OAK BROOK, Ill. -- The convenience store channel depends to a great extent on frequent new-product innovation to survive. New products also provide the buzz that drives customers to the stores looking for that must-try item. In 2009, CSP magazine will again recognize outstanding new products introduced and sold in convenience formats that show uniqueness and groundbreaking advancement in a product line in the 5th Annual CSP Retailer Choice Best New Products Contest.With the nominations closed, convenience retailers will select the winners by voting on the top three finalists [image-nocss] in each category. Voting closes September 18, 2009.
"The voice of the retailer is what we need to bring this contest full circle," said Mitch Morrison, group editor of CSP. "The supplier community and other retailers need to hear from the retailers to know just which products are causing the most excitement in the marketplace."
Eligible products representing 120 finalists in 11 categories and 40 subcategories were introduced from August 2008 to June 2009.
The categories (and subcategories) include candy (chocolate, gum and non-chocolate), foodservice (breakfast, cooking/display, dispensed beverages, "heat n eat," packaged drink mixes, roller grill and sandwiches/wraps/burgers), foodservice equipment (cold dispensed and hot dispensed), general equipment, general merchandise (lighters and seasonal), health and beauty care (HBC and energy shots), overall best new packaging, packaged beverages (alcohol-beer, alcohol-other, carbonated, energy, functional, juices, nutritional, ready-to-drink coffees, RTD teas, sports and waters), snacks (alternative, meat, salty and sweet), technology (hardware and software) and tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, other tobacco products and snus).The list of finalists will appear in the October issue of CSP magazine, and the winners will appear in the November issue.
Oak Brook, Ill.-based CSP Information Group, publisher of CSP magazine, CSP Independent magazine and Fare magazine, is a business-to-business communication company specializing in the convenience retailing and on-the-go food industries. In addition to its print products, CSP Information Group's other business units include the CSP Daily News e-mail newsletter, CSPNetwork CyberConferences, CSPTV, CSP Leadership Conferences & Events, Foodservice at Retail Expo (FARE), 24-7 Connect Virtual Expo and CSP Consulting.
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