The cream of the crop of the FMCG industry gathered at the Royal Opera House this week to see what would be crowned the must-have products of 2008.
Now in its fourth year, the awards honoured winners in 35 categories from men’s grooming and make-up to household cleaning, with brands like P&G and Unilever each walking away with a clutch of awards each.
Winning products in the C&T categories included L’Oréal Excellence Crème (Hair Colouring), Dove Cream Oil Body Wash (Body Care) and Venus Riviera Disposable Razors (Female Hair Removal). The awards also saw its first own-brand winner with the much-hyped Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Serum scooping the top prize in the Facial Skin sector.
The winners were voted top in a national TNS survey of 12,000 people, and will now be able to use the red ‘product of the year’ logo on packs and in all communications materials. Previous winners have reported sales increases of between 10-15% with this feature, so this year’s recipients should see a similar hike.
The logo continues to attract recognition among the UK consumers, with 49% saying they are more likely to purchase products sporting the mark, according to research.
Tom Moody of P&G, who won five awards in the C&T sector, says that the increased prominence of the brand benefits customers and manufacturers alike. “Increased recognition of the Product of the Year logo shows that consumers genuinely see this as a guide on what to buy.”
CEO of Product of the Year Management, Mike Nolan, extended the invitation to next year’s hopefuls: “With many new entrants taking part and the rise in product entries, this year’s winners are more diverse than ever. Make sure your brand is next to carry this distinctive logo, enter our 2009 awards this March”. The next awards will be contested in 28 countries, spanning six continents, rolling out to Japan, New Zealand and South Africa, among others.
2008 winners in the C&T sector include:
Hair Colouring
L’Oréal Excellence Crème (L’Oréal)
Hair Treatment
Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Time Renewal Night Renewal Nourishing Mist (P&G)
Hair Styling
Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine Hairspray (P&G)
Shampoo and Conditioner
Head & Shoulders Intensive Shampoo (P&G)
Salon
System Professional Luminous Shampoo (Sebastian Professional)
Body Care
Dove Cream Oil Bodywash (Unilever)
Facial Tanning
Dove Summer Glow Daily Face Moisturiser (Unilever)
Facial Care
No 7 Protect and Perfect Beauty Serum (Boots)
Mouthwash
Listerine Total Care (J&J)
Oral Care
Colgate Total Professional weekly Clean (Colgate Palmolive)
Female Deodorant
Dove Invisible Dry Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Spray (Unilever)
Female Hair Removal
Venus Riviera Disposable Razors (Unilver)
Suncare
Ambre Solaire Clear Protect Gel (L’Oréal)
Male Grooming
Gillete Fusion HydraGel (P&G)