TORONTO – Arla Foods Inc was the most awarded company at this year's Canadian Grand Prix Award Gala. Arla Foods picked up an impressive total of four awards, three being for its Castello Decorated Cream Cheese Spread.
Retail Council of Canada's Canadian Grand Prix Awards (CGP), now in its 24th year, is a rigorous, annual competition of the best new grocery products. Becoming a Canadian Grand Prix winner is often a game changer because of the direct and extensive exposure to key retailers, their buyers as well as consumers these new products receive.
Joining Arla Foods in the winners' circle were two other Special Award recipients, Bridor for its Au Pain Doré Origine Pastries, which won both the coveted All Canadian trophy as well as the Bakery Fresh (par-baked) award, and Riviera for its Rivera GMO-Free Set-Style Yogourt which won the well-earned Consumer Acceptance award.
Other multiple-category winners this year included: Federated Cooperatives Limited (Confectionery & Shelf Stable Dessert, Desserts (fresh, refrigerated or frozen)), Metro Brands, G.P. (Shelf Stable Prepared Foods & Entrees, Snack (Savoury)) and Sobeys Inc. (Condiments & Sauces, Snack (Sweet)).
"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. "It requires that a product stands out in every way to delight today's shopper – from superior quality, production, design, and marketing."
Chef and jury chair Marcus Von Albrecht oversaw the judging panel. From 100 finalists who scored at least 70% on the rigorous product evaluation measures that focused exclusively on quality and innovation, only 31 received the prestigious recognition as Canadian Grand Prix winners.
To view the complete list of this year's winners, visit: www.rccgrandprix.ca
Also awarded at the CGP Gala were Anthony Longo, President and CEO of Longo's and the Longo Family with a Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by Maple Leaf Foods Inc.) in recognition of their tremendous contributions to the grocery industry in Canada.
Sponsors of this year's Canadian Grand Prix awards include: Interac – Gold level, PaduloX – Bronze level Media partners: Metroland, TC TransconPrint, Black Press, L'Actualité Alimentaire, Grocery Business, Western Grocer, Canadian Grocer
Logistics Partners: C&R Express, ProDistribution Services
About Longo's
Longo's is a family-owned Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus opened their first fruit market. It was a small 1,500 square foot store on Yonge Street in Toronto. The family maintained a commitment to providing customers with the best fresh food experience possible. All these years later, this philosophy remains the heart and soul of the company.
Today, Longo's operates 25 full service grocery stores around the Greater Toronto Area, 5 Urban stores in Toronto under the "The Market, by Longo's" banner as well as www.GroceryGateway.com, the leader in online sales of home-delivered groceries. Longo's employs more than 5,000 team members and offers an environment where people have the opportunity to be the best that they can be.
The Longo Family Charitable Foundation is dedicated to the support of children's and women's charities with a strong focus on health and fostering a sense of family and community. Longo's selects worthy organizations to support and works with each one to develop an innovative partnership that brings productive results to the charity and reflects the family culture of the Longo's team.
About the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards
Now in its 24th year, the Canadian Grand Prix New Products 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, 2016. Products are judged on presentation and packaging, product attributes, innovation and originality and, overall value to the consumer.
2016 Grand Prix Winners by Category
Food / Produits alimentaires (11)
Bakery Fresh (par- baked) / Produits de boulangerie frais (précuits)
BRIDOR INC.
Au Pain Doré Origine Pastries/ Viennoiseries Au Pain Doré Origine
Beverages /Boissons
A. LASSONDE INC.
Oasis Active
Condiments & Sauces /Condiments et sauces
MAX + MARCUS GOURMET PRODUCTS INC.
Max + Marcus Dijon Mustard/ Moutarde de Dijon Max + Marcus
Confectionery & Shelf Stable Desserts / Confiserie et desserts à longue durée de conservation
THEOBROMA CHOCOLAT BY VIGNEAULT CHOCOLATIER LTÉE/ THEOBROMA CHOCOLAT PAR VIGNEAULT CHOCOLATIER LTÉE
Organic Chocolate 80g packaging ''resealable''/ chocolat biologique emballage « refermable »
Dairy (Milk, Yogurt, Cheese & Spreadables) / Produits laitiers (lait, yogourt, fromage et tartinade)
ARLA FOODS INC./ LES ALIMENTS ARLA INC.
Arla Lactose Free Creamy Cheese Spread/ Fromage Crémeux à Tartiner sans lactose Arla
Deli Meats and Cheeses / Charcuterie et fromages
ARLA FOODS INC./ LES ALIMENTS ARLA INC.
Castello Decorated Cream Cheese Spread/ Fromage à la crème à tartiner décoré Castello
Desserts (fresh, refrigerated or frozen) / Desserts (frais, réfrigérés ou surgelés)
FONTAINE SANTÉ
Organic Sorbet/Sorbet biologique
Frozen or Refrigerated Prepared Foods & Entrees / Aliments et repas préparés réfrigérés ou surgelés
SOUPESOUP
Soupesoup
Meat, Egg & Seafood Fresh (Refrigerated or Frozen) / Viande, œufs et fruits de mer (frais, réfrigéres ou surgelés)
MITO SUSHI INC.
