FOODS, INC.

CrockPot® Seasoning Mixes

Confectionery

TREE OF LIFE CANADA ULC

Green & Black's Organic Chocolate

Dairy Products

FINICA FOOD SPECIALTIES LIMITED

Zerto Fresh Mozzarella Pre-Sliced

Deli, Egg, Meat & Seafood

CLEARWATER SEAFOODS

Clearwater® Scallops & Sauce

Dessert

UNILEVER CANADA

Fruttare™ Frozen Fruit Bars

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

A&V 2000 INC.

NuTerra™ Granola

Snack

DARE FOODS LIMITED

Boulangerie Grissol® Sweet Thins™

Non-Food

General Merchandise

JARDEN BRANDED CONSUMABLES

First Alert ATOM Smoke Alarm.

Health Care

JOHNSON & JOHNSON INC.

Polysporin Eczema Essentials Daily
Moisturizing Cream

Household Products

S.C JOHNSON AND SON, LIMITED

Glade Wax Melts

Paper, Plastic & Foil

THE CLOROX COMPANY OF CANADA LTD.

Glad Indoor Easy-Tie Kitchen Catchers with
Odour Guard & Febreze Freshness

Personal Care

THE CLOROX COMPANY OF CANADA LTD.

güd from Burt's Bees

Pet Needs

NESTLÉ PURINA PETCARE

Beneful Baked Delights Dog Snacks

Private
Label

Beverages

METRO BRANDS

Irresistibles Life Smart Smoothies 

Condiments & Sauces

LONGO'S

Longo's White Balsamic Vinegar

Confectionery, Snack & Dessert

METRO BRANDS

Irresistibles Mini Sorbet Bars

Dairy, Eggs, Meat & Seafood

SOBEYS INC.

Sensations Stuffed Burger

Non-Food

SOBEYS INC.

Debi Lilly Fluted Petite Vase

Prepared Food & Entrees

METRO BRANDS

Irresistibles Gluten Free Frozen Meal

Special
Awards

All-Canadian

FINICA FOOD SPECIALTIES LIMITED

Zerto Fresh Mozzarella Pre-Sliced

Consumer Acceptance

CANADA BREAD COMPANY, LIMITED

Dempster's Garden Vegetable Bread

Innovation and Originality

NESTLÉ PURINA PETCARE

Beneful Baked Delights Dog Snacks

Innovative Packaging

THE CLOROX COMPANY OF CANADA LTD.

güd from Burt's Bees

Healthy Innovation

GROUPE SEB

T-Fall® OptiGrill™