Product of the Year Winners 2018

THE BEST PRODUCTS OF 2018

REVEALED AS VOTED BY THOUSANDS OF AUSTRALIAN CONSUMERS

AUSTRALIAN SHOPPERS HAVE HAD THEIR VOICES COUNTED AND THE MOST INNOVATIVE NEW PRODUCTS OF 2018 HAVE BEEN REVEALED IN THE 9TH ANNUAL PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Retail giants ALDI and Coles have battled for top spot, with ALDI edging ahead with 13 wins and Coles on 12. Product of the Year newcomers Metcash (IGA Supermarkets) and Chemist Warehouse have made an impressive debut, with Metcash winning five awards and Chemist Warehouse with two. Brands have also made a strong showing, taking out 15 of the 47 awards on offer this year. Independent research company Nielsen conducted the consumer research with over 13,000 Australians. According to the research, Coles provides the best shopping environment and experience over all retailers. Shoppers also voted Coles as being the first to have new products on its shelves, as well as having the most appealing home brand. ALDI scored highly in providing really good deals and promotions for its customers. Woolworths however, scored better on offering fresh and healthy products. Product of the Year Director, Sarah Connelly, said it was wonderful to see some of the smaller retailers following the trend of creating home brands which are of a high quality and offer good value for money. Ms. Connelly added, 'We've also seen a lot of winning products which are made in Australia with local ingredients. There's a definite move in the right direction to ensure local producers and communities are rewarded for their hard work in helping to keep farming and manufacturing in Australia."

Ms. Connelly also commented that one of the new and most hotly contested categories this year has been Baby Care. 'In the past, shoppers have claimed huge brand loyalty in this very emotive category," she said. 'The results this year show that people are open to trying and moving to home brand value products, as long as they deliver similar quality to brand name products." Ms. Connelly said the annual Product of the Year survey, which has been running for almost a decade, is the nation's ultimate consumer poll. 'Winning Product of the Year is a huge stamp of approval from the Australian public," Ms. Connelly said. 'Shoppers can be confident when they are buying products - whether it be fresh food, beauty items or larger purchases such as electric toothbrushes - that all the guess work has already been taken out by shoppers just like themselves."