Grand Prix finalists announced
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