Health focus a highlight at Grand Prix awards

Products with an extra dose of fruits and veggies held strong at Wednesday’s Grand Prix awards, but dairy was the shining star of the evening.

Now in its 21st year, the Grand Prix awards are presented by the Retail Council of Canada. Its aim is to celebrate innovation and creativity in the food industry. A 32-member jury of food industry professionals selected 89 products as finalists this past March.

Ben Mulroney hosted the ceremony, where winners were presented in 24 categories.

Mississauga, Ont.-based Finica Food Specialities Limited took home top awards for its Zerto Mozzarella Pre-Sliced – best dairy product and the coveted All-Canadian Awards for the highest-scoring overall Canadian product in the competition. Jury members praised the cheese for its sleek packaging and convenience.

Beneful Baked Delights dog snacks from Neste Purina held their own, taking home two awards. They won in the pet needs category and earned a special award for Originality and Innovation.

Güd, a natural shampoo and conditioner from Clorox’s Burt’s Bees, won two pieces of hardware for personal care and innovative packaging

Clorox captured a third award in paper, plastic & foil for its Glad Indoor Easy-Tie Kitchen Catchers with Odour Guard & Febreze Freshness, tying it with Metro Brands for most awards, which won three awards for its Irresistibles private label line.

Sobeys and Longo’s each scooped awards for their own private label lines as well.

Many winning products featured extra bursts of fresh fruit and vegetables. Garden Protein International was rewarded in the fruits, vegetables & produce category, while Happy Planet Fresh Soup – featuring Chatham carrots and Chilliwack broccoli – took home an award for the frozen or refrigerated prepared foods & entrees category.

Dempster’s Garden Vegetable Bread took home the 2013 Consumer Acceptance Award, and a specialty award for Healthy Innovating went to T-Fall OptiGrill.

“I salute all of our finalists and winners for their product imagination and category leadership,” said Diane Brisebois, RCC’s President and CEO. “These awards are a way to recognize the companies responsible, and encourage others to blaze their own path of inventiveness.”

To see a complete list of Grand Prix winners click on the categories below:

Food category winners

Non-food category winners

Private label category winners

Special award winners