Now in its eighteenth year, the annual awards brought together over 430 industry professionals to recognise and celebrate the standout brands and products of the year. Hosted jointly by Natural Products magazine and the Soil Association, and sponsored by Fitness Pharma by Natupharma, the 2013 Awards were presented by popular TV presenter Michaela Strachan, well known for her BBC wildlife programmes Autumnwatch, Elephant Diaries, and The Really Wild Show.
“I know this is a challenging time, I know that people are having to tighten their belts. It's been tough on the high street over the last few years... But the good news is that many people aren't abandoning their values,” said Strachan in her opening speech. “More and more people care about what is in their food – and where it has come from; but also what they put onto and into their bodies. I think many of us feel there is a conscious shift towards being healthy here in the UK. And people want to be reassured that that the products they’re buying aren’t costing the earth.”
“The incredible energy at this year's show and the 100s of brilliant new products being launched on the show floor really underlines your belief that natural and organics’ time is now,” she said.
The 2013 Natural & Organic Awards attracted a wealth of high calibre entrants from all across the UK, whilst this year’s New Product Showcase awards, which were voted for by visitors to the show on Sunday 7 April, saw a record 297 entries (including organic food, food, special diet, drink, natural living & home, VMS, and natural beauty & spa categories), were voted for by visitors to the show’s New Product Showcase throughout Sunday 7 April.
“The standard of entries this year was truly exceptional, right across the board,” said Jim Manson, editor of Natural Products. “This year's new product awards show how creativity and innovation is thriving in our industry; while the retailer awards were tougher than ever to judge and evidence of the remarkably high standard of natural products retailing today.”
Speaking about the awards, Rob Sexton, CEO, Soil Association Certification, said: “I was delighted to attend and present some of this year’s awards. We know there is a strong future in the UK organic market and the Soil Association is proud to celebrate the leadership and commitment of innovators within this vibrant growing area of the organic sector.”
The shortlisted nominees and winners of The Natural and Organic Awards 2013 are as follows:
BEST NEW PACKAGING DESIGN
Winner: Perkier Foods Ltd
Finalist: Jack & Jill Kids PTY Limited
Finalist: Savvy Green
“We are absolutely delighted to be the winners of this year’s best new packaging design award. As a new brand our mission is to bring delight to gluten free eating through our design, as well as our product range,” said Ann Perkins, founder of Perkier Foods Ltd, whose PERK!ER Fruity Berry Porridge Pot was also a finalist in the Best New Special Diet Product award category.
BEST INDEPENDENT RETAILER
Winner: On the Eight Day Cooperative Ltd
Finalist: Waterloo Body Station
Finalist: Alexandra Worsley
BEST ORGANIC RETAILER
Winner: Riverford
Finalist: Field Fayre – The Organic Store
Finalist: Waitrose
BEST ORGANIC TEXTILE PRODUCT
Winner: People Tree, Josie Square Print Dress, Red
Finalist: Cut4Cloth Ltd / Frugi, Birdy Bunting Sundress
Finalist: Devon Duvets, Folding Pillow
BEST ORGANIC BEAUTY PRODUCT
Winner: Herbfarmacy Ltd, Nail & Cuticle Oil
Finalist: Lucy Annabella Organics, Antioxidant Aromatic Body Moisturiser with Geranium & Frankincense
Finalist: Botanicals Ltd, Botanicals Chamomile and Mandarin Anti-ageing facial serum
BEST ORGANIC MOTHER & BABY PRODUCT
Winner: Natura Siberica, Baby Bath Foam for Newborns
Finalist: AMK Skin Organics, Aromatic Boob and Bump Oil
Finalist: Neal's Yard, Mothers Balm
BEST INNOVATION IN ORGANIC COSMETICS
Winner: Pukka Herbs, Nourishing Brightener
Finalist: Lucy Annabella Organics, Time Out Organic Bath Milk
“Being recognised as pioneers in innovation in the organic industry is the highest honour we can receive,” said Sebastian Pole and Tim Westwell, co-founders of Pukka Herbs, who also scooped the Best New Natural Beauty & Spa Product Award for the second year running.
