Product of the Year has announced what were regarded as UK’s most innovative products last year, with the winners chosen by 10,000 consumers.
Among the winners, that range from big household names (Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Premier Foods) to rising star independent players (THIS, Emma, Starpowa), the annual awards reflect emerging trends that paint a picture of today’s consumer. These span from NoLo innovation to plant-based ingenuity, restaurant-to-home-cooking creativity, and a continued focus on health & wellness.
Conducted in association with Kantar, the winning products represent key consumer wants and habits – a unique barometer of buying patterns and behaviour in the UK. And for those brands that won a trophy this year, they will be able to feature the red Product of the Year logo as a symbol of excellence.
Drinks innovation causes a stir
As the end of ‘Dry January’ draws nearer, it’s clear that the rise of NoLo shows no signs of slowing down. Indeed, no and low alcohol sales reached the $10bn mark in 2021 according to a recent IWSR report. Low ABV beers, wine & ‘no-seccos’ have proven a good alternative to those who still want to share in the ambience of social meetups but without drinking. And within this category, beer and wine represent the largest chunk with 75% of the sales – represented by SMASHED Berry Cider who, for the second year running, have picked up a Product of the Year Award.
Hard seltzers have taken the drink’s world by storm with Molson Coors Three Fold Hard Seltzer a Product of the Year winner. And the UK’s thirst for innovative alcohol brands has similarly not been dampened with Heineken landing the top spot for Inch’s Medium Apple Cider.
Veganism spreads its roots
Brands big and small are increasingly building veganism into their products and marketing drives. And among the Product of the Year 2022 winners, it’s a competitive category that is growing year-on-year. Making a name in the plant-based world – THIS has a broad range of meat-alternative products but it was THIS Isn’t Pork – Plant Based Cocktail Sausages, that bagged a Product of the Year 2022 award.
Other vegan and plant-based products that triumphed this year include Paxo Veggie Fillers and Alpro Double Chocolate Mousse & Alpro Pistachio Mousse.
Post-Covid wellness no less of a priority
If Covid has taught people anything, it’s that they should invest in health and wellness. Such products that stood out this year for their ingenuity include Herbalife Nutrition Immune Booster and Starpowa Vegan Collagen Support.
From high street to home
With flexi-work and Covid restrictions, many consumers have sought to bring the high street dining experience into the home. Wagamama’s Katsu Curry comes in Meal Kit form and Nando’s Sweet Chilli Jam can be bought as a store cupboard staple. Both Product of the Year winners deliver on convenience without sacrificing the quality and flavours people might experience by eating out.
For many, coffee is a key component of the day and part of the daily commute. But for those who don’t have access to a favourite coffee shop, some high street brands took the opportunity to bring the barista experience into people’s homes. This includes Product of the Year 2022 winners – Costa Intensely Dark Amazonian Blend and Costa Hot Chocolate.
A clean sweep…
Keeping homes and the family clean continues to be a major focus for many people as they negotiate a post-Covid way of living. Product of the Year 2022 winners in this area include Harpic Power Plus Active Citrus Tablets for toilets and Calgon Hygiene+ Tabs for the washing machine (both from Reckitt) and Surf Liquid Deep Sea Minerals and Comfort Ultimate Care Fabric Conditioner, from Unilever.
Commenting on this years’ winners, Helga Slater, Managing Director of Product of the Year said: “Innovation comes in all shapes and sizes and in what has been another challenging year for everyone, we have seen brands big and small step up and stand out for delivering some truly exceptional products. From the small, incremental improvements through to brands breaking new ground, we are happy to once again be able to shine a light on the UK’S very best product innovation and we are thrilled for all the winners.”
Full list of 2022 Product of the Year winners across 38 categories:
- Alcoholic Drinks, Inch’s Medium Apple Cider, Heineken
- Bladder Weakness, Always Discreet Boutique Pants, Procter & Gamble
- Cat Food & Treats, Dreamies Catnip, Mars Petcare
- Cereals, Weetabix Melts, Weetabix Food Company Ltd
- Coffee On the Go, Costa Coffee RTD Range, Costa Coffee
- Coffee, Costa Intensely Dark Amazonian Blend, All About Food Ltd
- Collagen Supplements, Starpowa Vegan Collagen Support, Starpowa Ltd.
- Confectionery, Cadbury Caramilk, Mondélez International
- Convenience Food, Wagamama Katsu Curry Meal Kit, All About Food Ltd.
- Dairy Free, Alpro Double Chocolate Mousse & Alpro Pistachio Mousse, Alpro
- Dairy, Muller Corner Icelandic Style Skyr, Müller Yogurts & Desserts
- Dog Food & Treats, Pedigree Ranchos, Mars Petcare
- Formula Milk, Aptamil Follow on Milk Tabs, Danone
- Free From, THIS™ Isn’t Pork – Plant Based Cocktail Sausages, THIS™
- Frozen Food, Chicago Town Tiger Crust, Dr Oetker (UK) Ltd.
- General Household, Astonish Clean & Revive, Astonish
- Hair Removal, Venus Pubic Hair & Skin Razor, Procter & Gamble
- Hard Seltzer, Three Fold Hard Seltzer, Molson Coors
- Health & Nutrition, H24 Achieve Protein Bar, Herbalife Nutrition
- Home Freshener, Air Wick Odour Neutralising Air Spray, Reckitt
- Hot Beverages, Costa Hot Chocolate, All About Food Ltd
- Hybrid Mattress, Emma Premium Mattress, Emma Sleep
- Kefir, Muller Kefir Smoothie, Müller Yogurts & Desserts
- Laundry Additives, Comfort Ultimate Care Fabric Conditioner, Unilever
- Laundry Detergent, Surf Liquid Deep Sea Minerals, Unilever
- Mattress, Slumberland Clima Airstream Memory 6000, Bensons for Beds
- Multi-Surface Cleaner, Dettol Tru Clean Wipes and Spray, Reckitt
- Nicotine Pouches, Velo Nicotine Pouches, British American Tobacco Ltd.
- No Alcohol, SMASHED Berry Cider, Drynks Unlimited
- Personal Hygiene, INEOS Hygienics Hand Sanitiser Range, INEOS Hygienics
- Sauce & Seasoning, Nando’s Sweet Chilli Jam, All About Food Ltd.
- Squash, Robinsons Double Strength Blackcurrant NAS Squash, Britvic Soft Drinks
- Toilet Cleaner, Harpic Power Plus Active Citrus Tablets, Reckitt
- Toilet Tissue, Andrex Supreme Quilts, Kimberly Clark
- Vaping & Heated Tobacco Products, Vuse ePod2, British American Tobacco Ltd.
- Vegetarian Food, Paxo Veggie Fillers, Premier Foods plc
- Washing Machine Cleaner, Calgon Hygiene+ Tabs, Reckitt
- Women’s Health & Wellbeing, Herbalife Nutrition Immune Booster, Herbalife Nutrition
NAM Implication:
- Worth a look, if only for the comprehensive list of winning brands.
