TORONTO – Metro Brands, G.P. took home a whopping five awards and Laiterie Chalifoux Inc. was crème de la crème at the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards, a highlight of Retail Council of Canada's STORE 2016 conference in Toronto.
Metro Brands G.P. was the most awarded company in this year's competition. It dominated in Private Label Food with its Irresistibles line, sweeping five categories: Bakery Fresh (Par-Baked) (Artisan deep dish pie, 750g), Beverages (Life-Smart Smoothie), Confectionery & Shelf Stable Desserts (Brownie in the Centre), Deli Meats & Cheeses (Dry Sausage) and Frozen or Refrigerated Prepared Foods & Entrees (Potato Gratin).
Founded in 1920 in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, family-owned Laiterie Chalifoux took home three awards for its Riviera Petit Pot Set-Style Yogurt. It was the category winner in Dairy (Milk, Yogurt, Cheese & Spreadables) and won a Special Award for Innovative Packaging. It capped off its trophy haul with the coveted All-Canadian Award, which is presented to the product with the highest average score among all products developed, created and manufactured in Canada.
Joining Metro Brands G.P. and Laiterie Chalifoux in the winners' circle were two other Special Award recipients. Kruger Products LP won the Consumer Acceptance Award for its SpongeTowels Ultra Strong paper towel also winning the Paper, Plastic & Foil category. Emmi Canada was given the Innovation and Originality Award for its namesake Emmi Fondü All-In-One, in addition to winning the Deli Meats & Cheeses category.
"Winning a Canadian Grand Prix award is a milestone achievement that represents Canada's very best in product innovation and consumer ingenuity," said Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada. "Standing out on crowded store shelves is no easy task. It requires a product that ticks off all the boxes, including superior production, design, marketing, sales and distribution. Most importantly, a truly award-winning product must meet the needs – and pocketbooks – of today's demanding shopper."
Chef and jury chair Marcus Von Albrecht, President of Mava Foods, oversaw a judging panel comprised of consumers, food journalists, packaging designers and marketing executives who considered 93 eligible products. Of these, 34 went on to win awards.
Other multiple-category winners this year included:
- Canadian Tire Retail – General Merchandise, Household Products
- Federated Co-operatives Limited – Condiments & Sauces, Snack (Sweet)
- S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. – General Merchandise, Household Products
To view the complete list of this year's winners, visit: www.rccgrandprix.ca/content/winners
Also taking place at tonight's gala was the inaugural presentation of the Canadian Grand Prix Lifetime Achievement Award to Paul Higgins Jr. and Michael Higgins, the Co-CEOs of Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee. The award, which was previously announced, was given to the brothers in honour of their outstanding and long-standing service and commitment to the Canadian grocery industry and to the broader community.
About the Canadian Grand Prix New Products Awards
Now in its 23rd year, the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards is an annual program that celebrates new products in food, non-food and private label categories. The program provides a unique opportunity for entrants to showcase new products to a jury of industry experts and to be recognized by their peers.
The program is open to manufacturers, suppliers and distributors. To be eligible, a product must have been introduced to the market between January 1 and December 31, 2015. Products are judged on presentation and packaging; product attributes; innovation and originality; and overall value to the consumer.
This year's awards sponsors were CHEP Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Interac and TC Transcontinental Printing.
Food / Produits alimentaires
Bakery Fresh / Produits de boulangerie frais (précuits)
CANADA BREAD COMPANY LTD.
Harvest Grain with Apple/ Grains céréaliers et pommes
Baking Needs & Dried Bakery / Nécessaire à cuisson et pâtisserie, produits de boulangerie séchés
SMUCKER FOODS OF CANADA CORP.
Robin Hood Quick Bread Gluten Free Banana / Mélanges pour pain éclair bananes sans gluten Robin Hood
Beverages /Boissons
A. LASSONDE INC.
Oasis NutriSolution
Condiments & Sauces /Condiments et sauces
INNERSEASONINGS INTERNATIONAL INC.
Tunnel Bar-B-Q Sauces
Confectionery & Shelf Stable Desserts / Confiserie et desserts à longue durée de conservation
MARS CANADA INC.
M&M'S MINIS® Holiday 4-Pack / M&M'S MINIS® 4-Pack Saisonniere
Dairy (Milk, Yogurt, Cheese & Spreadables) / Produits laitiers (lait, yogourt, fromage et tartinade)
LAITERIE CHALIFOUX
Riviera Petit Pot Set-Style Yogourt / Riviera petit pot yogourt ferme
Deli Meats and Cheeses / Charcuterie et fromages
EMMI CANADA
Emmi Fondü All-In-One / Emmi Fondü Tout-En-Un
Frozen or Refrigerated Prepared Foods & Entrees / Aliments et repas préparés réfrigérés ou surgelés
HAIN-CELESTIAL CANADA
Europe's Best® Greens and Grains™
Fruits, Vegetables and Produce (Fresh, Refrigerated Or Frozen) / Fruits et légumes (Frais, Réfrigérés Ou Surgelés)
GARDEN PROTEIN INTERNATIONAL
Gardein™ / GardeinMC
Meat, Egg & Seafood Fresh (Refrigerated or Frozen) / Viande, œufs et fruits de mer (frais, réfrigéres ou surgelés)
MAPLE LODGE FARMS
Maple Lodge Farms Naturally From the Farm Hickory Smoked Chicken Bacon / Bacon de poulettes fumé au Hickory Maple Lodge Farms Naturally from the Farm
Shelf Stable Prepared Foods & Entrees / Aliments et repas préparés à longue durée de conservation
PRAIRIE HARVEST CANADA LTD
Prairie Harvest Organic Coconut Blend Pasta / Prairie Harvest Pâtes Avec Noix de Coco Santé
Snack (Savoury) / Collations (salées)
NATURALLY HOMEGROWN FOODS LTD.
