The Natural and Organic Awards 2013: Winners announced

NPE_logo_combined_smlThe winners of the coveted Natural & Organic Awards 2013 were announced in The Champagne Suite at Novotel London West, after the close of business of the first day of the Natural & Organic Products Europe trade show.

Now in its eighteenth year, the annual awards brought together over 430 industry professionals to recognise and celebrate the standout brands and products of the year. Hosted jointly by Natural Products magazine and the Soil Association, and sponsored by Fitness Pharma by Natupharma, the 2013 Awards were presented by popular TV presenter Michaela Strachan, well known for her BBC wildlife programmes Autumnwatch, Elephant Diaries, and The Really Wild Show.

“I know this is a challenging time, I know that people are having to tighten their belts. It's been tough on the high street over the last few years... But the good news is that many people aren't abandoning their values,” said Strachan in her opening speech. “More and more people care about what is in their food – and where it has come from; but also what they put onto and into their bodies. I think many of us feel there is a conscious shift towards being healthy here in the UK. And people want to be reassured that that the products they’re buying aren’t costing the earth.”

“The incredible energy at this year's show and the 100s of brilliant new products being launched on the show floor really underlines your belief that natural and organics’ time is now,” she said.

The 2013 Natural & Organic Awards attracted a wealth of high calibre entrants from all across the UK, whilst this year’s New Product Showcase awards, which were voted for by visitors to the show on Sunday 7 April, saw a record 297 entries (including organic food, food, special diet, drink, natural living & home, VMS, and natural beauty & spa categories), were voted for by visitors to the show’s New Product Showcase throughout Sunday 7 April.

“The standard of entries this year was truly exceptional, right across the board,” said Jim Manson, editor of Natural Products. “This year's new product awards show how creativity and innovation is thriving in our industry; while the retailer awards were tougher than ever to judge and evidence of the remarkably high standard of natural products retailing today.”

Speaking about the awards, Rob Sexton, CEO, Soil Association Certification, said: “I was delighted to attend and present some of this year’s awards. We know there is a strong future in the UK organic market and the Soil Association is proud to celebrate the leadership and commitment of innovators within this vibrant growing area of the organic sector.”

The shortlisted nominees and winners of The Natural and Organic Awards 2013 are as follows:

BEST NEW PACKAGING DESIGN

Winner: Perkier Foods Ltd

Finalist: Jack & Jill Kids PTY Limited

Finalist: Savvy Green

“We are absolutely delighted to be the winners of this year’s best new packaging design award. As a new brand our mission is to bring delight to gluten free eating through our design, as well as our product range,” said Ann Perkins, founder of Perkier Foods Ltd, whose PERK!ER Fruity Berry Porridge Pot was also a finalist in the Best New Special Diet Product award category.

BEST INDEPENDENT RETAILER

Winner: On the Eight Day Cooperative Ltd

Finalist: Waterloo Body Station

Finalist: Alexandra Worsley

BEST ORGANIC RETAILER

Winner: Riverford

Finalist: Field Fayre – The Organic Store

Finalist: Waitrose

BEST ORGANIC TEXTILE PRODUCT

Winner: People Tree, Josie Square Print Dress, Red

Finalist: Cut4Cloth Ltd / Frugi, Birdy Bunting Sundress

Finalist: Devon Duvets, Folding Pillow

BEST ORGANIC BEAUTY PRODUCT

Winner: Herbfarmacy Ltd, Nail & Cuticle Oil

Finalist: Lucy Annabella Organics, Antioxidant Aromatic Body Moisturiser with Geranium & Frankincense

Finalist: Botanicals Ltd, Botanicals Chamomile and Mandarin Anti-ageing facial serum

BEST ORGANIC MOTHER & BABY PRODUCT

Winner: Natura Siberica, Baby Bath Foam for Newborns

Finalist: AMK Skin Organics, Aromatic Boob and Bump Oil

Finalist: Neal's Yard, Mothers Balm

BEST INNOVATION IN ORGANIC COSMETICS

Winner: Pukka Herbs, Nourishing Brightener

Finalist: Lucy Annabella Organics, Time Out Organic Bath Milk

“Being recognised as pioneers in innovation in the organic industry is the highest honour we can receive,” said Sebastian Pole and Tim Westwell, co-founders of Pukka Herbs, who also scooped the Best New Natural Beauty & Spa Product Award for the second year running.

