Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Human content, AI powered search.
Latest Stories

Product Of The Year turns 20!

Product Of The Year turns 20!
Andy Marino
By Andy MarinoJan 25, 2024
Andy Marino
See Full Bio

‘Home’s where the heart is’ with skincare, ready meals and sleep lead trends in latest awards

Cadbury Crunchie Cake

Product of the Year has announced the UK’s most innovative new products, with the winners chosen by 8,000 UK consumers (the largest survey of product innovation in the UK).

1. Joy Wine Range Image

DIY, skincare, sleep tech, confectionery and petcare, were just a handful of the 43 categories announced by Product of the Year at last night’s awards ceremony hosted at iconic London venue, Quaglino’s, by TV personality Tom Allen. Every year, the survey reveals the key trends that inspire shoppers, with winners ranging from major brands to independents, including P&G, Arla and Emma Sleep.

Now marking its 20th year, Product of the Year has gained a reputation for putting brands and products on the map by giving them the recognition they deserve. The Product of the Year logo has 81 per cent shopper recognition and can be spotted in all major supermarkets and convenience stores across the country. Commonly regarded as a seal of approval amid a sea of products on shop shelves, it’s a vote of confidence by consumers for consumers.

1. Fruit tella Curiosities By the Sea

“This year, there’s been an incredible mix of new product development, creativity and ingenuity, that’s been truly impressive,” said Helga Slater, Product of the Year MD. “We’re very excited to reveal the ‘best in show’, which has been selected by over 8,000 consumers! Product of the Year is a celebration of what we consider to be the heroes of our everyday – the products that make a difference to our lives.”

Research was independently conducted in association with leading data and insights company, Kantar. Brands that win a Product of the Year trophy also enjoy the right to feature the iconic red logo – an instantly recognisable symbol of product excellence.

Home comforts, ‘feel-good’ culture lead food and drink brand winers

White Digestives

Sweets and chocolate took their share of wins with juicy Fruit-tella Curiosities, Cadbury Crunchie Celebration Cake and McVitie’s White Chocolate Digestive Biscuits, all taking the title within their categories.

Mentos Gum

Among the convenience brands, Ben’s Original One Pan Creations wowed consumers with a speedy range of rice dishes from around the world (just add meat/vegetables) and bean-based competitor, Heinz Beanz Bowlz won a trophy for these ingenious plant-based frozen ready meals. Convenience is at the heart of dishes like these, making mealtimes quicker and less hassle after a long day. And if you’re looking for a drink to go with it, a glass of Joy wine might do nicely. This vibrant range, a bold new brand from Concha Y Toro, is geared at a younger audience – and is Instagrammable to boot. Perennial favourite, Strongbow, has come in strong, winning with its Tropical Cider drink, that brings colour to even the dullest January day.

Beauty brands break through …

Hyaluronic acid, is the ‘magic’ ingredient that features in two winning products - NIVEA Hyaluron Moisture Plus Lip Balm and Soltan Once Age Defence Facial Suncare with Hyaluronic Acid SPF 50. Both provide moisturizing/hydrating qualities for a natural glow. Known for its skin brightening properties, vitamin C serum is another exciting ingredient making waves in skincare. Boots Vitamin C Pro Brightening Booster Serum is an exciting high street innovation product that gives designer brands a run for their money and won the approval of the voting public.

Whiskas

Best in show pet products

Among the pet winners, both dog and cat food products bagged awards. Butcher's Nourishing Food for Dogs Healthy Heart Tins range puts health first, with these vet and nutritionist developed meals for dogs, that are a welcome new breed of pet-care innovation. And Whiskas Pouch Reset impressed the 8,000 voters with its new recipes that are like catnip to feline friends.

Full list of 2024 Product of the Year winners across 43 categories:

Alcohol, Strongbow Tropical Cider, Heineken

Bed, Emma Ottoman Bed, Emma Sleep GmbH

Bedding, Simba Hybrid Pillow, Simba Sleep

Biscuits, McVitie’s White Chocolate Digestives, pladis

Carpet Cleaner, Vanish Oxi Action Carpet Stain Remover Serum, Reckitt

Cat Food, Whiskas Pouch Reset, Mars Petcare Europe

Cereal, Coco Pops Chocos, Kellanova

Chewing Gum, Mentos Pure Fresh Gum Paperboard Bottle, Perfetti Van Melle

Convenience Food, Ben's Original One Pan Creations range, Mars Food UK Limited

Cough & Immune Support, Zarbee's Natural Cough and Immune Support Range, Kenvue

DIY & Home, 3M CLAW™ Plasterboard Picture Hangers, 3M

Dog Food, Butcher's Nourishing Food for Dogs Healthy Heart Tins, Butcher’s Pet Care

