Diamond Foods, Henkel Win GMA Awards

SN STAFF

COLORADO SPRINGS — Grocery Manufacturers Association, in conjunction with its Associate Member Council, on Monday presented its 2010 CPG Awards for Innovation and Creativity to Henkel and Diamond Foods at the association's Executive Conference here.

“The CPG Award not only recognizes innovation and creativity, but it also highlights emerging industry trends,” said Pamela Bailey, president and chief executive officer of Washington-based GMA. “Diamond Foods and Henkel are exciting examples of companies that have focused on value and innovation to connect with consumers and positively impact the company’s bottom line.”

Diamond Foods took the Division A award (companies larger than $1 billion) for its Project Underdog strategy. The strategy challenged the Diamond team to find new ways to engage the consumer, respond to customer needs and work smarter. The goal of this new business approach was to define Emerald’s role in keeping the category vibrant and relevant.

Henkel won Division B (companies smaller than $1 billion) for the launch of Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets. The project, which spent more than five years in development, sought to bring innovation to a traditionally sedate category.

“The resourcefulness demonstrated by Diamond and Henkel keeps our industry competitive and allows our industry to grow in a way that is cost-effective for the companies and compelling to the consumer," said AMC CPG Award Subcommittee Chairman Phillip Friedman of QAD Inc.