PG Announces 2016 Editors’ Picks Winners

More than 80 new grocery products released in the past year have achieved the honor of being Progressive Grocer Editors’ Picks, selected by the trade magazine’s editorial team.

Out of 245 individual food products and 18 individual nonfood products submitted this year, PG editors selected 74 food winners and eight nonfood winners, honored as individual products or lines, as their favorites.

Details about all the winners can be found in PG’s September 2016 issue. 

Factors taken into consideration included taste, innovation, function and convenience. “We looked for products that were leveraging hot consumer trends or filling unmet needs in the marketplace,” explained Jim Dudlicek PG’s editor-in-chief. “Some winning products set out to create new categories while others aimed to breathe new life into existing ones. Overall, we looked for products that, in substance and price point, were appropriate for the mainstream supermarket channel.”

Innovation and solutions

Snack foods seemed to dominate the entries this year. The best ones offered innovative flavors, better-for-you attributes and new twists on old favorites. Meal solution ideas also impressed us, as did products offering turnkey entertaining ideas. Other entries also had great brand stories, from the people behind the products to the causes they helped support.

“Our judging panel truly enjoyed experiencing the bravery and passion behind this year’s PG Editors’ Picks entries,” Dudlicek said. “We feel they’ll be a hit for grocers who feature them front and center for today’s progressive shoppers.”

Read about the 2016 Editors’ Picks winners here. Nominations for the 2017 contest will open in the spring.