‘BEST OF MIDDLE EAST’ AWARD TO BE PRESENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE GAMA INNOVATION CONFERENCE & AWARDS 2018
DUBAI – 16th August 2018: Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) innovation in the Middle East is set to see its profile further enhanced with the launch of the Best of Middle East category at the third edition of the prestigious Gama Innovation Awards, to be held in Manchester, UK on 25th October 2018.
Underlining the growing dynamism of the FMCG sector in the Middle East, the inaugural Best of Middle East awards shortlist comprises eight innovative products that each represent a step change in their category at either a regional or global level.
The full shortlist for the Best of Middle East award at the Gama Innovation Conference & Awards (GICA) 2018 is as follows:
- Al Ain Plus Vitamin D Water, a new bottled water targeting mineral deficiency
- Healthy Farm Quinoa & Kale Chicken Burgers, a product that see burgers get a superfood boost
- Camelicious Growing Up Formula, which sees camel milk expand into infant formula
- Doux Fitlife Whole Chicken, a ‘healthier’ chicken promoting flax-fed claims
- Munchbox Energy Balls, a product tapping into the trend for healthy, convenient snacking
- Kit Kat Mini Moments Desserts, mini chocolate bars featuring the flavour of desserts of the world
- Viva Perfetto Natural Snack Bars, which see apricot seeds make headway in the snacks space
- Barakat Apple, Celery & Ginger Juice, a new juice blend promoting functional benefits
The Gama Innovation Awards recognise outstanding innovation in the FMCG space across a total of eight categories: Product, Packaging, Positioning, Branding & Design, Health & Wellness, SME and Best of Britain, as well as the newly launched Best of Middle East. The full shortlist in each category can be viewed here.
The Gama Innovation Awards are being held in conjunction with the Gama Innovation Conference, a unique and inspiring morning of presentations and discussions on the theme of FMCG innovation. These are exclusive, invitation-only events that will bring together more than 100 FMCG thought leaders from around the globe. Meanwhile, delegates will also have the opportunity to network and get inspired within an expanded Innovation Zone, where up to 40 disruptive companies will be showcasing game-changing launches from all over the world.
Commenting on the launch of the new award, Gama founder & CEO Cesar Pereira said: “The Middle East is increasingly being recognised as a hub for innovation within the consumer goods sector and we are delighted to be able to acknowledge this with the launch of our new Best of Middle East award. There is undeniably a healthy appetite for creative and unusual product launches within the Middle East and, as each of our shortlisted finalists ably demonstrates, companies are increasingly stepping up to the plate to deliver exciting new innovations for consumers in the region”.
“Our Gama Innovation Award – Best of Middle East will represent a fantastic accolade for the winner, as the judging panel is made up of their industry peers, including top executives from the world’s leading FMCG businesses”, he added.
Commenting on their shortlisting as an award finalist, Global Food Industries general manager Jacek Plewa said: “Healthy Farm is so happy and grateful for being recognized and shortlisted as a finalist in the Gama Innovation Awards for our out-of-the-box superfood innovations of our Chicken Quinoa and Kale chicken burgers. We really have aspired to Inspire, Create and Innovate and hope to always improve people’s lives and inspire them to make healthier choices!”
Meanwhile Viva Perfetto founder Rania Nasr said: “Viva Perfetto is truly grateful and honoured to have been shortlisted as a finalist for a prestigious Gama Innovation Award. Our line of healthy bars is simply our dream entry into the industry, and we are especially proud of our ingredients composition formula that has produced the first bars to provide a rich source of Vitamin B17”
Chef Michael Wunsch, managing director, Barakat, commented: “At Barakat Quality Plus, innovation is at the heart of everything we do. Combining consumer research to get the true pulse of the market and the expertise of our chefs, we strive to bring differentiated products of the highest quality to our consumers every day, and the Apple Celery Ginger juice stands testament to this effort. We are very pleased to be shortlisted as finalists for the Best of Middle East Category and sincerely hope we win!”
To find out more about GICA 2018, please visit www.gamainnovation.com
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About the Gama Innovation Awards
The Gama Innovation Awards recognise outstanding innovation in the FMCG space.
Awarded in the disciplines of Product, Packaging, Positioning, Branding & Design, SME, Best of Britain, Best of Middle East and Health & Wellness, Gama Innovation Awards go to the top new launches unearthed each month by Gama’s network of in-country researchers and analysts.
Winners are chosen through an international panel of expert judges based on a shortlist of innovative products.
About Gama
Gama is a global provider of business information and services headquartered in Manchester, UK and regional operations in Dubai, UAE. Gama provides high-quality news, research, analysis and partnering services powered by our worldwide network of over 100 specialists in more than 46 countries.