Aldi Nabs 18 Best New Product Awards From BrandSpark

As its competitive clout in the grocery world intensifies, Aldi has added 18 more feathers in its cap for its exclusive brands, which were among 58 Best New Product Award winners from BrandSpark International.

More than 11,000 Americans voted in BrandSpark’s survey of the latest food, beverage, beauty, health, personal care and household products that were launched after Jan. 1. Now in its 12th year, the winning products in the Best New Product Awards (BNPA) were determined solely by the votes and opinions of American consumers.

“With so many new products launched each year, it is hard for consumers to know what to buy and challenging for brands to break through the clutter. This is where the Best New Product Awards comes in,” said Robert Levy, president of BrandSpark International and founder of the Best New Product Awards. “The BNPA seal and claim drive strong ROI for the winners by helping products stand out from competition. Year after year we see brands gain an edge in the market by leveraging their win across traditional and digital media channels.”

Some key takeaways from this year’s BrandSpark American Shopper Study reveal:

Consumer Affinity for New Products

The innovations that resonate with the most Americans focus on health, taste, sustainability, effectiveness and convenience. Almost 8 in 10 American shoppers “like trying new products” as they search for new experiences and superior performance, while 68% say they will pay more for a new product that is better and 57% say they “actively look through stores for products that are new and different.” From this, BrandSpark said innovation continues to be a way for brands to maintain a competitive advantage and also a way for select private labels to assert that they are more than just followers.

Value

The majority of American shoppers actively seek out the best value for their money, but that doesn’t mean finding the absolute lowest price product, BrandSpark noted. One in 2 shoppers reported they often buy some premium-quality products even though they cost more. Several new trends are driving benefits that American say they’ll pay more for:

Private Brands

Private label products are a big part of how Americans try to get the most for their money, BrandSpark said, with 41% agreeing that store brands are a better value than brand names, while most other shoppers are neutral. America’s most shopped grocery retailers, such as Aldi and Trader Joe’s, have a strong focus on private labels, and these brands are increasingly introducing new innovations, as seen in the BNPA winners from Aldi.

Meat Alternatives

Meat alternatives are emerging, with 1 in 5 Americans saying they are eating less meat than two years ago—primarily less red meat. One in 6 Americans report regularly eating plant-based meat alternatives, and many others are consuming more nonmeat sources of protein in their diets, including lentils, beans and whole grains.

The complete list of BrandSpark International’s Best New Product Awards for 2020 by category are:

Food & Beverage

Beauty, Health & Personal Care

Household

In addition to its Best New Product Awards, Toronto-based BrandSpark International also conducts major awards programs, including WGB’s Most Trusted Food Retailers study via its consumer product endorsement and amplification platform, Shopper Army.