Les Tomaszewski of Arla Foods, photo from Retail Council of Canada
The Canadian Grand Prix Award Gala celebrates new product innovation in a number of categories judged by industry experts, and Arla Foods Inc. from Concord in York Region was the most awarded company last month at this year’s gala.
Now in its 24th year, the Retail Council of Canada’s Canadian Grand Prix Awards is a rigorous competition that showcases the past year’s best new grocery products, offering winners significant recognition and the substantial opportunity of direct exposure to key retailers, buyers and consumers.
Arla Foods took home an impressive total of four awards, three of which were for their Castello Decorated Cream Cheese Spread, which received the ‘Innovation and Originality’ award, as well as ‘Innovative Packaging’, and the ‘Deli Meats and Cheeses’ award. They also won in the ‘Dairy (Milk, Yogurt, Cheese & Spreadables)’ category for their Lactose Free Creamy Cheese Spread.
All products in the competition are judged on presentation and packaging, product attributes, innovation, originality and overall value to the consumer.
“Winning a Canadian Grand Prix award is a milestone achievement that represents Canada’s very best in product innovation and consumer ingenuity,” sys Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada, in this news release. “It requires that a product stands out in every way to delight today’s shopper – from superior quality, production, design, and marketing.”
The ‘Innovation and Originality’ Award and the ‘Innovative Packaging’ Award are both designated as Special Awards. Innovation and Originality in particular is presented to the product having reached the highest average score amongst all the products entered under the evaluation criteria appreciating innovative features and benefits.
A big congratulations belongs to Arla Foods for this great achievement–they have strongly demonstrated the valued ambition and importance of keeping up with unique consumer demand and product innovation.
Arla Foods Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arla Foods amba in Denmark and has been in Canada since 1961. The company is a major supplier of specialty cheese, sourced from their parent production facilities in Europe, as well as their own domestic production and licensed Canadian production. They also import from Italy and other European and North and South American countries. The company is a cooperative owned by 12,500 dairy farmers, and a team of 19,000 engaged colleagues.
You can see all the Canadian Grand Prix Award Winners on the Canadian Grand Prix website.