Have you any invention ideas that you’d like to promote? Then you might like to consider entering Product of the Year, which is the largest consumer-voted award for product innovation.
History of Product of the Year
Product of the Year began over 30 years ago in France and today is held in 40 countries worldwide. The aim of Product of the Year is to celebrate innovation and guide consumers to the best products in an area and reward the manufacturers of these products for their innovation. The South African Product of the Year is voted for by 5000 consumers. Other shoppers use it as a guide to find products of quality that save them both times, searching for the perfect product, and money by preventing them from buying unsatisfactory products.
The Product of the Year process
Products are entered in a wide variety of areas including food, beverages, household and personal care. Product of the Year accepts entries every year from products that were launched the previous year. If you enter your product into the South African awards, entry is free, your product must just show some level of innovation. A jury then selects the finalists. The jury consists of experts in a wide variety of fields. The public then decides on the winners.
The winners are announced at the Product of the Year Awards Night, which is when hundreds of guests gather to discover what the most innovative product in each category is. Winners can then promote their products for the next 12 months using the Product of the Year logo on all their packaging, marketing and promotional material. This logo is recognised throughout the world as a sign of quality and it is reported to give products an uplift of 10% or greater.
2018 product of the year winners
There are a multitude of categories in which you can enter a product.   Here are few of 2018’s Product of the Year winners to show you the wide variety of different category options available.
Product of the year winners in USA
| Product | Category |
| Febreze One | Air Care |
| Copper Chef Deep Square Pan | Cooking |
| Pure Protein Super Food | Health and Wellness |
| ProCure Epsom Salt Gel | Pain Relief |
Product of the year winners in The UK
| Product | Category |
| Gordon’s Premium Pink Distilled Gin | Alcohol |
| Asda Little Angels Organic Fromage Frais | Baby Food |
| Garnier Natural 3 in 1 balm | Moisturiser |
| Ocean Spray Wholeberry | Soft Drink |
Product of the year winners in Canada
| Product | Category |
| Philadelphia Whipped Bold Jalapeno Cheddar | Cheese |
| Cottonelle CleanCare Bath Tissue | Household Products |
| Dial Coconut Milk Body Wash | Wash and Cleanser |
| Dole Tropical Gold Pineapple Chunks | Healthy Foods |
Product of the year winners in Australia
| Product | Category |
| Pantene 3-minute miracle daily moisture renewal conditioner | Hair Care |
| Coles Chilled Read Meals | Quick Meat Solutions |
| Farmers Market Dog Food | Pet Food |
| Bulla Creamy Classics Frozen Custard | Ice Cream – Tubs |
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