BrandSpark International recently announced the winners of its 14th annual Best New Product Awards. Based on the votes of more than 20,000 Canadian consumers, BrandSpark’s awards cover the latest and most popular health, household, and food and beverage products in 50 different categories. Here are the top food and beverage insights from this study:
- Canadian consumers embrace innovative products: 75% of Canadians surveyed said that they like trying new products, and one in every two Canadian consumers looks for new or innovative products when shopping. When it comes to food and beverage products, innovation for health is especially important. While only 1 in 4 shoppers reported regularly buying organic food products, consumers are generally very interested in products that do not contain artificial sweeteners, antibiotics, or hormones, or offer other innovations in terms of nutritional and health benefits. Manufacturers should continue to produce innovative healthy snacks in order to take seize the opportunity presented by this growing interest.
- Pork and fish beat chicken: Poultry products did not receive any awards from BrandSpark, but pork and fish did. The winner for Best Frozen Entrees was High Liner Marinated Portions, and the prize for Best Packaged Meat went to Maple Leaf Canadian Craft, a line of packaged pork products. The winner for Best Frozen Pizza, Dr. Oetker Giuseppe Rising Crust Canadian Pizza, also featured pork products almost exclusively, including pepperoni, Italian sausage, and bacon. Best Meat Snack was awarded to Piller’s Salami Whips.
- There is an economic divide: 40% of Canadian consumers say that they are financially comfortable—but just as many say that they are living paycheque to paycheque. This is something that food and beverage manufacturers need to be aware of when they’re marketing their products, and can also be an opportunity to build brand and customer loyalty. Manufacturers should focus on keeping their products affordable and keep typical incomes and budgets in mind in order to attract and retain customers. The majority of customers say they put off or refrain from making non-essential food purchases, such as dining out, which extends the market opportunities available for food and beverage retailers and stores.
- Not a poutine in sight: Healthy food alternatives are in. Canadian consumers prefer health-focused or natural products, and are increasingly turning away from things like additives and heavy sugars. They are increasingly opting for healthier alternatives to products they already like or frequently purchase. For example, the SodaStream Power Sparkling Water Maker, a product that is often advertised as a healthy alternative to store-bought carbonated beverages and soft drinks, received the award for Best Drink Carbonation System, and Becel Original—with its new “Simple Ingredients” formula—won the award for Best Butter/Margarine.
These findings can help shape the future of the Canadian food industry and will help manufacturers to better understand Canadian consumers and audiences. BizVibe can help you connect with Canada’s top processed food, meat and poultry, and other food and beverage manufacturers, suppliers, and decision-makers. Register today to start building your own global network.
