Britain’s next top product is…

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 along with other household names and pioneering newcomers. These were just a handful of the 34 winners of the UK’s largest survey of product innovation.

Now in its 17^th year, the Product of the Year Awards continue to provide a unique platform to celebrate the products we use every day but often take for granted for their quiet innovation. No Awards are complete without a ceremony, and while unable to bring attendees together among the Art Deco finery of the Sheraton Grand, Product of the Year hosted the event virtually with award-winning actor, writer and comedian, Sally Phillips, on hand to announce the winners.

As the UK’s biggest and most comprehensive study of product innovation, conducted in association with the world’s leading data and insights company, Kantar, the winning products 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 – an instantly recognisable symbol of product excellence.

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.

Bensons springs into first place for boxed mattresses 

We are more aware than ever of the health benefits of good sleep, recognising the proven correlation between a good night’s sleep and well-being. And more time at home means mattress sales soared by 131% and this year, it was the UK’s largest bed retailer Bensons for Beds that picked up an award within the hybrid mattress category for the Rollo Hybrid Duo by Slumberland.

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 was triumphant at Product of the Year 2021, winning three awards across laundry and cleaning categories. Reacting to the multiple wins, Nadine Slyper, Brand Experience Director at Unilever Homecare UKI, comments:

“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.”

“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” Says Helga Slater, MD, Product of the Year “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.”

Source: Product of the Year

  Helga Slater, Kantar, Nadine Slyper, Product Of The Year