WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT THE GAMA INNOVATION AWARDS 2016
MANCHESTER – 4th NOVEMBER 2016: Tuesday 25th October saw the great and the good from the world of global fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) come together in Manchester for the presentation of the Gama Innovation Awards 2016.
Recognising outstanding innovation in the FMCG space, the Gama Innovation Awards – presented in the categories of Product, Packaging, Positioning, Branding & Design, SME and Best of Britain – represented the very best innovations unearthed in the last year by Gama’s global network of in-country researchers and analysts.
The winners in each category were chosen through an international panel of prestigious judges based on a shortlist of innovative products. Representing some of the leading FMCG firms from across the globe, the exciting line-up of judges comprised:
- Angels Solans, managing director, Unilever Food Solutions Spain
- Hans Bangelmeier, managing director, PEZ International
- Oliver Perez, marketing director, Danone Portugal
- Cristiana Arcangeli, CEO, Beauty’in
- João Costa, CEO, DanCake
- Laura Trivulzio-Huijgen, manager global commerce innovation, Heineken
- Hai Liu, vice general manager, Tsingtao Brewery
- Rita Nabeiro, CEO, Adega Mayor
- Andrea Budelli, vice president R&D Europe, KraftHeinz
- Matteo Fantacchiotti, global VP Diageo Reserve, Diageo
- Alex Baron, general manager Calbee Iberia, Calbee
- Silvia Ruiz, innovation director, Gama
- Nicola Coronado, marketing director, SCA Hygiene
- Joaquim Vives, general manager, MANE Iberica
- Sharon Barraclough, marketing director, Hovis
- Manlio Sanna, global marketing director, Carlsberg
Silvia Ruiz, innovation director at Gama, said:
“I would like to personally congratulate our winners and finalists at the first ever Gama Innovation Awards. The creativity and ingenuity demonstrated by each and every one of our category winners demonstrates a continued commitment on the part of the FMCG industry to drive innovation forwards and respond to the ever-changing needs of consumers throughout the world”.
The overall winners in each category were as follows:
Product
Winner:
Thrive Culinary Algae Oil (USA)
Highly commended:
Beauty Aloe Vera (Spain)
Bounty Water Activated Kitchen Towel (USA)
The Product award recognises any innovation which relates directly to the physical product, such as a novel flavour, ingredient or technology, or an experiential benefit.
Ian Wright CBE, director general, Food and Drink Federation presented the Gama Innovation Award 2016 – Product to Luke Townsend of Terravia. Thrive Culinary Algae Oil was recognised for the way it introduced the benefits of functional seaweed to a dynamic plant oil category.
Luke Townsend of Terravia said:
“Thrive Algae Oil combines health, versatility, sustainability […] and has a neutral flavour that makes it suitable for baking, dressing and roasting. We are honoured to be recognised for innovation by this incredible panel of judges”.
Packaging
Winner:
Secrets De Provence My Powder Shampoo (France)
Highly commended:
La Fontaine A Yaourt Drinking Yoghurt (France)
Kao Essential Conditioner (Japan)
Purex Power Shot Laundry Detergent (USA)
The Packaging category focuses on key developments over the past year in materials, sustainability, preservation and convenience.
Antonio Coronado, CTO, Gama presented the Gama Innovation Award 2016 – Packaging to Silvia Ruiz on behalf of Secrets de Provence. The judges noted the way Secrets de Provence’s single-serve sachet concept opened new opportunities in haircare for busy consumers on the move.
Jean-Louis Marceau of Secrets de Provence said:
“I would like to thank Gama for this award. At Secrets de Provence we work hard to develop organic and environmentally friendly products, with an emphasis on combining fun with serious innovation”.
Best of Britain
Winner:
No More Tea Bags Tea Concentrate (UK)
Highly commended:
Little Dish My First Pizza (UK)
Taylors Of Harrogate Iced Coffee (UK)
The Best of Britain award is a showcase for the best and brightest innovations from UK companies in the FMCG space over the past year.
The Lord Mayor of the City of Manchester presented the Gama Innovation Award 2016 – Best Of Britain to Guy Woodall of Yum Cha Drinks. No More Tea Bags won the judges over with the way it added both simplicity and fun to the tea-making ritual, responding to increased consumer demands for convenience and premiumisation in the hot drinks market.
Guy Woodall of Yum Cha Drinks said:
“This (award) is a great honour, I am very excited. We have something completely new in the tea category. The potential of it is more than I can really compute”.
Positioning
Winner:
Fazer Vegetable Bread (Finland)
Highly commended:
Fit Rabbit Organic Dragon Drink (Austria)
Earnest Eats Detoxifying Hot Cereals (USA)
The Positioning award recognises product launches that have reached out to consumers in new ways, such as through innovation in the brand / consumer dynamic.
J.K. Sharma, the Consul General of India, presented the Gama Innovation Award 2016 – Positioning to Laura Siltanen of Fazer. Fazer Vegetable Bread was recognised for the way it responded effectively to changing consumer attitudes towards carbohydrates by substituting cereal grains for root vegetable ingredients.
Laura Siltanen, Senior Brand Manager of Fazer commented:
“We have involved consumers in concept creating process of Fazer Vegetable Bread, and the novelties have been very successful in Sweden and in Finland. We are extremely happy to get international recognition now for our innovation”.
Branding & Design
Winner:
BOL Salad Jar (UK)
Highly commended:
Heineken Extra Vers Beer (Netherlands)
Sanctuary Spa Cooling Body Sorbet (UK)
The Branding & Design category recognises the products that stand out from the crowd through an innovative concept or creative visual identity.
Carlos de Sousa Amaro, the Consul General of Portugal, presented the Gama Innovation Award 2016 – Branding & Design to Paul Brown of BOL. BOL Salad Jar impressed the global panel of industry judges with its fresh take on ready-prepared salad, providing an arresting visual effect that showcases the freshness and individuality of each ingredient.
Paul Brown of BOL said:
“As a Manchester lad it’s good to return home to receive the first ever award that we have got as a company! We launched the business 18 months ago and […] set ourselves the challenge to create the best prepared salads available. Hopefully we will be back next year with more innovations”.
SME
Winner:
Just Bee Honey Water (UK)
Highly commended:
Beauty Aloe Beer (Spain)
Bugsolutely Cricket Pasta (Thailand)
Gama’s SME award pays homage to the small and medium sized firms that look to rewrite the rules.
Cesar Pereira, founder & CEO, Gama, presented the Gama Innovation Award 2016 – SME to Andy Sugden of Just Bee. Just Bee Honey Water consists of spring water enriched with a single drop of honey, showcasing new possibilities for honey as a natural sweetening ingredient in the bottled water market.
Andy Sugden of Just Bee said:
“It is a huge huge honour to receive this award, especially this being my hometown, Manchester. I really don’t think I would be stood here if it wasn’t for the support of some great local businesses that really helped us on the way. I just want to say a huge thank you and I am honoured to receive the award!”
Save the date
The Gama Innovation Awards will return to Manchester on 25th October 2017.
To find out more about the Gama Innovation Conference & Awards please contact Marisa De Lucia at marisa.delucia@gamaconsumer.com.
About Gama
Gama is a global provider of business information and services specializing in product innovation. Through our worldwide network of over 100 in-country experts, we offer high-quality news, research, analysis and partnering services, delivering compelling insights and supporting you to unlock new business opportunities.