Eco, Andrex® Summer Fresh Washlets, Kimberly-Clark

Filled Pasta, La Famiglia Rana Prawn, Burrata & Lemon Zest Mezzelune, Giovanni Rana UK

Formula Milk, Cow & Gate Follow-on Milk Value Pack, Danone UK & Ireland

General Household, Plenty Flexisheets Tubeless, Essity

Haircare, Clairol Nice'n Easy with new Revitashine Treatment, Wella Company UK

Health & Beauty, Hyaluron Moisture Plus Lip Balm, Beiersdorf UK Ltd

Heated Tobacco, Ploom X Advanced, Japan Tobacco International

Home Security, Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus, Ring

Household Fragrance, Air Wick x Stacey Solomon - Morning Meadow Range, Reckitt

Iced Coffee, Starbucks® Chilled Classics Skinny Multiserve, Arla Foods

Incontinence, Always Discreet Boutique Pants, Procter & Gamble

Laundry Additives, Comfort Concentrated Fabric Conditioner Range, Unilever

Laundry Detergent, Surf Peony & Rose Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent, Unilever

2 in 1 Mattress, Slumberland Flip 2 in 1 Mattress, Bensons for Beds

Mattress, Emma NextGen Premium Mattress, Emma Sleep GmbH

Men's Grooming, Gillette Labs Neon Night Razor, Procter & Gamble

Men's Intimacy, Gillette Intimate Trimmer i3, Procter & Gamble

Multi Surface Cleaning, Dettol Protect 24 Spray and Wipes, Reckitt

Pasta Sauce, Dolmio Intensify Pasta Sauce Range, Mars Food & Nutrition UK

Period Care, Bodyform Cour-V Ultra Towels, Essity

Plant Based Milk, Oddlygood Barista Vanilla Flavour Oat Drink 1L, Oddlygood Global Ltd

Plant Based Food, Heinz Beanz Bowlz, Kraft Heinz

Sauce & Seasoning, Bisto Roast Seasoning, Premier Foods

Skincare, Boots Vitamin C Pro Brightening Booster Serum, Boots

Suncare, Soltan Once Age Defence Facial suncare with Hyaluronic Acid SPF 50, Boots

Sweet Treats, Cadbury Crunchie Celebration Cake, Premier Foods

Sweets, Fruit-tella Curiosities, Perfetti Van Melle

Toilet Care, Domestos Power Foam, Unilever

Toilet Tissue, Little Duck Supreme 3 Ply Quilted Toilet Tissue, Task Consumer Products Ltd

Wine, Joy Wine Range, Concha Y Toro UK Ltd

Yoghurt, Actimel Plus, Danone UK & Ireland

helga slaterproduct of the year

Related News

United Wholesale Dominates 2025 Scottish Wholesale Achievers Awards
Industry News

Scottish wholesalers celebrated at annual awards

Self-checkout tills at UK grocery store
Industry News

Debate heats up as community group calls to boycott self-checkouts

Lincolnshire's largest retail haul
Industry News

Lincolnshire's largest retail haul reported with 90,000 illicit cigarettes, super vapes

Food stores sales
Industry Reports

Strong start of 2025 for retailers as food stores sales volume rises

More for you

PayPoint and Fuel Bank Foundation energy support

Help with prepayment energy meters for low-income households

PayPoint partners with Fuel Bank Foundation to deliver emergency fuel support

PayPoint and Fuel Bank Foundation are working together to deliver fuel vouchers to support those most in need.

Each year in the UK, many households who prepay for their energy lose access to heat, light and power because they can’t afford to top-up their meter. The Fuel Bank Foundation is the only national charity who gift energy top-up vouchers for prepayment meters to help people and families living at the sharp end of fuel poverty.

Those who receive Fuel Bank energy vouchers can redeem their pre-paid top-up vouchers for energy meters in any PayPoint store, to get their heat, light and power back on as quickly as possible. Therefore, it is so important that these emergency energy vouchers are applied directly and immediately to the customers energy key or card, so they receive the necessary support. They should not be exchanged for cash, as this does not address the essential need of restoring warmth, light, and power to their homes.

Fuel Bank Foundation has supported more than 1.9 million people since launching in 2015. With energy costs showing no signs of coming down and following the Government announcement last year that only those claiming pension credit or other means-tested benefits will receive the Winter Fuel Payment, the charity anticipates that demand for support this year will be greater than ever.

