The finalists for the 20th annual Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards have been announced.
Some 127 products were chosen (listed below) in food, non-food and private label categories. They were selected by a jury comprised of people working in the grocery industry, packaging experts, food editors, ad executives and consumers.
Several companies have multiple products among the finalists, including Procter & Gamble (12 products); Canada Safeway (13); and Metro Richelieu (12).
To become a finalist, a product had to receive at least a score of 70 per cent in judging.
This year’s jury was led by Marcus Von Albrecht, a well-known B.C. chef who is president of Mava Foods.
Von Albrecht said he was impressed with the research and development that went into this year’s finalists. “These aren’t small improvements but big changes in everything from flavour profiles to sustainable practices."
The Grand Prix Awards celebrate innovative new products in the grocery industry and are organized by the Retail Council of Canada.
“The growth of the consumer products industry depends on new product development and innovation,” Diane Brisebois, president of the Retail Council of Canada noted.
This year's Grand Prix program was open to manufacturers and distributors of all sizes for products introduced during 2012.
Winners in 26 individual categories will be announced June 5th at an event at the Toronto Congress Centre that’s being held as part of “Store”, the Retail Council of Canada’s annual conference.
Here is a complete list of the finalists by company name in three categories: food, non-food and private label.
FOOD
7000 ISLANDS FOOD CORP.
Pulo Philippine Cuisine
A ACADIEN ATLANTIC
Smoked Salmon Pâté
A. LASSONDE INC.
Oasis Smoothie
AGROPUR - NATREL DIVISION
Natrel Baboo
BEE MAID HONEY LIMITED
Li`l Honeys by Beemaid
BENTO EXPRESS
Bento Express
BEST BRANDS LTD.
St-Hubert Chicken Broths (900mL)
BURNBRAE FARMS LIMITED
Burnbrae Farms Nestlaid Eggs
CAMPBELL COMPANY OF CANADA
Campbell's Stock First
Pepperidge Farms Cracker Chips
CANADA BREAD BAKERY
Dempster’s Smooth Multigrains baked with 16 whole grains
CITADELLE, MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCERS' COOPERATIVE
SmartSak - 100% Pure Maple Syrup
CLOVER LEAF SEAFOODS, L.P.
Gourmet Flavoured White Tuna in Olive Oil
DARE FOODS LIMITED
RealFruit Gummies
EARTH’S OWN FOOD COMPANY INC.
Almond Fresh Coconut
FERRERO CANADA LTD.
Kinder Surprise for Girls
FRUIT D'OR INC.
Organic juice blend with apple juice concentrate - Cranberry - Blueberry
GARDEN PROTEIN INTERNATIONAL
Gardein
HAIN CELESTIAL CANADA
Casbah Side Dish Grain
Garden of Eatin
HAPPY PLANET FOODS, INC.
Happy Planet Fresh Soup
Happy Planet Organic Juice
HIGH LINER FOODS INC.
Flame Savours
JANES FAMILY FOODS LTD.
Boneless Bites
KRAFT CANADA INC.
Cracker Barrel & P'tit Quebec Natural Cheese Slices
Nabob Bold
L.H. GRAY & SON LIMITED
Golden D Eggs
LIBERTÉ
Liberté Froúto Greek Yogurt
McCORMICK CANADA
Billy Bee* Honey Bottle 375 gr, Pure Natural Honey
Club House La Grille BBQ Sauce
MONDELEZ CANADA
Ritz Crackerfuls
Wheat Thins Baked with Real Vegetables
MOTHER PARKERS TEA & COFFEE INC.
Higgins & Burke Organics Tea
NATURE'S PATH FOODS INC.
Nature's Path Frozen Waffles
NOVIDEV SANTE ACTIVE
Anti+
OLD DUTCH FOODS LTD.
Northern Choice Chickpea Tortilla Chips
OLYMEL L.P.
Olymel Smart Nature
PARMALAT CANADA
Astro Kik Drinkable Yogurt
Balderson Holiday Gift Box
Lactantia Lactose Free Homogenized Milk
PILLER'S FINE FOODS
Piller’s Simply Free Sliced Deli Meats
SMUCKER FOODS OF CANADA CORP.
