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Grand Prix finalists announced

Retail Council of Canada has revealed its top contenders for 2016
4/13/2017

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One hundred innovative grocery products have been named finalists in the Retail Council of Canada’s (RCC) 2016 Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards.

The awards—now in their 24th year—recognize the best in Canadian grocery product innovation, including both food and non-food items as well as private label.

Items ranging from lactose free creamy cheese spread from Arla to Gay Lea Foods’ Ivanhoe goat cheddar, along with a cashew nut beverage and shelf-stable organic milk, made the cut. RCC noted this year had strong participation from Western Canadian companies as well as non-traditional retailers such as Costco, PetSmart and Rexall.

The products were evaluated by a jury comprised of people working in grocery, consumer packaged goods, journalists and dietitians in Montreal, in February. To become a finalist, products had to achieve a score of at least 70% in the judging.

Chef Marcus Von Albrecht, jury chair, noted how new grocery products are evolving:

“The ingredient list is clearer with removal of preservatives,” he said. “Manufacturers are becoming more creative in their packaging to ensure their product is the freshest and fullest in nutrition it can be.”

A benefit of being recognized by the program is that both finalists and winners can use the Canadian Grand Prix logo on their packaging for two years.

Winners will be announced at a gala event on May 31 at the RCC’s STORE 2017, Canada’s Retail Conference. Click here to purchase tickets.

Here are the 2016 Canadian Grand Prix New Product finalists:

FOOD

A. Lassonde
Oasis Active
Oasis Hydrafruit

Agropur Dairy Cooperative
Natrel Lactose Free Butter
Natrel Lactose Free Dairy Product
OKA Cheese Portion Pack

Arla Foods
Castello Decorated Cream Cheese Spread
Arla Lactose Free Creamy Cheese Spread
Castello Aged Havarti Cheese
Castello Tickler Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese

Bonduelle Americas
Veg•e Proteins Blend

Bridor 
Au Pain Doré Origine Pastries

Burnbrae Farms
Gourmet Nanny Hudson's Homestyle Relish
Egg Creations! Whole Eggs

Left Field Foods
Cheecha Puffs

Calbee North America
Calbee - Whole Cuts Flavoured Potato Chips

Cavendish Farms
Restaurant Style

Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Meals Pack 1.25L

Conagra Brands
Healthy Choice SIMPLY Entrees

Cuisine Mallmousse 
Océania Solo Sauces & Mayonnaise

Direct Plus Food Group
McSweeney's Pep' N Cheddies

Dumet AG
Cielos Crunchy Olives

Earth's Own
SoFresh

Happy Planet
Happy Planet Soup
Daily Squeeze

Finica Food Specialties
Goat's Milk Butter

Flow Water
Flow Water

Fontaine Santé
Organic Sorbet

Frobisher International
Ocean Mama Organic Sauté & Serve

Fromagerie Domaine Feodal
Le petit Espresso Semi-soft Cheese

Fromagerie L'Ancêtre
L'Ancêtre Organic Le Port-Royal, skim milk cheese, lactose free, 50% less salt with flavours

Gay Lea Foods
Ivanhoe Goat Cheddar

GURU Beverage
GURU - Organic Energy Water

Hain-Celestial Canada
Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Chips

Lantic 
Lantic-Rogers Sugar + Stevia Blend

Les Plats du Chef 
Chicken Ramen Soup

Max + Marcus Gourmet Products 
Max + Marcus Dijon Mustard

Organic Meadow
Organic Single Serve Shelf Stable Milk

Parmalat Canada
Black Diamond Natural Cheese Sticks
President Spreadable Goat Cheese
Lactantia Butter

Patience Fruit & Co by Fruit d'Or
Organic Artisan Blend

Piller's Fine Foods
Piller's Salami Whips

Riviera
Riviera GMO-Free Set-Style Yogourt
Riviera Collection Parfait

SodaStream Canada
SodaStream Fizzi Sparkling Water Maker

The Healthy Crunch Company A Division of The Whole Living Kitchen 
Healthy Crunch - Organic Kale Chips

Unilever Canada
Breyers Gelato

Unilever BCS Canada
Becel Margarine

Vigneault Chocolatier 
Organic Chocolate 80g packaging "resealable"

Weston Bakeries Limited
COUNTRY HARVEST Canadian Rustic Bean Bread

Wrigley Canada
Excel Naturally Sweetened Gum

 

NON FOOD

Carlton Cards
Hyper Pop-ups
Twirly Treasures

Gebr, Weyersberg  -- King’s Crown
King’s Crown Ultimate Beard Box

Hallmark Canada
Star Wars Light Sound and Motion Bands

InQpharm North America
bmiSmartTM I-REMOVETM Weight Loss

Kruger Products
SpongeTowels Ultra Strong

Sun Products Canada
Sunlight 4 in 1 Powercore Pacs

 

PRIVATE LABEL FOOD

Canadian Tire Corporation
FRANK + Picard's Chip Nuts
FRANK Cookies
FRANK Canadiana Mix Popcorn

Costco Wholesale
Kirkland Signature Pepperoni Pizza Hand Stretched Crust 4 Pack

Federated Co-operatives
Co-op Gold Buttercrunch Toffee Chocolate
Co-op Gold PURE Organic Coconut Peanut Butter
Co-op Gold Fruit Vinegar
Co-op Gold Sorbetto
Co-op Gold PURE Sustainable Seafood Steelhead Trout

Longo's
Longo's Signature Chocolate Chip Cookie Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches

Metro Brands
Irresistibles Chocolate Granola Crisp Blueberry Almond
Smooth Peanut Butter Organics- Irresistibles 500 g.
Irresitibles Mini Gelato Bars
Irresistibles Ultimate Beef & Bechamel Lasagna
Irresistibles Dark Chocolate
Irresistibles Lobster Bites
Irresistibles Candied Atlantic Salmon
Irresistibles Belgian Chocolate Figurines
Irresistibles Organics Whole Grain Quinoa
Irresistibles Hand Stretched Frozen Pizza
Irresistibles Vegetable Chips
Irresistibles Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

MITO Sushi 
Maki2GO

Rexall
Nosh & Co. Caramel Cheddar Popcorn

Save-on-Foods
Western Family Sauced Meatballs
Western Family Wraps
Western Family Chicken Wings
Western Family Pulse Plus Whole Grain Loaf

Sobeys 
Sensations by Compliments Spirited Mickie BBQ Sauce
Compliments Super Squeeze Real Fruit Purée and Vegetable Juice Snack
Sensations by Compliments Naturally Smoked Bacon
Sensations by Compliments Hand-Dee-Pies

soupesoup
soupesoup

Walmart Canada
Our Finest Belgian Chocolate Collection
Great Value Cooking Sauce
Our Finest Uncooked Parmesan Smokie Bites
Your Fresh Market Kansas City Style BBQ
14" Round Take'n Bake Pizza

PRIVATE LABEL -  NON FOOD

Canadian Tire Corporation
FRANK + Full Circle Program (14 Products, 3 Refills) Dust Pan & Brush Set, Bubble Up Dish Brush
FRANK + Full Circle Program (14 Products, 3 Refills) Kitchen Compost Collector & Dust Whisperer Microfiber Duster

PetSmart Canada
Only Natural Pet Food

Mondou
Vetdiet Dog Biscuits

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