Traditionally, many North American produce companies time the launch of new products around the CPMA show. This year, more than 50 new products or packagings for products were displayed in the New Product Showcase. There were four awards to be given away and out of the four recipients, three Canadian companies took home an award.
Click here for the photo report.
The award for Best New Product went to Whole Leaf for its Inspired Salads™. It’s a ready-to-eat salad kit and the greens are grown in greenhouses in Coaldale, Alberta. Ontario-based Sunset/Mastronardi took home the Packaging Innovation award for its new line of You Make Me™ Pasta Kits that comes in four different varieties. For the second year in a row, Mucci Farms from Ontario won the Freggie Approved Product Award for its Veggies to Go; the most innovative product designed for children. The organic fresh designer dressings from organicgirl received the Organics Award which was presented for the first time.
Product innovations continue to focus on convenience with ready-to-eat salads, a pasta kit and several snack size on-the-go options being part of the new product showcase. The increased awareness of health and living a healthy lifestyle was represented by the expansion of organic products. On display were organic salad dressings, pouch bags with organic apples, organic salad and lettuce blends, mushrooms and dates.
Packaging is becoming increasingly innovative with stackable top seal options as well as peel and reseal. For organic products, companies are increasingly using recyclable and compostable packaging materials.
Click here for the photo report from product innovations.