THE NATURAL PRODUCTS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Kim & Alexander Barani, co-founders of Kinetic Natural Products Distributors

BEST NEW FOOD PRODUCT

Winner: Inside Organics Ltd, Rawlicious Raw Kale Chips

Finalist: Papa Spice Ltd, Papa Spice Mild Fresh Chilli Sauce

Finalist: Cofresh, Cofresh Lentil Chips

BEST NEW ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCT

Winner: Friland Økologi FMBA, Organic Sea Salted Dry Cured Rasher

Finalist: Mood Foods, Ombar Coco Mylk Organic Chocolate

Finalist: The Booja Booja Company Ltd, Booja Selection Box

BEST NEW SPECIAL DIET PRODUCT

Winner: Marigold Health Foods Ltd, Coyo Mango Coconut Milk Yogurt

Finalist: Pulsin', Pulsin' Raw Sprouted Rice Protein

Finalist: Perkier Foods Ltd, PERK!ER Fruity Berry Porridge Pot

BEST NEW DRINK PRODUCT

Winner: Little Big Shot Energy, Little Big Shot

Finalist: Unione Trading (UK) Ltd, ALO Allure

Finalist: Pukka Herbs Ltd, Black Tea

“This is a tremendous accolade and, on the back of our success in San Francisco earlier this year, is a ringing endorsement of the work we’re doing. With growing concerns about the health risks of highly caffeinated, stimulant-based energy drinks, we created Little Big Shot to offer a natural alternative to consumers with hectic, active lifestyles. With exclusive access to Deep Ocean Minerals, which are rapidly gaining attention for their health-giving properties, Little Big Shot is a truly unique, healthy product,” said Bert Jukes, managing director of Little Big Shot.

BEST NEW NATURAL LIVING & HOME PRODUCT

Winner: The Wholeleaf Co Ltd, Palm Leaf Retail Pack

Finalist: Green Frog NTC Ltd, All Purpose Natural Cleaner

Finalist: Greenscents, Greenscents Organic Creamy Polish

BEST NEW VMS PRODUCT

Winner: Solgar Vitamins Ltd, SOLGAR 7

Finalist: Natures Aid Ltd, Vitamin D3 Drops for Children

Finalist: Little Big Shot Energy, Lyprinol

Finalist: Pukka Herbs Ltd, Wheat Grass Juice/Fibre Plus Sachets

BEST NEW NATURAL BEAUTY & SPA PRODUCT

Winner: Pukka Herbs Ltd, Nourishing Brightener

Finalist: Essence of Morocco Ltd, Moroccan Rose Argan Oil

Finalist: Ruby Red Cosmetics, Reviving Body Cleanser

Natural & Organic Products Europe, launched in 1997, is the UK's biggest trade show for the natural products, health food and organic sectors. Its 2013 edition, which closed yesterday, has been hailed as its most successful show ever. Total attendance figures are due to be released by the organiser Diversified Business Communications UK tomorrow (Wednesday 10 April).

Natural & Organic Products Europe will return to Olympia, London, on 13-14 April 2014. The Natural and Organic Awards 2014 will take place on 13 April 2014. For more information, please visit www.naturalproducts.co.uk.

The best organic textile and best organic retail winners were selected by a panel of industry experts and professionals from a shortlist of diverse finalists. The beauty winners – divided into Best Organic Beauty Product, Best Organic Mother and Baby Product and Best Innovation in Organic Cosmetics – were chosen after a month’s testing of shortlisted products by the public (The Soil Association).

Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd (Diversified UK) is a fast growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton. In addition to Natural & Organic Products Europe, Diversified UK’s portfolio includes Natural Products Scandinavia; Nordic Organic Food Fair; lunch!; Casual Dining (new for 2014); camexpo; office*; SITS – The Service Desk & IT Support Show; Natural Products magazine; and the Natural Beauty Yearbook.

Diversified UK is part of Diversified Business Communications, a leading international media company with a successful portfolio of sector leading exhibition, conferences, publications and websites.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.