From pre-packed octopus to vegetarian bolognese, and from bee-friendly apple juice to pumpkin seed flour, the finalists in this year's European Private Label Awards demonstrate why store brands are a force to be reckoned with in European retail.
Retailers from France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Norway, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Hungary, Turkey, Ukraine and the Baltic states were named among the finalists in this year’s Awards, which are organised by ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
While the past 12 months have seen unprecedented changes in the European grocery industry, this did not dissuade retailers and suppliers from participating in the competition, with a record number of entrants taking part this year, including a number of first-time applicants.
The winners in this year's competition will be revealed in ESM Issue 2 2021, which will be published in mid-March.
"As this year's crop of entries demonstrates, Europe's retailers continue to be at the forefront of developing winning products that can compete with, and in many cases outperform, the biggest brands in the marketplace – even during challenging times," commented Stephen Wynne-Jones, editor, ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
"The sheer breadth of innovation on display illustrates why private label continues to be a game-changer in European retail."
The full list of finalists in this year's competition can be found at www.privatelabelawards.com, as well as below.
In addition, Trace One, the leading platform for connecting retailers and suppliers, has teamed up with ESM: European Supermarket Magazine to offer a special prize to all winners and finalists in this year's European Private Label Awards. All finalists will be contacted with further details in due course.
ABOUT THE AWARDS
The European Private Label Awards were launched in 2017 to determine the most impactful and innovative private label brands on sale in Europe's supermarkets, and celebrate the 'best of the best' when it comes to store brand innovation right across Europe. The Awards are open to both retailers and suppliers.
As part of the judging process, judges are asked to assess each product in terms of three important metrics, Innovation, Presentation and Taste. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's Awards were assessed both in-person, by a local judging panel, as well as virtually, by an international team of experts.
ESM would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our expert team of judges, including André Michel and Malachy O'Connor, International Private Label Consult (IPLC); Hermann Sievers, SMK-Consult.com; Loe Limpens, Yellow Dress Retail; Valentine Bauret, Agro-Développement; Sebastiaan Schreijen, RaboResearch Food & Agri (FAR); Derek Reilly, Aramark; Valerie Rice, Valerie Rice Consulting; Jeanne Quigley, Irish Food Writers Guild; Emily Hourican, Hospitality Ireland; and Mark Kelly, ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
2021 EUROPEAN PRIVATE LABEL AWARDS FINALISTS
AMBIENT GROCERY
PRODUCT: Porsi Viva Bem 'Maritime' Crackers
RETAILER: Intermarché Portugal
SUPPLIER: Telhas Confeitaria
PRODUCT: Anadolu Lezzetleri (Tastes of Anatolia) Amik Prairie Freekeh
RETAILER: Migros Ticaret (Turkey)
SUPPLIER: Teofarm Tarimsal Ürünleri̇ Üreti̇m Satiş
PRODUCT: Selection by Rimi Carrot Pesto
RETAILER: Rimi Baltic
SUPPLIER: Sancon Costa Ligure S.r.l
PRODUCT: Sapori & Idee Ragù di Carne di Chianina
RETAILER: Conad (Italy)
SUPPLIER: Le Bontà S.r.l.
BEVERAGES (ALCOHOLIC)
PRODUCT: Nordic Craft Beer – Bio Spring Ale
RETAILER: Lidl Denmark
SUPPLIER: Bryggeriet Vestfyen A/S
PRODUCT: 11 Paralleli Bionda Non Filtrata
RETAILER: Conad (Italy)
SUPPLIER: Birc S.p.A.
PRODUCT: Bockbeer
RETAILER: Spar Netherlands
SUPPLIER: Brouwerij het Meuleneind
PRODUCT: Nordic Craft Beer – Ginger Beer
RETAILER: Lidl Denmark
SUPPLIER: Bryggeriet Vestfyen A/S
BEVERAGES (NON-ALCOHOLIC)
PRODUCT: ICA Selection Lemonad Persika/Lime/Mynta
RETAILER: ICA (Sweden)
SUPPLIER: Kiviks Musteri AB
PRODUCT: Penny Best Moments Juice Advent Calendar
RETAILER: Rewe Group (Germany)
SUPPLIER: Jacoby GmbH
PRODUCT: Fruity Sparkling Water Range
RETAILER: Système U (France)
SUPPLIER: LSDH
PRODUCT: Rewe Beste Wahl Bee-Friendly Apple Juice
RETAILER: Rewe Group (Germany)
SUPPLIER: Rauch Fruchtsäfte GmbH & Co OG
CONFECTIONERY & SNACKING
PRODUCT: Sapori & Dintorni Crema al Pistacchio con 'Pistacchio Verde di Bronte DOP'
RETAILER: Conad (Italy)
SUPPLIER: Antichi Sapori dell'Etna S.r.l.
PRODUCT: Patatas Fritas Curcuma Y Pimienta
RETAILER: Consum (Spain)
SUPPLIER: Fritoper
PRODUCT: Netto ØGO Organic Raw Bites
RETAILER: Salling Group (Denmark)
SUPPLIER: Artenay Bars S.A.S.
PRODUCT: Sapori & Dintorni Panettone Basso Fichi Canditi e Gocce di Cioccolato
RETAILER: Conad (Italy)
SUPPLIER: Galup S.r.l.
