The “consumer’s choice” for new product innovation was celebrated this past January recognizing the first-ever Canadian winners of Product of the Year. The winning products were selected following a national survey of over 12,000 Canadian consumers.
For the past two decades, the Product of the Year title–organized by the company of the same name–has been the gold standard for consumer-voted product innovation for hundreds of brands worldwide, and late last year the program launched in Canada. The idea behind it is to help consumers, who are often bombarded with many product choices, to get informed on what’s new and innovative in the marketplace.
As executive program director Sandie Orlando explains it, Product of the Year helps consumers cut through the clutter: “A positive endorsement from thousands of Canadian consumers sends a powerful message that these are products worth trying. In a tough economy, when we’re all trying to be smarter about how we spend our money, it’s helpful to be able to take some of the guesswork out of our shopping experience.”
Because the award is not limited to a narrow category, this year’s winners include an eclectic mix of food, beverage, hair care, health care, and household products.
The inaugural Product of the Year Canada winners are:
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| Axe Shampoos & Conditioner findings indicate close to a third of Canadian consumers are most interested in trying new hair care products; | Baileys with a Hint of Coffee – Canadians have a love-affair with coffee, and credit brand for acknowledging that; |
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| BlueWater Potato Crunch Fish Fillets the real potato coating/breading makes this product innovative, also the family-size box and price was a winner with consumers; |
Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale – with consumers aware of the health benefits of green tea, this product makes Canada Dry even healthier with less sugar, caffeine, 100% natural flavors and real ginger; |
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| Dempster’s Healthy Way with ProCardio Recipe Bread – Canadian consumers want healthy products, and this fits the bil carrying the Heart & Stroke Foundation’s Health Check symbol; | Majesta Bathroom Tissue – product shows company’s commitment to responsible forest management and tree planting, as well as keying on consumer’s interest in green/sustainable products; |
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| Mott’s Fruitsations Apple Pomegranate + Antioxidant – product supports growing awareness of need for antioxidants in optimum health; | Mott’s Fruitsations Harvest Apple + Calcium – consumers said it was an innovative way to receive their daily calcium requirements; |
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| Springfree Trampoline – product support public awareness campaigns related to children safety issues and their products, while at the same time addresses physical fitness concerns, improving muscle tone and cardiovascular health; | V8 V-Fusion – consumers surveyed feel it is a great way to your vegetables that was purchased by 73 per cent of consumers polled, who indicated that the nutritional information on the label was key part of the decision to purchase. The trendy blend of acai berry and veggies and fruit was also deemed an innovative combination. Product carries the Heart & Stroke Foundation’s Health Check symbol; |
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| Vivimind tablets – with an aging Boomer population, products dealing with senior’s health issues are important, with 52 per cent of the consumers polled stating that packages with proper information detailing health effects influences their decision to purchase a new product. |