THE NATURAL PRODUCTS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Kim & Alexander Barani, co-founders of Kinetic Natural Products Distributors
BEST NEW FOOD PRODUCT
Winner: Inside Organics Ltd, Rawlicious Raw Kale Chips
Finalist: Papa Spice Ltd, Papa Spice Mild Fresh Chilli Sauce
Finalist: Cofresh, Cofresh Lentil Chips
BEST NEW ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCT
Winner: Friland Økologi FMBA, Organic Sea Salted Dry Cured Rasher
Finalist: Mood Foods, Ombar Coco Mylk Organic Chocolate
Finalist: The Booja Booja Company Ltd, Booja Selection Box
BEST NEW SPECIAL DIET PRODUCT
Winner: Marigold Health Foods Ltd, Coyo Mango Coconut Milk Yogurt
Finalist: Pulsin', Pulsin' Raw Sprouted Rice Protein
Finalist: Perkier Foods Ltd, PERK!ER Fruity Berry Porridge Pot
BEST NEW DRINK PRODUCT
Winner: Little Big Shot Energy, Little Big Shot
Finalist: Unione Trading (UK) Ltd, ALO Allure
Finalist: Pukka Herbs Ltd, Black Tea
“This is a tremendous accolade and, on the back of our success in San Francisco earlier this year, is a ringing endorsement of the work we’re doing. With growing concerns about the health risks of highly caffeinated, stimulant-based energy drinks, we created Little Big Shot to offer a natural alternative to consumers with hectic, active lifestyles. With exclusive access to Deep Ocean Minerals, which are rapidly gaining attention for their health-giving properties, Little Big Shot is a truly unique, healthy product,” said Bert Jukes, managing director of Little Big Shot.
BEST NEW NATURAL LIVING & HOME PRODUCT
Winner: The Wholeleaf Co Ltd, Palm Leaf Retail Pack
Finalist: Green Frog NTC Ltd, All Purpose Natural Cleaner
Finalist: Greenscents, Greenscents Organic Creamy Polish
BEST NEW VMS PRODUCT
Winner: Solgar Vitamins Ltd, SOLGAR 7
Finalist: Natures Aid Ltd, Vitamin D3 Drops for Children
Finalist: Little Big Shot Energy, Lyprinol
Finalist: Pukka Herbs Ltd, Wheat Grass Juice/Fibre Plus Sachets
BEST NEW NATURAL BEAUTY & SPA PRODUCT
Winner: Pukka Herbs Ltd, Nourishing Brightener
Finalist: Essence of Morocco Ltd, Moroccan Rose Argan Oil
Finalist: Ruby Red Cosmetics, Reviving Body Cleanser
Natural & Organic Products Europe, launched in 1997, is the UK's biggest trade show for the natural products, health food and organic sectors. Its 2013 edition, which closed yesterday, has been hailed as its most successful show ever. Total attendance figures are due to be released by the organiser Diversified Business Communications UK tomorrow (Wednesday 10 April).
Natural & Organic Products Europe will return to Olympia, London, on 13-14 April 2014. The Natural and Organic Awards 2014 will take place on 13 April 2014. For more information, please visit www.naturalproducts.co.uk.
The best organic textile and best organic retail winners were selected by a panel of industry experts and professionals from a shortlist of diverse finalists. The beauty winners – divided into Best Organic Beauty Product, Best Organic Mother and Baby Product and Best Innovation in Organic Cosmetics – were chosen after a month’s testing of shortlisted products by the public (The Soil Association).
Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd (Diversified UK) is a fast growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton. In addition to Natural & Organic Products Europe, Diversified UK’s portfolio includes Natural Products Scandinavia; Nordic Organic Food Fair; lunch!; Casual Dining (new for 2014); camexpo; office*; SITS – The Service Desk & IT Support Show; Natural Products magazine; and the Natural Beauty Yearbook.
Diversified UK is part of Diversified Business Communications, a leading international media company with a successful portfolio of sector leading exhibition, conferences, publications and websites.
This press release is presented for your information only.
Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.
