Coles bargain buys sweep Product of the Year awards

Over 9,000 Aussie shoppers have had their say and cast votes for their favourite supermarket products in the annual Product of the Year Awards 2021.

This year, Coles has had a record number of wins, scooping up a staggering 11 awards. The supermarket took home the top-gongs for the bakery, coffee, body care, and dessert categories.

Product of the Year category winners undergo a rigorous testing process by a panel of judges, comprising of various industry experts. They first test the products for quality, credibility, and innovation and the resulting product finalists were reviewed and voted on by Australian shoppers.

Coles Finest took out a few wins in the bakery category with its Traditional Recipe Croissants and Chocolate & Hazelnut Mirror Glaze Mousse, while also sweeping in the body care and hand care categories with various KOI products.

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Coconut & Jojoba Body Butter, Neroi & Clary Sage Hand Wash, and the Jasmine & Sandalwood Hand Wash were all deemed winners.

This year, shoppers have also heavily given their nod to healthier, plant-based products, with 8 out of 29 winners sitting amongst the ‘vegetarian/vegan’ and ‘health food’ categories.

Product of the Year Director, Sarah Connelly said: “This is the first time in our Product of the Year Awards history that we’ve had this many meat-alternative and vegan products participate and successfully win an award.”

Pharmacy and skincare products also made a strong showing this year, taking out 8 of the 29 awards on offer across the beauty, oral care, and skincare categories.

The awards program is now in its 12th year in Australia but the COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruptions to usual shopping habits.

There was a surge of consumers trying new products and brands, with nearly two-thirds (64%) purchasing something they were previously unfamiliar with.

Full list of Product of the Year 2021 winners:

• Coles Finest Traditional Recipe Croissants 2 Pack - Coles Finest - Coles Supermarkets - Bakery

• LPO Purify Foaming Gel Cleanser 150mL - LPO - Coles Supermarkets Beauty and Cleansers

• Adjusta Bed - Adjusta Mattress Australia - Adjusta Mattress Australia Pty Ltd - Beds and Mattresses

• Plant based Lattes - NESCAFÉ Gold - Nestle Beverages - Plant based

• KOi Coconut & Jojoba Body Butter 175g - KOi - Coles Supermarkets - Body Care

• Coles Urban Coffee Culture Dark Roasted Beans 1kg - Coles Urban Coffee Culture - Coles Supermarkets - Coffee Beans

• DALEY ST Medium/Dark Aluminium Nespresso Compatible Coffee Capsules 10 Pack - DALEY ST - Coles Supermarkets - Coffee Pods

• B-fit Hydration Beverage - B-fit - SC Johnson & Son Pty Ltd - Beverages (COLD)

• TePe GOOD(TM) - TePe - TePe Australia & NZ Pty Ltd - Dental Care

• Coles Finest Chocolate & Hazelnut Mirror Glaze Mousse 2 Pack - Coles Finest - Coles Supermarkets - Desserts

• Coles GRAZE Lamb Loin Chops - Coles Graze - Coles Supermarkets - Fresh Meat

• Pour & Feed - Osmocote - Evergreen Garden Care - Gardening

• KOi Neroi & Clary Sage Hand Wash 500mL - KOi - Coles Supermarkets - Hand Care

• KOi Jasmine & Sandalwood Hand Wash 500mL - KOi - Coles Supermarkets - Hand Wash

• Immune Shot - Vital Life Health - Freedom Foods Group Limited - Health Supplement

• Extra Power Toilet Shield Ocean Burst - Duck - S.C. Johnson & Son Pty Ltd - Household Cleaning

• Gillette Skinguard - Gillette - Procter & Gamble Australia Pty Ltd - Male Grooming

• Hard N Soft Taco Kits with Game - Old El Paso - General Mills - Cook at Home

• Passage to India 90 Second Veg Curry Bowl - Passage Foods - Passage Foods Meal Solutions - Vegetarian

• Lyres Spirit Range - Lyre's Spirit Co - Lyre's Spirits Co - Non-Alcoholic Spirits (Beverage)

• Cheese & Artisan Crackers - Mainland - Fonterra Australia Pty Ltd - On the Go Snack (Savoury)

• Natural + Wellness Range - 4Legs - Prime Pet Care Pty. Ltd. - Pet Care

• Plant Based Meat - V2 - v2food - Plant Based Meat Alternatives

• LPO Rewind Age Defence Night Cream 50mL - LPO - Coles Supermarkets - Skin Care

• Inspiration Selection - Dilmah - Dilmah Australia - Tea

• Coles Chocolate Hazelnut Slice 2 Pack - Coles - Coles Supermarkets - Vegan (Chilled)

• 7-Eleven No Sausage Roll - 7-Eleven Australia - 7-Eleven Australia - Vegan on the go (Hot)

• Monkfruit Sweetener - Lakanto - Lakanto Australia - Natural Sweetener - Ones to Watch

• Faba Bean Snack Range - Human Bean Co. - Human Bean Co. - Healthy Snack Food - Ones to Watch

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