Supplier Tidbits

Core-Mark International revamped its Core Partners program, which offers its customers access to suppliers within service-level categories. Highlights of the revamp include exclusive digital marketing content directly accessible by customers via Core-Mark’s ordering platform, social media promotion, and flat-fee pricing.

British American Tobacco Group (BAT) entered into a collaboration agreement with Organigram Inc. focused on next-generation adult cannabis products. This follows BAT’s pilot launch of a Vuse CBD Zone in the United Kingdom earlier this year.

Herr’s commemorated its landmark 75th anniversary by releasing limited-edition kettle cooked Homestyle Potato Chips with a vintage package design. The company also launched 75 days of celebrations giving back to Philadelphia communities.

Avery Dennison announced two new investments to accelerate its digital transformation capabilities for connected supply chains and connected products. The company acquired ZippyYum and launched atma.io, a new digital venture.

Mondeléz International Inc.’s SnackFutures innovation and venture hub joined the Upcycled Food Association. The first two brands by SnackFutures — CaPao and Dirt Kitchen Snacks — are made from produce that would otherwise be wasted.

PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division implemented zeroemission and near-zero-emission technologies at its Modesto, Calif., manufacturing site. Additionally, the site converted to 100 percent renewable electricity for direct operations.

A BAT subsidiary will acquire a 19.9-percent equity stake in Organigram.

ROLL CALL!

No matter where people go, they always stop for Johnsonville¨ .

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR

40,000 Shoppers Can’t Be Wrong

March 2020.

It’s the month retailing transformed almost instantaneously, as convenience stores pivoted to meet the unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Supply chains were stretched, and CPG companies scrambled to keep up with demand.

But the industry successfully tackled those challenges, thanks in part to manufacturers who introduced products to tap emerging trends, according to Mike Nolan, CEO of Product of the Year, the largest consumer-voted award for product innovation

“One of the great strengths of Product of the Year is that we react to the market every year. During the pandemic, we saw manufacturers stepping up, trying to do their small part to provide shoppers with what they wanted, and needed,” Nolan recalls. “What’s interesting is that even in this awful pandemic, 70 percent of people still want and pay more for new and original products.”

Forty-one of those new products that showed up on store shelves — many of them in c-stores — were 2021 Product of the Year Winners.

“This year’s winning products reflect the trends and categories that everyday shoppers care about most as they spend more time at home, from the latest products like Claritin Cool Mint Chewables for allergy sufferers to cleaning supplies to CBD offerings and the tastiest snacks,” Nolan says.

Research-based Recognition

Product of the Year was established over 30 years ago to guide consumers to the best products in their market and reward manufacturers for quality and innovation. What makes the award unique — and so effective — is that winners are determined by the votes of 40,000 consumers in a nationally representative study conducted by Kantar, a global leader in consumer research.

“Kantar independently finds those 40,000 individuals coast-to-coast, and they vote on the products entered into the awards using criteria such as innovation, recommendation and satisfaction,” Nolan explains. “Research is at the heart of everything we do. We see ourselves almost as an America’s Got Talent for products sold in supermarkets.”

A Win-Win-Win

The benefits of garnering a Product of the Year Award extend to consumers, retailers and CPG companies alike.

“Product of the Year gives shoppers the confidence that each product with our iconic red logo is backed by 40,000 Americans,” Nolan explains. “It allows manufacturers,

Join the Product of the Year Family: Enter Now!

Products that demonstrate innovations in design, function, packaging, ingredients or marketing and launched after January 1, 2020 are eligible to be entered in the 2022 Product of the Year Awards; the entry deadline is September 30, 2021. For more information on how to enter, visit productoftheyearusa.com.

retailers and, so importantly, the shoppers to trust us.”

It also builds trust and brand loyalty for CPG companies, and by extension, for retailers who carry the award-winning products.

“Product of the Year Award positions CPG companies as the innovative leader in their category,” Nolan says. “It is a powerful merchandising program for marketers proven to increase product sales, distribution and awareness.”

Winners get full inclusion in a robust national PR campaign, which generates over 1 billion media impressions across broadcast, digital, print, influencer marketing, social media, and more! Winning products are announced in February each year and companies can use the Product of the Year logo in marketing communications for two full years.

The results speak for themselves: Data shows that Product of the Year USA winners outperform category sales performance by 38.1%1; that the Product of the Year logo is 25% more effective on a package than the word “New”2; and that coupon redemption consideration increased 24% when the Product of the Year logo was featured in a Free Standing Insert (FSI)3 . “There’s just nothing more meaningful than a recommendation from a fellow shopper to help you find the best, most innovative new products on the shelves,” Nolan concludes.

Claritin Cool Mint Chewables 2021 PRODUCT OF THE YEAR WINNER

Health & Wellness Category

Convenience Store News reached out to Tim Stauber, Marketing Director for Claritin, to find out about the company’s award-winning Claritin Cool Mint Chewables.

Convenience Store News: When did Bayer introduce Claritin Cool Mint Chewables? And what was unique about the product? Tim Stauber: Claritin® Cool Mint Chewables launched in early 2020 and is the only allergy product with 24-hour, non-drowsy relief to address the worst in allergy symptoms, that also provides an immediate blast of cooling flavor sensation. The sensation, which has a cooling effect that allergy sufferers can feel in their throat, lasts for 15 minutes after swallowing.

CSN: Why did you decide to enter the product in the Product of the Year Awards? TS: We entered the Product of the Year Awards to highlight our latest innovation. Cool Mint Chewables features proprietary CoolFusion™ Technology, a unique cooling flavor blend including menthol, while providing the same Claritin® allergy symptom relief consumers rely on for their indoor and outdoor allergies.

CSN: How did you use the award to help drive awareness about the chewables? TS: The Product of the Year award helps build trust and buy-in with our retail customers and consumers, knowing it was selected as one of the most innovative new items to hit convenience stores in the past year. To date, we have done the following: • Consumer Promotions including FSI, Shelf Take

One In-store, and Catalina

Coupons • A Sampling Microsite (www.claritin.com/ cool-mint-samples) that includes the Product of the Year logo and offers the opportunity to order free samples.

“The Product of the Year award helps build trust and buy-in with our retail customers and consumers, knowing it was selected as one of the most innovative new items to hit convenience stores in the past year.”