2008 Product of the Year Award Winners Announced

The nation has spoken and the results are in! The latest products to be awarded the coveted title of Product of the Year have been announced, following the UK’s largest consumer survey and 12,000 UK people can’t be wrong!

Winning products were awarded from a range of categories including Beauty, Drinks, Snacks, Household Cleaning, Men’s Grooming, Make-Up and the newly introduced Alcohol category.

The latest products deemed ‘must haves’ by UK shoppers, who felt that each item was in some way groundbreaking include the sought after No7 Protect and Perfect, Baileys Flavours, Galaxy Mistletoe Kisses, Dove Summer Glow Daily Facial Moisturiser and Colgate Total Professional Weekly Clean.

Winners of the Product of the Year awards, the largest and most representative consumer vote on product innovation in the UK, will now be able to feature the distinctive red logo on pack – helping shoppers identify the best products on the supermarket shelves to save both time and money.

Research has also shown that consumers spend an average of seven seconds at the supermarket shelf and the endorsement of 12,000 people is a key differentiator to a purchasing decision.After just four years in the UK, more that 40% of shoppers recognise and trust the Product of the Year logo, with 49% stating they are likely or more likely to purchase products sporting the mark.

The power of the Product of the Year mark has been capitalised by winning brands, featuring the logo in advertising and instore marketing campaigns.

CEO of Product of the Year Management, Mike Nolan, says, “Each year thousands of UK household’s vote in the survey and this year was no exception, seeing a whopping 12,000 people take part.

"Product of the Year works because winners are voted for by the people, for the people. UK shoppers therefore can remain safe in the knowledge that this year’s innovative winners have once more been given a seal of approval by people just like them.”

The awards, which were presented by Channel 4 comedian Dominic Holland, were held at the Royal Opera House and attended by some of the biggest manufacturers in the business including Procter and Gamble, Unilever, Premier Foods and Biersdorf. Newly appointed sponsors SilverJet, the luxury airline, and Blue Marlin, the brand design consultants were at the awards offering their own insights into innovation.

Attendees at the event also agree that the rise in recognition of the Product of the Year logo is beneficial to consumers, Tom Moody, of Procter and Gamble said; “Increased recognition of the Product of the Year logo show that consumers genuinely see this as a guide on what to buy”.

Adrian Wells, of Procter and Gamble continued; “Confused consumers arrive at shelves and see the logo, helping them to make a decision on what to buy - there is no doubt about it”

TNS once again carried out the research, offering an industry sector understanding and collating the survey from over 12,000 people in the UK.2008 will see the Product of the Year awards contested in 28 countries on 6 continents.

While the UK ceremony has become a regular fixture in the FMCG calendar, awards will also be taking place in 15 new countries including the USA, India, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.So don’t waste time and money this year - let 12,000 like-minded shoppers help you decide what to drop in your trolley, just look for the red logo.Find out more at www.productoftheyear.co.uk