The votes are in for the 2021 Product of the Year Awards, and discount grocer Aldi was one of the winningest companies, tying with Procter & Gamble with seven award-winning products.
Product of the Year USA named 41 winning items, with food and beverages accounting for a quarter of the honored products. Each of the winning products was chosen by 40,000 American shoppers in a nationally representative survey conducted by consumer and retail research firm Kantar. CVS Health was the only other retailer to receive a Product of the Year award.
“For all the obvious reasons, shoppers are spending less time in the supermarket than ever but still crave new and innovative products to light up these difficult times. Because of this, we are more excited than ever to announce the 2021 Product of the Year winners and help shoppers find that ‘great new product’ when it matters most, however they do their shopping this year,” said Mike Nolan, global CEO of Product of the Year management.
Click through to discover the winning Aldi brand products, from breakfast and yogurt to condiments and coffee.
Aldi's Aunt Maple's Protein Pancake Mix in oat and regular received top honors in the breakfast category. The buttermilk pancake mix touts 14 grams of protein per serving for a filling, protein-packed breakfast. Users simply add water before cooking.
In the cheese category, Emporium Selection 1,000 Day Gouda and Four Year Cheddar earned top marks. The semi-hard cheddar cheese made from cow’s milk comes in both yellow and white varieties. The 1,000 Day Gouda is also made from cow’s milk and has a nutty flavor.
Aldi’s Stonemill Everything Bagel Seasoning was the top condiment. It’s a versatile seasoning—try it on eggs, avocado toast, grilled cheese and more—containing sesame seeds, sea salt, minced garlic, minced onion, black sesame seeds and poppy seeds.
Friendly Farms Almondmilk Coffee Creamers in vanilla and caramel was the winner in the coffee category. The dairy-free creamer is 100% vegan, as well as carrageenan- and cholesterol-free. It contains 35 calories per 1 tablespoon.
Simply Nature Black Bean Chips was a chip above the rest in the chip category. Made from whole beans and rice, the non-GMO chips are a good source of fiber and have 5 grams of plant-based protein per serving.
In the healthy snack category, Clancy's White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn was the winner. The 100% whole-grain product is air popped and flavored with real cheddar cheese. It is gluten-free and contains 150 calories per serving.
Aldi’s Specially Selected Indulgent Greek Yogurt in honey and honey vanilla earned the top prize in yogurt. Available in 32-ounce containers, the yogurt is made from milk produced on U.S. dairy farms and contains no added artificial flavors or colors. It contains live and active cultures to support healthy digestion.
For the full list of 2021 Product of the Year Award winners, click here.
Get today’s need-to-know grocery industry intelligence. Sign up to receive texts from Winsight Grocery Business.
The stresses of the ongoing pandemic, coupled with mounting economic uncertainty, social unrest and more have fueled a pressure cooker for grocery and convenience store customers and their employees.
U.S. consumers in 2022 were nothing if not channel surfers. Tuned into a widening lineup of local retailers offering fresh food, consumers were willing to shop around and try new retailer categories as they sought to ease the pinch of grocery inflation, which stood at 11.8% in December.
New store updates are important to our readers, so we’re adding a monthly feature to highlight them and demonstrate supermarket growth trends around the country.
Listen in to WGB’s flagship podcast, 10 Items or Less, featuring insights from retailers and industry professionals.
Exclusive industry info and insights straight to your inbox
Your go-to resource for all things grocery