Product of the Year has today announced the UK’s most innovative products of 2021, with the winners chosen by 10,000 UK consumers. Unilever, Premier Foods, Danone and Procter & Gamble, picked up multiple awards at a virtual ceremony along with other household names and newcomers.
As the UK’s biggest and most comprehensive study of product innovation, conducted in association with data and insights company, Kantar, the winning products are said to represent key consumer wants and habits – a unique barometer of buying patterns and behaviour in the UK. And for those brands that were fortunate to ‘walk away’ with a coveted trophy, they also win the right to feature the iconic red Product of the Year logo.
From cider to seltzer – new drinks brands toast success
This year, Product of the Year’s drinks category winners stepped outside the norm bringing true innovation. Heineken raised the bar with the launch of Strongbow Rosé Cider made with blush red apples. On the lower ABV end of the scale is an American import, the hard seltzer, a blend of alcohol and sparkling water with Echo Falls Blueberry & Hibiscus Rosé Seltzer a worthy category winner.
‘NOLO’, No/Low alcohol, continues to grow in popularity with the sector enjoying year-on-year growth with exciting new products emerging with complex flavour palettes to rival alcohol brands. Product of the Year winner and the aptly named, SMASHED Pale Ale, is so convincing you might forget its alcohol count is close to zero.
Healthy mind, healthy body, healthy brands
The last year has been a sedentary period for some, but for others it has been an opportunity to work on our health and fitness. It’s a mood that has been reflected in Product of the Year’s winners list with graze Super Snack Cereal Bars for kids (50% reduced sugar) winning an award and the craze for fermented goods is evidently still on the up as Good Earth Kombucha took home a Product of the Year Award.
Alternative diets are fast becoming mainstream. According to a Kantar report on the Free Food sector, an estimated two million Brits are living with food allergies and intolerances. Arla’s Lactofree Organic Semi Skimmed Milk Drink won in the dairy alternative category and Herbalife Nutrition Tri-Blend Select took first place in the nutritional supplements category.
Nando’s brings PERinaise home
Dining out may no longer be possible, but some enterprising establishments are taking innovative steps to bring their wares to the people. Nando’s has long offered a home-delivery service but it was Nando’s Garlic PERinaise PERi-PERi Mayonnaise that won the approval of the voting public picking up a Product of the Year Award.
H2O and Cif clean up
Hygiene has never been more important, be it washing our hands or sanitising our homes, and this year a number of brilliant brands have really stepped up, delivering some standout products. Thane’s H2O e3 Cleaning System has taken the cleaning process back to the future with an electrolysed, all-purpose cleansing solution that can be used as an antibacterial cleanser and deodoriser and Cif Anti-Bac & Shine Range also won for its multipurpose cleaning capabilities that can even be safely used to clean all manner of surfaces from kids toys to food preparation areas.
Green clean
Today, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of their impact on the environment. Fortunately, many brands are taking note and finding new ways to create products that leave less of an imprint on the world. Cif Anti-Bac & Shine Range leaves minimal waste, packaged in an ecorefill spray bottle. Packaging is key to sustainable consumption and with the rise of refill stations in local shops, at supermarkets and online, the future is looking greener. Unilever brand Persil’s Liquid Laundry Detergent impressed the 10,000 UK consumers who voted the plant-based stain remover a Product of the Year winner – signalling a wider move by the industry to become more sustainable.
Unilever won three awards across laundry and cleaning categories. Reacting to the multiple wins, Nadine Slyper, Brand Experience Director at Unilever Homecare UKI, said: “We are delighted to have received the Product of the Year award for not one, not two, but three of our incredible Homecare brands.
“Our teams have worked incredibly hard during these challenging times to bring Cif Anti-Bac & Shine, Comfort Coco Fantasy and Persil Liquids to the market, and we’re thrilled that consumers love them. To round off our Homecare brand awards, Surf has also won Best Use of Logo from a 2020/previous years campaign which we are very pleased to receive. We would like to thank everyone who has made this possible.”
Helga Slater, MD of Product of the Year, concluded: “Innovation comes in all shapes and sizes and in what has been a challenging year for everyone, we have seen brands big and small step up and stand out for some truly exceptional products.
“From the small, incremental improvements made by established brands to those breaking new ground, we are happy to once again be able to shine a light on the very best product innovation and we are thrilled for all the winners.”
Full list of 2021 Product of the Year winners across 34 categories:
- Alcohol, Strongbow Rosé Cider, Heineken
- Alcohol Free Drinks, SMASHED Pale Ale, Drynks Unlimited
- Bladder Weakness, Always Discreet Boutique Pads, Procter & Gamble
- Cat Food, Sheba Fine Flakes in Gravy, Mars Petcare UK
- Chilled Fortified Drinks, Good Earth Kombucha, Tata Consumer Products
- Cleaning Spray, Cif Anti-Bac & Shine Range (Spray & ecorefill), Unilever
- Coffee Pods, Starbucks by Nespresso Capsules Range, Nestlé UK Ltd
- Convenience Food, Batchelors Big Super Noodles Range, Premier Foods
- Dairy, Cathedral City Sandwich Slices, Saputo Dairy UK
- Dietary Alternative, Lactofree Organic Semi Skimmed Milk Drink, Arla Foods
- Formula Milk, Aptamil Profutura Follow On Milk, Danone Specialised Nutrition
- Free From Foods, Birds Eye Green Cuisine Chicken Free Dippers, Nomad Foods
- Gravy and Stock, Bisto Southern Style Gravy Granules, Premier Foods
- Hard Seltzer, Echo Falls Blueberry & Hibiscus Rosé Seltzer, Accolade Wines
- Health and Hygiene Products, H2O e3 Cleaning System, Thane Direct UK Ltd
- Hot Beverages, Costa Instant Coffee with Finely Ground Beans (Smooth Medium Roast), All About Food Ltd
- Household Paper, Nicky Defend Hand Towels, Sofidel SpA
- Hybrid Mattress, Rollo Hybrid Duo by Slumberland, Bensons for Beds Retails Ltd
- Hybrid Mattress Plus, Rollo Hybrid Duo Plus by Slumberland, Bensons for Beds Retails Ltd
- Kids Cereal & Cereal Bars, graze Super Snacker Cereal Bars, graze
- Laundry Additives, Comfort Perfume Deluxe Coco Fantasy Ultra Concentrated Fabric Conditioner, Unilever
- Laundry Detergent, Persil Liquid Laundry Detergent, Unilever
- Nutritional supplement, Herbalife Nutrition Tri Blend Select, Herbalife Nutrition
- Men’s Razors, King C. Gillette Men’s Double Edge Safety Razor, Procter & Gamble
- Nappy & Nappy Pants, Pampers Active Fit Taped Nappies, Procter & Gamble
- Nicotine Pouch, Nordic Spirit, Japan Tobacco International (JTI)
- Organic Formula Milk, Aptamil Organic Follow On Milk, Danone Specialised Nutrition
- Pet Clean Up, Vanish Oxi Action Urine Destroyer Pet Expert, Reckitt Benckiser
- Iced Coffee, Arctic Coffee Café Latte, Crediton Dairy
- Sauce Mayonnaise, Nando’s PERinaise Garlic PERi-PERi Mayonnaise, All About Food Ltd
- Snacks, Mr Kipling Minis Range, Premier Foods
- Sweet Treats, Mr Kipling Signature Collection, Premier Foods
- Toilet Tissue, Andrex Classic Clean Toilet Tissue, Kimberly -Clark
- Toiletries, Palmolive Naturals Range Shower Gel, Colgate Palmolive
