PARIS -- A prepackaged soup from a Spanish supplier won the top prize last week in the 2000 SIAL D'Or food products competition, which honors innovative, commercially successful products that have debuted around the world during the past two years.
co's manufacturer. Casanova noted the product's time-saving qualities as well as its appeal as part of the "Mediterranean diet."
The Golden SIAL D'Or is selected from among the nine "Category" SIAL D'Or winners. The Golden SIAL D'Or was nominated by Spain in the Fruits and Vegetables category.
A jury consisting of trade press representatives from 25 countries met in May to select the winning products
Peter Hazelset, chairman of the SIAL Executive Board, noted at the ceremony that since the award program's inception in 1986, a total of 210 products had been honored. "Many of these products have become commercial hits," he added.
In addition to the nine category awards, 25 "country" awards were given out at the ceremony. The U.S. award went to Country Fresh Dairy's Milk-It Single Serve Squish Pak. The product, in single-serve packages sold in six-packs, comes in plain milk, chocolate and strawberry flavors.
Following are the category winners for the 2000 SIAL D'Or competition, which was co-sponsored by SIAL and A.C. Nielsen.
Alcoholic beverages: Carlsberg Pilsner and Green Tuborg (in new plastic bottles), from Carlsberg (Denmark).
Catering and food service: Cooking Rich (non-dairy base that can be used instead of cream), from Vita Chef (Israel).
Confectionery, biscuits and bread: Fran (chocolate snack with whipped chocolate coating around a biscuit center), from Meiji Seka Kaisha (Japan).
Dairy products, ice cream and eggs: Danaeg (free range organic pasteurized egg products packaged for the retail market), from Danaeg Products (Denmark).
Fish and seafood: Young's Fish and Sauce (fish in microwaveable package; sauce combined with pasta, noodles and rice), from Young's (U.K.).
Fruits and vegetables: Ajoblanco (white gazpacho soup, packaged with raisins and croutons), from Alvalle (Spain).
Grocery products: Vector Meal Replacement (in cereal form), from Kellogg's Canada (Canada).
Meat, poultry and cured meats: President's Choice Microwaveable Pies (beef and chicken), from Loblaw Brands (Canada).
Non-alcoholic beverages: Hachimitsu-Kurosu Diet (health drink containing brown rice vinegar), from Tamanoi Vinegar Co. (Japan).
