Do you have the Product of the Year
For the third year, the Product of the Year Awards for 2010 has been launched. Australia has once again joined the global franchise that has consumers in 28 countries choose the best new product launches every year for their country.
Winners for 2009 included the following;
• Breakfast: Uncle Tobys Oat Crisp Cereal
• Meal kits: Greenseas Chunky Tuna Plus
• Dairy: Dairy Farmers, Rise Fresh Start
• Simmer sauces and recipes: McCormick Slow Cookers
• Sauces and marinades: MasterFoods Homestyle Marinades
• Herbs and spices: McCormick Herbs and Spices
• Hot drinks: Nescafe Greenblend
• Personal care: Dettol Instant Hand Sanitizer
• Dog food: Purina Lucky Dog 2 in 1 Beef and Marrowbone Dog
• Household cleaning: GreenWorks
• Cat food: Purina Supercoat for Cats
• Laundry: Omo Small & Mighty
• Insect control: Raid Automatic Insect Control System
• Household fragrances: Glade Scented Oil Candles
Research in the UK has shown that a product that bears the label “Product of the Year” has the potential to increase sales by 10-15%. Therefore this labelling is a powerful marketing tool and is obviously well worth winning.
In 2008, 5000 consumers were first questioned on their opinions about the best new products in the 14 categories, after a panel of expert judges in the marketing and design areas made decisions on a short list. The final decisions on the best products were made through an on line survey based on a set of strict criteria. Convenience was the obvious trend from this survey and it will be interesting to see if this trend continues or if some other issue emerges as being important to consumers.
Mike Nolan, CEO of Product of the Year global - based in the UK, said “In the UK more than half of supermarket shoppers recognise and value the Product of the Year logo, and we are confident that Australian consumers will put as much faith in their peers’ judgment as their UK cousins.”
Australia has long been a test market for the world, so we are very lucky here in terms of product innovation,” Australian Product of the Year Manager, Sarah Connelly, noted. “Though as shoppers become more and more pressed for time, any shorthand recommendation - such as the Product of the Year logo - will become a valuable asset for any brand.”
Entries in the Product of the Year Awards 2010 are now open to all Australian marketers who have launched a new product since July 1st 2008. Marketing Managers have until August 31st to enter their products, which will pass through an initial short listing process before a judging panel of leading consumer product experts and consumer affairs reporters.
“We will be announcing our chairman of judges and other panel members very soon,” Ms Connelly advised. Winners will be announced at an awards presentation in February 2010.
To enter, or for more, go to www.productoftheyear.com.au