Wednesday May 26, 2010

EXPO Buyers Pick Top New Items, Displays

Chicago — Buyers have selected the top Best New Concept Award winners of 2010. Five products and three retail merchandising vehicles were honored Wednesday with the NCA’s first annual awards program.

Based on ballots cast by retailers on the opening day of the three-day show, the winners were selected out of hundreds in the New Product Showcase for items and from the Merchandising Display Gallery.

Mars Chocolate North America was honored for Pretzel M&M's, which are salty, crunchy pretzel centers covered with milk chocolate and colored candy shells. Also voted a winner, The Hershey Co. Reese’s Minis are unwrapped bite-size peanut butter cups.

Jelly Belly Candy Co. Cocktail Classics were chosen by buyer visitors, with Pomegranate Cosmopolitan, Mojito and Peach Bellini joining the flavor lineup of Pina Colada, Margarita and Strawberry Daiquiri.

Just Born, Inc.’s Dark Chocolate Covered Peeps were honored in the voting as well, which took place at the New Product Showcase.

On the snack side, buyers chose Procter & Gamble Co.’s Pringles Multigrain, which includes Truly Original, Creamy Ranch and Cheesy Cheddar Pringles in six-ounce cans.

In the merchandising arena, EXPO visitors selected displays from The Hershey Co., Jack Link&rsquos Beef Jerky and Squire Boone Village as being the top retail solutions for confectionery and snack product merchandising.

Presenting three shippers in the Gallery, Hershey won votes for its Hershey’s Bliss chocolates and Twizzlers merchandising units. Jack Link’s Sasquatch Big Stick floor shipper, tied in with the company’s “Messin’ with Sasquatch” ad campaign, attracted top votes, while Squire Boone’s Jive Turkey Display, a turkey-shaped counter unit holding Turkey Feather Lollipops, was also a favorite with buyers.