Hardbite Chips / Hardbite Croustilles
Snack (Sweet) / Collations (sucrées)
FRUIT D'OR INC.
Patience™ Fruit & Co Organic, dried cranberries / PatienceMC Fruit & Co Biologique, canneberges séchées entières et juteuses
Non-Food / Produits non-alimentaires
General Merchandise / Marchandises générales
S.C. JOHNSON AND SON, LIMITED
OFF! Familycare Bite and Itch Relief Pen / OFF! Protection Familiale Soulangement des Piqûres et de Démangeaisons
Household Products / Entretien domestique
S.C. JOHNSON AND SON, LIMITED
Glade Large Jar Candle / Glade Chandelle En Pot Grand
Paper, Plastic & Foil /Papier, plastique et aluminium
KRUGER PRODUCTS L.P
SpongeTowels Ultra Strong paper towel / SpongeTowels Ultra Fort essuie-tout
Personal Care / Soins personnels
UNILEVER CANADA
Dove Dry Spray / Dove vaporisateur à sec
Pet Needs /Produits pour animaux domestiques
NESTLÉ PURINA
Tidy Cats LightWeight Litter / Litière Poids plume Tidy Cats
Private Label – Food / Marques maison – Produits alimentaires
Bakery Fresh / Produits de boulangerie frais (précuits)
METRO BRANDS, G.P.
Irresistibles – Artisan- Deep dish pie, 750 g. / Irrésistibles-Tarte à croûte profonde, 750 g.
Beverages /Boissons
METRO BRANDS, G.P.
Irresistibles – Life Smart Smoothie / Irrésistibles- Mieux-être Frappé
Condiments & Sauces /Condiments et sauces
FEDERATED CO-OPERATIVES LIMITED
Co-op Gold Whisky Caramel Sauce / Co-op d'Or Sauce au caramel et au whisky
Confectionery & Shelf Stable Desserts / Confiserie et desserts à longue durée de conservation
METRO BRANDS, G.P.
Irresistibles – Brownie in the centre / Irrésistibles-Brownie au centre
Deli Meats and Cheeses / Charcuterie et fromages
METRO BRANDS, G.P.
Irresistibles – Dry Sausage / Irrésistibles- Saucisson sec
Desserts (fresh, refrigerated or frozen) / Desserts (frais, réfrigérés ou surgelés)
LONGO'S
Indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cups / Coupes à la mousse au chocolat indulgentes
Frozen or Refrigerated Prepared Foods & Entrees / Aliments et repas préparés réfrigérés ou surgelés
METRO BRANDS, G.P.
Irresistibles – Potato Gratin / Irrésistibles- Gratin de pommes de terre
Snack (Savoury) / Collations (salées)
SOBEYS INC.
Sensations Butter & Cheese Puff Pastry Biscuits / Sensations par Compliments biscuits de pâte feuilletée au beurre et au fromage
Snack (Sweet) / Collations (sucrées)
FEDERATED CO-OPERATIVES LTD.
Co-op Gold PURE Dark Chocolate / Co-op d'Or PURE Chocolat Noir
Private Label – Non-Food / Marques maison-Produits non-alimentaires
General Merchandise / Marchandises générales
CANADIAN TIRE RETAIL
Canvas 16 pc Wild Rose Porcelain Dinnerware Set / Service de vaisselle en porcelaine CANVAS Églantier, 16 pièces
Household Products / Entretien domestique
CANADIAN TIRE RETAIL
Big Boss Insta Mop / Vadrouille Big Boss Insta Mop
Pet Needs /Produits pour animaux domestiques
MONDOU
Vetdiet Treats – Tender delights / Gâteries Vetdiet – Tendres délices
Special Awards / Prix spéciaux
All Canadian / Produit tout-canadien
LAITERIE CHALIFOUX
Riviera Petit Pot Set-Style Yogourt / Riviera petit pot yogourt ferme
Consumer Acceptance / Produit le plus populaire auprès du consommateur
KRUGER PRODUCTS L.P
SpongeTowels Ultra Strong paper towel / SpongeTowels Ultra Fort essuie-tout
Innovation and Originality / Innovation et originalité
EMMI CANADA
Emmi Fondü All-In-One / Emmi Fondü Tout-En-Un
Innovative Packaging / Emballage innovateur
LAITERIE CHALIFOUX
Riviera Petit Pot Set-Style Yogourt / Riviera petit pot yogourt ferme
About Retail Council of Canada
Retail is Canada's largest employer with over 2 million Canadians working in our industry. In 2015, the sector generated payroll over $59 billion and $340 billion in sales (excluding vehicles and gasoline). Retail Council of Canada (RCC) members' represent more than two-thirds of retail sales in the country. RCC is a not-for-profit industry-funded association and represents small, medium and large retail business in every community across the country. As the Voice of Retail in Canada, we proudly represent more than 45,000 storefronts in all retail formats, including department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent retailers and online merchants.
RCC grocery members represent over 90% of the market in Canada. They provide essential services and are an important source of employment in large and small communities across the country. They have strong private label programs and sell products in every food category.RetailCouncil.org @RetailCouncil
Source: Retail Council of Canada