CONVENIENCE FOODS / FOOD TO GO
PRODUCT: Grand Gout Soup
RETAILER: Dagrofa (Denmark)
SUPPLIER: Kildespring A/S
PRODUCT: Franprix Semolina And Vegetables
RETAILER: Franprix (France)
SUPPLIER: Les Plaisirs Du Midi
PRODUCT: WH Karl Johan Mushroom Soup
RETAILER: Lidl Denmark
SUPPLIER: Kildespring A/S
PRODUCT: REWE To Go Vegan Sushi Nanami
RETAILER: REWE (Germany)
SUPPLIER: Natsu Foods GmbH & Co. KG
DAIRY PRODUCTS
PRODUCT: Viejo de Oveja Manchego Cheese
RETAILER: Consum (Spain)
SUPPLIER: Lactalis
PRODUCT: Délisse UHT Creams
RETAILER: E. Leclerc (France)
SUPPLIER: LSDH
PRODUCT: Rewe Bio Caffè Latte
RETAILER: Rewe Group (Germany)
SUPPLIER: Molkerei Gropper
PRODUCT: Bilka/føtex Princip Knas Matured Cheese
RETAILER: Salling Group (Denmark)
SUPPLIER: Løgismose Meyers
FREE-FROM FOODS
PRODUCT: Coop Pea Bologne Veg Dag (Vegan Pea Bolognese)
RETAILER: Coop Norge (Norway)
SUPPLIER: Gronko Sweden
PRODUCT: ICA Selection Vegansk bönröra (Vegan Bean Dip)
RETAILER: ICA (Sweden)
SUPPLIER: Jesses Deli AB
PRODUCT: Penny Food For Future Frozen Rice Nuggets
RETAILER: Rewe Group (Germany)
SUPPLIER: Vossko
PRODUCT: Rimi Pumpkin Seed Flour
RETAILER: Rimi Baltic
SUPPLIER: Mlyn Niedzwiady Sp z o.o. Sp.k.
FROZEN FOOD
PRODUCT: WH Økologisk Kokossorbet
RETAILER: Lidl Denmark
SUPPLIER: Jacob & Jakob Icecream
PRODUCT: Pingo Doce Dairy-Free Salted Caramel Ice Cream
RETAILER: Pingo Doce (Portugal)
SUPPLIER: Pingo Doce Distribuição Alimentar SA
PRODUCT: Rewe Bio Frozen Edamame
RETAILER: Rewe Group (Germany)
SUPPLIER: Öko Service GmbH
PRODUCT: Salling Take-Away Garlic Flatbread
RETAILER: Salling Group (Denmark)
SUPPLIER: Freiberger Lebensmittel Gmbh & Co
MEAT & SEAFOOD
PRODUCT: Sapori & Idee Conad Arrosto Di Pollo Come Una Volta
RETAILER: Conad (Italy)
SUPPLIER: Carnj S.C.A.
PRODUCT: Coop Laks 1-2-3 Thyme/Rosemary
RETAILER: Coop Norge
SUPPLIER: Coast Seafood
PRODUCT: Regnum Spicy Beef Steak Tartare
RETAILER: Spar Hungary
SUPPLIER: Terra Pannonia Ltd
PRODUCT: Sapori & Idee Conad Polpo Intero Pronto Da Gustare
RETAILER: Conad (Italy)
SUPPLIER: Angulas Aguinaga S.A.U.
NON-FOOD (HOUSEHOLD)
PRODUCT: Friegasuelos Aloe Vera Monodosis
RETAILER: Consum (Spain)
SUPPLIER: McBride
PRODUCT: Fairtrade Organic Shopper
RETAILER: Spar Netherlands
SUPPLIER: Pure Jute
PRODUCT: Pirkka Ecological Cleaning Range
RETAILER: Kesko (Finland)
SUPPLIER: Nopa Nordic
PRODUCT: Blink Naturelle 'Made by Nature' Range
RETAILER: Müller (Germany)
SUPPLIER: Nopa Nordic
NON-FOOD (PERSONAL CARE)
PRODUCT: Danöl Milt Shower Gel
RETAILER: Danöl (Iceland)
SUPPLIER: Nopa Nordic
PRODUCT: Genetic Lab Gen 63 Lift Genesis
RETAILER: EVA (Ukraine)
SUPPLIER: Ningbo Multi Channel Co Ltd.
PRODUCT: Cien Sensitive Personal Care Range
RETAILER: Lidl
SUPPLIER: Nopa Nordic
PRODUCT: Be Beauty – Face Cream Blue Light Protection
RETAILER: Pingo Doce (Portugal)
SUPPLIER: Pingo Doce Distribuição Alimentar SA.
FURTHER INFORMATION
About the European Private Label Awards
With private-label market share at an all-time high across Europe, and innovative store brands now penetrating even the most diverse of supermarket categories, ESM: European Supermarket Magazine developed the European Private Label Awards in 2017 to acknowledge excellence in this dynamic industry. The European Private Label Awards are open to retailers all across Europe, as well as suppliers serving the European grocery sector with private label products. For more information, visit www.privatelabelawards.com
About ESM: European Supermarket Magazine
ESM: European Supermarket Magazine is Europe's dedicated magazine for the European grocery sector. ESM is a must-read for senior managers and top-level executives working in the European grocery sector, or supplying the retail industry. For more information, visit www.esmmagazine.com
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.