Competitor supermarkets Aldi and Lidl as well as Spar received Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) 2019 Salute to Excellence awards.
The awards, which honour innovation in food and non-food private label products, were held at the World of Private Label International Trade Show held in Amsterdam towards the end of May.
Aldi was recognised for products sold in its UK and Irish stores, Lidl for products sold in the Netherlands and Germany, and Spar for its private label in the Netherlands.
Award-winning food
In food, winning products included Aldi Ireland’s specially selected Thai-inspired vegetable burgers, Rewe’s bio hummus tahini and Spar’s gluten-free snacks.
In the non-food category there were awards for ICA’s eco-laundry detergent, dm-drogerie markt’s 183 Days by Trend it Up tutti frutti lip gloss and El Corte Ingles’ Fred & Rita Cooling Dog Bed.
Other retailers presented with the Salute to Excellence award include Trader Joe’s for best quality with its Pinot Noir wine, Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand for best value with its Prosecco, popular Germany-based grocer REWE for its savory spreads and dips and Ireland-based Dunnes Stores for its meats and prepared meats, according to the PLMA website.
Awards to 36 international retailers
Awards were given to 36 retailers from 13 countries.
Five awards, the most for any retailer, were given to Ireland’s Musgrave Retail Partners. Another Irish grocer, Dunnes Stores, came away with four awards, as did Aldi, Lidl and Spar.
These awards demonstrate clearly that private label leads the retail industry and provides shoppers with the products they want, says PLMA president Brian Sharoff.
More than 500 products introduced in the past year by 88 retailers in 23 countries were considered for awards.
Migros in Switzerland introduced Mi Bugs, containing mealworms, locust and crickets; Aldi UK created an organic edamame pasta, and Delhaize Belgium made a wild boar stew.