CHICAGO --CSP magazine is proud to announce the leaders in product innovation for the 14th consecutive year with its Retailer Choice Best New Products Contest winners (list below).
Nominations of hundreds of eligible new products introduced into the convenience-retailing format between Aug. 1, 2016, and July 31, 2017, were tried, tested and tinkered with to determine the top three finalists in 20 key categories. More than 1,000 c-store retailers elected the winning products with much satisfaction and amazement.
“New products drive traffic, generate buzz and fuel innovation for the entire c-store industry, and this year’s winners reflect that drive to create the ‘next big thing,’ ” said Abbie Westra, retail content director for Winsight, including CSP and Convenience Store Products. “They are a barometer of both consumer trends and supplier innovation.”
Special awards will be presented to contest winners during the 2017 NACS Show, held Oct. 17-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, to certify that these company’s products “have arrived” to the marketplace. Congratulations on this prestigious achievement!
| Category | Product | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Candy—Chocolate | M&M’s Caramel Chocolate Candies | Mars Chocolate North America |
| Candy—Nonchocolate | Starburst Gummies | Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. |
| Dairy | Drink Chobani | Chobani |
| Foodservice Products—Desserts | Sea Salt Caramel and Chocolate Chip Ooey Gooey Butter Cakes | Prairie City Bakery |
| Fodservice Products—oDispensed Beverages | Twinkies Cappuccino | Kerry Convenience |
| Foodservice Products—Handhelds | Big Az Sriracha Grilled Chicken Sandwich | AdvancePierre Foods Inc. |
| Foodservice Products—Snacks | Egg, Sausage & Cheese Empanadas | Ruiz Foods |
| Equipment—Foodservice | Toast-Qwik Conveyor Toaster | Hatco Corp. |
| Holding & Display Equipment—Foodservice | Push N Go Lid Dispenser | Plastic & Products Marketing |
| General Merchandise—Energy Shots | Life Support Recovery Shot – Red Label | Life Support Development |
| General Merchandise—Health & Beauty Care | Nicorette Gum | Convenience Valet |
| Packaged Beverages—Alcohol | Redd’s Wicked Blood Orange | MillerCoors |
| Packaged Beverages—Energy | Monster Hydro | Monster |
| Packaged Beverages—Nonalcohol | Nestea | Nestle Waters North America |
| Meat Snacks | Jack Link’s Applewood Breakfast Bacon | Jack Link’s |
| Snack—Bars | Clif Whey Protein Bar | Clif Bar & Co. |
| Snacks—Salty | Pringles Loud | Kellogg’s |
| Snacks—Sweet | Nature Valley Granola Cups | General Mills Convenience |
| Technology | GasBuddy Business Pages | GasBuddy |
| Tobacco—Cigars | Swisher Sweets Banana Smash | Swisher International |
Winsight LLC is a recognized leader in business-to-business media and information services for the convenience-retailing, foodservice and grocery industries. Winsight has an extensive media portfolio, including five publications: CSP, Restaurant Business, FoodService Director, Convenience Store Products and Grocery Headquarters. Winsight also offers a suite of digital products, including websites, e-newsletters, webinars, video products, mobile and tablet apps, and custom marketing solutions. In addition to more than 12 major EduNetworking conferences and advisory meetings, Winsight also produces six exclusive, large-scale executive-level conferences: Restaurant Leadership Conference, Outlook Leadership Conference, Convenience Retailing University, FSTEC, MenuDirections and Restaurant Directions. Winsight also acquired Technomic Inc., a provider of primary and secondary market information and advisory services for the food industry. For more information on Winsight and its brands, go to winsightmedia.com.
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