Double Fruit Simple Blends Fruit Spread
SUNRISE SOYA FOODS
Sunrise Super Squeezies Dessert Tubes
THREEWORKS INC.
ThreeWorks Apple Ch!ps
TROPHY FOODS INC.
Trophy Soft Fruit
ULTIMA FOODS INC.
Iögo Greko
Iögo Nano – Drinkable Yogurt
Iögo Probio – Heart of Fruit
VITALA FOODS
Vita-D Sunshine Eggs
WAFU INC.
Natural Wafu Japanese Dressing
WESTON BAKERIES LIMITED
Country Harvest 100% Whole Grain Bread
Country Harvest Fruit Bread
Flat Open Bakery - Barbari
Flat Open Bakery - Naan
NON FOOD
BABY GOURMET FOODS INC
Squoosh
BIC INC.
Bic FlameDisk
Bic Soleil Savy
CARLTON CARDS LIMITED
Lost Socks
DLM FOODS CANADA CORP.
Milk-Bone Healthy Favorites
GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER HEALTHCARE INC.
Abreva Pump
Tums Freshers Antacid
HAIN CELESTIAL CANADA
Avalon Organics Essential Lift
NESTLÉ PURINA PETCARE
Purina Busy Chewnola Chew Treat
PROCTER & GAMBLE INC.
Always Radiant Infinity Pads
Covergirl + Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation
Dawn Power Lift
Downy Unstopables
Febreze Car
Gillette Fusion ProGlide Styler
Gillette Venus and Olay System Shaver
Head & Shoulders
Old Spice Red Zone Invisible Solid
Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light
Tampax Radiant Tampons
Tide Pods
S. C. JOHNSON AND SON, LIMITED
Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist
Glade Expressions Oil Diffusers
Off! Clip-on
Ziploc Brand Perfect Portions
SOLO CUP CANADA
Solo Holiday Collection
UNILEVER CANADA
Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy
PRIVATE LABEL
CANADA SAFEWAY LIMITED
Debi Lilly Illusion Vase X-Large
Debi Lilly Savoy Candle
Edwards Coffee, 326 g
Lucerne Greek Fat Free Yogourt, 500 g
Open Nature Bacon, 375 g
Open Nature Bread, 680 g
Open Nature Frozen Greek Yogourt, 946 ml
Open Nature Honey Nut Bar, 40g
Open Nature Ice Cream Bars, 4 x 100 ml
Safeway Tuna, 170 g
The Snack Artist Cookies, 255 G
Waterfront Bistro Cocktail Sauce, 227 g
Waterfront Bistro Crab Cakes
LOBLAW BRANDS LIMITED
PC “Free From” Angus Beef Burgers
PC Ice Cream Black Label
PC Partly Skimmed Milk
President Choice “Nutrition First” Senior Pet Food
President’s Choice “Recipe to Riches” Butter Chicken Lasagna
President’s Choice Cheesecake Lollipops
President’s Choice Fouée - Pocket Flatbreads
President’s Choice Refrigerated Condiments
LONGO'S
Longo's Signature Ricotta
METRO RICHELIEU INC.
Fresh 2 Go Toscana Focaccia
Irresistibles Bio Organic Bread RTB
Irresistibles Chicken Wings
Irresistibles Dark Chocolate Covered Caramels with sea salt
Irresistibles Dry Sausage
Irresistibles Fruity'n' Creamy Ice cream & sorbet blend
Irresistibles Les Hors-d'oeuvre
Irresistibles Life Smart Mediterranean Style Quiche
Irresistibles Marinated Angus Beef Flank Steak
Irresistibles Mini Crisps
Life Smart Margarine Irresistibles
Sélection Ice Cream 1.66 L
SOBEYS INC.
Compliments Thin Crust Pizza
Sensation by Compliments Petite Mousse Parfait Collection
Sensations by Compliments Extra Virgin Olive Oil 3L
THRIFTY FOODS
Cheesy Crab Dip
WALMART CANADA
Great Value - Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Bar
Our Finest - Cheese Cake
Our Finest - Extra Thick Cut Chips
Our Finest - Lattice Top Pies
Our Finest - Salad Dressing
Our Finest - Single Serve Entree
Our Finest - Stuffing Topped Mini Turkey Pies Appetizer
Your Fresh Market Cookies