Whilst the fuel voucher addresses the immediate need of keeping the lights and heating on, Fuel Bank Foundation also provide person-centred advice that empowers the people they support to address the issues that are making things difficult for them.

“Over the next few months, we estimate that more than a quarter of a million people will turn to Fuel Bank Foundation for emergency help because they can’t afford to top-up their energy meter or fill their heating oil tank, coal bunker or log store," said Matthew Cole, CEO of Fuel Bank Foundation. "Sadly, many of them will be young families with children at home or vulnerable.

“Without our help, they will be forced to live in cold, damp homes, with no energy for heating, lighting, cooking or cleaning. Living in a cold home can have a devastating impact on the physical health and mental wellbeing of both the young and old. Many children, for example, are forced to go to school tired, hungry and in dirty uniforms, and are condemned to a lifetime of poverty.

“There are around six million households in the UK in fuel poverty. It’s sorrowful to think that so many people face disconnection simply because they cannot afford energy. The consequences are profound: children unable to bathe in warm water, parents skipping meals to pay for energy, and elderly people living in homes that exacerbate health conditions. That is why it is so important that we get help to people as quickly and as easily as possible.”

Jo Toolan, Managing Director of Payments at PayPoint said: "Supporting Fuel Bank Foundation has never been more important to guarantee effective distribution of the scheme and ensuring it is able to support as many people as possible.

“Through our extensive network, we're ensuring that energy support is accessible when and where it's needed most. This reinforces our commitment to ensuring retailers serve as a vital support pillar for communities across the UK, whilst also offering additional sources of revenue generation for our store owners.”

"With over 30,000 locations across the UK, more than 99 per cent of Brits live within one mile of a PayPoint retailer partner. The stores offer convenience and flexibility for consumers, including those topping up energy meters, thanks to their accessibility and early-until-late opening hours. This is particularly important for households on prepayment meters during the colder months, as they need to top up meters outside of standard working hours.

"The provision of emergency fuel voucher redemption is so important, and demonstrative of the key role PayPoint retailer partners play in their local communities, ensuring that vulnerable households receive fast, efficient, and secure access to essential fuel support during challenging times."

JTI appoints new UK General Manager

Stephane Berset leadership at JTI UK

JTI UK announces Stephane Berset as the new General Manager

JTI has announced the appointment of Stephane Berset as UK General Manager.

Stephane will head up the UK division and has taken over the position from Tom Osborne. Having been with the business for 24 years, Stephane has developed vast experience across multiple functions and continents.

Keep ReadingShow less
£30K+ counterfeit vapes & cigarettes seized in Rotherham raid
iStock image

Police seizes £30,000 worth of illegal vapes, cigarettes seized from Rotherham store

Authorities have seized more than £30,000 worth of suspected counterfeit and unfit-for-sale vapes and cigarettes from a shop in Rotherham last week following a joint operation by South Yorkshire Police and trading standards officers.

As informed by South Yorkshire Police on Wednesday (19), the raid on Feb 13 was launched in response to intelligence from residents and local businesses, who had raised concerns about anti-social behaviour linked to the store.

Keep ReadingShow less
​bp launches first dedicated EV charging, convenience hub

bp launches first dedicated EV charging, convenience hub

Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images

BP launches first EV charging, convenience hub

Marking a major shift in its retail strategy, bp has launched its first dedicated EV charging and convenience hub at Cromwell Road on the A4 in Hammersmith, London.

As announced by bp today (20), the site has been completely transformed, with fuel removed and five ultra-fast BP Pulse 300kW chargers installed, each capable of charging two vehicles simultaneously under newly designed canopies.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pauline Crosby, the first-ever 'Nan from Del Monte,' smiling and holding her award, celebrating Britain's baking traditions

Del Monte unveils first-ever ‘Nan from Del Monte’ to champion Britain’s baking heritage

Nan from Del Monte: Honoring Britain’s Baking Traditions

Canned fruit brand Del Monte has crowned Pauline Crosby, a 74-year-old grandmother from Norfolk, as the first-ever “Nan from Del Monte.” This campaign revives the iconic “Man from Del Monte” concept with a fresh, modern approach aimed at celebrating and preserving Britain’s baking traditions.

Pauline, a former military policewoman, was selected following a nationwide competition and public vote to identify a figurehead who embodies the spirit of intergenerational cooking and baking. Nominated by her granddaughter, Poppie, Pauline was praised for her role in creating lasting family memories through her recipes. She is also a proud member of the Women’s Institute, a testament to her commitment to the culinary community.

Keep ReadingShow less