Every year, new-to-market products vie for a certain red logo to help drive sales at retail. Thirty-three products have earned that right for 2015 after Product of the Year Canada announced its annual selection Tuesday night.
Now in its sixth year in Canada, the program assesses products that have been brought to market within the last 18 months. An industry panel vetted entries and compiled a short list, but to determine the final winners, Rogers Connect Market Research Group conducted an online consumer survey of more than 7,500 Canadians to evaluate each contender in scoring categories such as satisfaction, innovation, appeal and intent to purchase.
While innovation was the common thread (73% of those surveyed were prepared to pay more for products they consider to be original in some way), winning products also tended to tap into a number of trends: convenience, enabling healthy living and simple/natural ingredients.
Category Winners
• Anti-Aging Skin Care
New Nordic’s Skin Care – Collagen
• BBQ Care
Unstick’s Reusable BBC Grilling Sheet
• Breakfast Foods
Weetabix Canada’s Alpen Dark Chocolate Muesli with 70% Cocoa
• Caffeinated Beverages
Tim Hortons’ Dark Roast Coffee
• Chips
PepsiCo Foods Canada’s Doritos Roulette Tortilla Chips
• Cured Meats
The Great Canadian Meat Company’s Kurtzie’s Artisanal Salami
• Dairy Products
Olympic Dairy’s Chia Yogurt
• Dips
PepsiCo Foods Canada’s Tostitos Roasted Red Pepper Salsa
• Eco Cosmetics
The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Overnight Serum in Oil
• Eye Cosmetics
Coty Canada’s Rimmel London Wonder’Lash Mascara
• Eye Care
Essilor’s Transitions Signature Graphite Green
• Face Makeup
The Body Shop’s InstaBlur
• Facial Skin Care
Beiersdorf’s Nivea Sensitive 3-in-1 Micellar Cleansing Water
• Gluten-free Foods
Promise Gluten Free’s Chia Seed Loaf
• Gourmet Condiments and Sauces
Nonna Pia’s Cabernet Merlot Balsamic Reduction
• Hair Loss Treatment
SureThik Hair Thickening Fibers
• Health Supplements
Swiss Natural’s Total One Womens Multi Vitamin & Mineral
• Innovative Packaging
The Canadian Birch Company’s Amber Canadian Birch Syrup
• Kitchen Cleaning Aid
BTI Nano Products’ Nanopür Kitchen Non-Stick Coating
• Kitchenware
Whirlpool’s KitchenAid Torrent Blender
• Mobile Banking
Tangerine’s Mobile Banking App
• Reusable Products
Unstick’s Reusable Cake & Loaf Liners
• Mobile Accessories
LOGiiX’s Piston Power Slim 360
• Moisturizers
Beiersdorf’s Nourishing In-Shower Body Milk
• Nail Polish
Coty Canada’s Sally Hansen Miracle Gel
• Natural Cleaning Products
AspenClean’s All Purpose Set
• Natural OTC Products
New Nordic’s Ear Tone
• Night-Care Creams
The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Overnight Serum in Oil
• Packaged Fresh Fish
High Liner Simply Fish Atlantic Cod
• Savoury Snacks
PepsiCo Foods Canada’s Pretzel Thins
• Skin Care
The Body Shop’s Wild Argan Radiant Oil
• Sweet Snacks
Metro Brands’ Irresistibles La Collezione, Mango Sorbet
• Water Filtration
ZeroWater’s 1.8 liter Stainless Steel Jug
