ESM: European Supermarket Magazine is proud to announce the finalists in the first annual European Private Label Awards, a new contest to determine the most impactful and innovative store brands on sale in Europe’s supermarkets.
Leading grocery operators in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Spain and the UK were among the 30 finalists named across ten categories.
Retailers earning nominations included Rewe Group, Spar International, Dagrofa, Coop Norge, Delhaize, Lidl, Despar and AB Vassilopoulos, to name but a few (a full list can be found below).
Fierce Competition
“Competition on the shelves of European supermarkets has never been fiercer, and as the nominees for the European Private Label Awards indicate, the level of innovation in the own-brand sector is fast approaching, or even eclipsing, that of big brands,” said Stephen Wynne-Jones, editor, ESM: European Supermarket Magazine. “All the nominees can be proud of the level to which they are seeking to push the boundaries within their respective categories.”
The finalists were announced in Issue 6 - 2017 of ESM: European Supermarket Magazine. The winners in each category will be revealed in Issue 1 - 2018, which will be published in February 2018.
Judging Process
Following a lengthy application process, products were assessed by the judging panel in terms of three important metrics:
1) Innovation (How well does the product convey innovation and differentiate itself from other products in the marketplace?); 2) Presentation (To what degree does the product stand out on shelf?) and, importantly, 3) Taste (Does it meet or exceed taste expectations for a product in its category?).
Participating judges included renowned experts in private label, including Loe Limpens, the co-founder of private-label design agency Yellow Dress Retail; Hermann Sievers, an acknowledged private-label expert in Germany; André Michel, a partner of International Private Label Consult (IPLC), a leading private-label consultancy; and Sebastiaan Schreijen, an industry analyst at RaboResearch Food & Agri (FAR) in the Netherlands.
Commenting on the judging process, which took place at the Cooks Academy in Dublin, Ireland, RaboResearch’s Sebastiaan Schreijen said, “The competition clearly shows that private label is so much more than copying branded goods. The new products, but also innovative concepts and product lines, that retailers brought forward will no doubt directly add value to any supermarket shelf.”
In addition, the judging team also featured a team of chefs and food experts, including Carlo Rubino, sous chef, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud (two Michelin stars); Tommy Butler, executive head chef, Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin; and Susie Koumarianos, The Burlesque Baker.
European Private Label Awards 2018 – List of Finalists
Category: Ambient Grocery
This category includes sauces, soups, oils, canned products, jams, preserves, breakfast cereals, tea, coffee, conserves, baby food, pasta, rice, baking products, stocks, gravy mixes, and salad dressings.
Product: Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Koroneiki/Kolymvari/PDOs Sitia and Kalamon
Retailer: AB Vassilopoulos (Greece)
Product: ØGO Branflakes
Retailer: Dansk Supermarked (Denmark)
Product: Extra-Virgin Olive Oil PGI from Tuscany
Retailer: Despar (Italy)
Category: Beverages (Alcoholic)
This category includes beer, wine, spirits, and flavoured and RTD alcoholic beverages.
Product: Muscat Grape Distill/Ouzo Chiou/Ouzo Mytilinis/Tsikoudia (Crete)/Tsipouro (Tirnavos)/Tsipouro (Ipiros)
Retailer: AB Vassilopoulos (Greece)
Product: Arapow Moscow Mule
Retailer: Rewe Group (Germany)
Product: Rewe Feine Welt Gin ‘Diamond of Marrakesh’
Retailer: Rewe Group (Germany)
Category: Beverages (Non-Alcoholic)
This category includes soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, squashes, cordials, and mineral water.
Product: OMHU Apple Juice with Rhubarb
Retailer: Dagrofa (Denmark)
Product: Rewe Beste Wahl Gurke-Limette Erfrischungsgetränk mit Minzgeschmack
Retailer: Rewe Group (Germany)
Product: Spar Vitamin Water
Retailer: Spar International
Category: Confectionery And Snacking
This category includes chocolate, sweets, gums, mints, potato chips/crisps, popcorn, biscuits, cakes, savoury dips, and granola bars.
Product: Dazzley Milk Chocolate Toffee
Retailer: Dagrofa (Denmark)
Product: RAW Cakes
Retailer: Delhaize (Belgium)
Product: Premium Hazelnut (30%) Cream Spread
Retailer: Despar (Italy)
Category: Convenience Foods
This category includes ready meals, food to go, pre-packed sandwiches and snacks, snack pots, instant meals, pre-packed fresh berries, fruit pots, and chilled soups.
Product: OMHU Bearnaise Chipotle
Retailer: Dagrofa (Denmark)
Product: Levevis Ristede Løg
Retailer: Bilka/Føtex (Denmark)
Product: Rewe Bio Kichererbsen-Kokos-Eintopf (Vegan)
Retailer: Rewe Group (Germany)
Category: Dairy Products
This category includes milk and milk products, yoghurt, yoghurt drinks, chilled desserts, cream, cheese, butter, dairy spreads, flavoured milk, and milkshakes.
Product: Gullbygg Greek Yoghurt – Vanilla with Granola
Retailer: Coop Norge SA (Norway)
Product: Burratina w/out Lactose (Free From)
Retailer: Despar (Italy)
Product: Greek-Style Yoghurt – Ginger and Lemon/Melon
Retailer: Sonae MC (Portugal)
Category: Frozen Food
This category includes frozen meat products, frozen vegetable products, frozen snack products, ice cream, and frozen snacks.
Product: Kihi Greek Salad Pies
Retailer: Agrofolio (Germany)
Product: Lidl Eridanous Spinach and Cheese Swirl Pie/Lidl Eridanous Mini Sesame & Cheese Pies with Oregano
Retailer: Lidl (Germany)
Product: Continente Seleção Traditional Ice Cream – Ovos Moles, Pastel de Nata, Requeijão e Doce de Abóbora
Retailer: Sonae MC (Portugal)
Category: Non-Food – Household
This category includes detergents, washing-up liquids, fabric softeners, dishwasher products, ignition products, refuse sacks, household sprays, bathroom cleaners, kitchen cleaners, air-fresheners, batteries, and hard-surface cleaners.
Product: Såklart Cleaning and Laundry Range
Retailer: Axfood (Sweden)
Product: Grøn Balance Detergent Range
Retailer: Dagrofa (Denmark)
Product: La Mia Casa Product Range
Retailer: Tokmanni (Finland)
Category: Non-Food – Personal Care
This category includes deodorants, creams, lotions, shower gels, soaps, shampoo, hair conditioners, razors, sanitary protection, baby wipes, nappies/diapers, facial tissues, toothpaste, oral-care products, oral analgesics, and cough and cold remedies.
Product: Fixeeze Range
Retailer: Action (the Netherlands)
Product: Viridis – Toallitas Húmedas
Retailer: Veritas (Spain)
Product: Kate Legwear Range
Retailer: Action (the Netherlands)
Category: Pet Care
This category includes pet foods, pet snacks, pet treats, and pet-hygiene products.
Product: Complete Pet Food for Dogs/Cats – Chicken Dinner in Gravy for Cats, Beef & Vegetable Stew for Dogs
Retailer: Marks & Spencer
Product: Real,- Premium Hundenahrung
Retailer: Real,- (Germany)
Product: Ranzijn Pet-Care Range
Retailer: Ranzijn tuin & dier (the Netherlands)
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