Maki2GO
Snack (Savoury) / Collations (salées)
CALBEE NORTH AMERICA
Calbee – Whole Cuts
Snack (Sweet) / Collations (sucrées)
PATIENCE FRUIT & CO BY FRUIT D'OR
Artisan Blend/Mélange artisanal
Non-Food / Produits non-alimentaires (5)
General Merchandise / Marchandises générales
CARLTON CARDS LTD.
Twirly Treasures
Health Care – Otc (Over The Counter)/ Produits De Soins De Santé – En Vente Libre
INQPHARM NORTH AMERICA, LLC
bmiSmart™ I-REMOVE™
Household Products / Entretien domestique
SUN PRODUCTS CANADA/PRODUITS SUN CANADA
Sunlight 4 in 1 Powercore Pacs/Sachets de lessive PowerCore Sunlight 4 en 1
Paper, Plastic & Foil /Papier, plastique et aluminium
KRUGER PRODUCTS L.P / PRODUITS KRUGER S.E.C
SpongeTowels® Ultra Strong Minis/ Essuie-tout SpongeTowels® Ultra Fort
Personal Care / Soins personnels
GEBR, WEYERSBERG INC.- KING'S CROWN
King's Crown Ultimate Beard Box/Trousse d'entretien pour barbe haut de gamme par King's Crown
Private Label – Food / Marques maison – Produits alimentaires (9)
Bakery Fresh / Produits de boulangerie frais (précuits)
SAVE-ON-FOODS
Western Family Wraps/Roulés de Western Family
Condiments & Sauces /Condiments et sauces
SOBEYS INC.
Sensations by Compliments Spirited Mickie
Confectionery & Shelf Stable Desserts / Confiserie et desserts à longue durée de conservation
FEDERATED COOPERATIVES LIMITED
Co-op Gold Buttercrunch Toffee Chocolate/ Co-op D'Or Caramel croustillant au chocolat
Desserts (fresh, refrigerated or frozen) / Desserts (frais, réfrigérés ou surgelés)
FEDERATED COOPERATIVES LIMITED
Co-op Gold Sorbetto/Co-op d'Or Sorbetto
Frozen or Refrigerated Prepared Foods & Entrees / Aliments et repas préparés réfrigérés ou surgelés
COSTCO WHOLESALE
Kirkland Signature Pepperoni Pizza Hand Stretched Crust 4 Pack/ Kirkland Signature Pizza au pepperoni croûte étirée à la main Paquet de 4
Meat, Egg & Seafood Fresh (Refrigerated or Frozen) / Viande, œufs et fruits de mer (frais, réfrigéres ou surgelés)
WALMART CANADA
Your Fresh Market-Kansas City Style BBQ/ Mon marché fraîcheur BBQ style Kansas City
Shelf Stable Prepared Foods & Entrees/ Aliments Et Repas Préparés À Longue Durée De Conservation
METRO BRANDS, G.P./ LES MARQUES METRO, S.E.N.C.
Irresistibles Organics Whole Grain Quinoa/ Quinoa à grains entiers biologique Irresitibles
Snack (Savoury) / Collations (salées)
METRO BRANDS, G.P./ LES MARQUES METRO, S.E.N.C.
Irresistibles Vegetable Chips/ Croustilles de légumes Irresistibles
Snack (Sweet) / Collations (sucrées)
SOBEYS INC.
Compliments Super Squeeze Real Fruit Purée and Vegetable Juice Snack/ Collation de vraie purée de fruits et de vrai jus de légumes Compliments Super Squeeze
Private Label – Non-Food / Marques maison-Produits non-alimentaires (2)
General Merchandise / Marchandises générales
CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION
FRANK + Full Circle Program (14 Products, 3 Refills) Kitchen Compost Collector & Dust Whisperer Microfiber Duster/ FRANK + Full Circle Bac à composte de cuisine air frais et sans odeur, plumeau en microfibre
Pet Needs /Produits pour animaux domestiques
PETSMART
Only Natural Pet Food/ Nourriture pour animaux Only Natural Pet
2016 Winners by Category Gagnants par catégorie 2016
Special Awards / Prix spéciaux (4)
All Canadian / Produit tout-canadien
BRIDOR INC.
Au Pain Doré Origine Pastries/ Viennoiseries Au Pain Doré Origine
Overall Consumer Value/Prix Produit le plus populaire auprès du consommateur
RIVIERA
Riviera GMO-Free Set-Style Yogourt/ Riviera Yogourt Ferme Sans OGM
Innovation and Originality / Innovation et originalité
ARLA FOODS INC.
Castello Decorated Cream Cheese Spread/Fromage à la crème à tartiner décoré Castello
Innovative Packaging / Emballage innovateur
ARLA FOODS INC./ LES ALIMENTS ARLA INC.
Castello Decorated Cream Cheese Spread/ Fromage à la crème à tartiner décoré Castello
About Retail Council of Canada:
Retail is Canada's largest employer with 2.2 million Canadians working in our industry. The sector annually generates payroll of $60 billion and approximately $350 billion in sales (excluding vehicles and gasoline). As of 2016, 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. www.RetailCouncil.org
Source: Retail Council of Canada
