The winners of the coveted Natural and Organic Awards 2014 were announced on Sunday 13 April in The Champagne Suite at Novotel London West, after the close of business of the first day of the Natural & Organic Products Europe trade show.
Now in its 19th year, the annual awards brought together over 450 industry professionals to recognise and celebrate the standout brands and products of the year. Hosted jointly by Natural Products magazine and the Soil Association, the 2014 Awards were presented by popular UK TV presenter Julia Bradbury; former host of the BBC’s Countryfile programme.
“It’s not just the wonderful products and the businesses behind them that we are recognising at this year’s Natural & Organic Awards. It is also a celebration of the incredible passion that you all share for the natural and organic way of life and the values that you cherish. It’s those values – healthy people and planet, respect and care for animals, and an ethical way of doing business that are at the heart of what you all do. These are things that are close to my heart too,” said Bradbury in her opening speech.
“What’s really encouraging is the growing number of younger people who are becoming natural and organic advocates. It’s been called the ‘Generation Jamie’ effect – but let’s not forget the huge effort each and every one of you make in your businesses every day,” she said.
The 2014 Natural & Organic Awards attracted a wealth of high calibre entrants from all across the UK, whilst this year’s New Product Showcase awards, which were voted for by visitors to the show on Sunday 13 April, saw a record 320 entries (up 8% from last year).
“The Natural and Organic Awards grow in stature each year and the exceptional standard of entries for 2014 illustrates why they have become a real benchmark for excellence in the natural and organic community – and beyond,” said Jim Manson, editor of Natural Products.
Speaking about the awards, Rob Sexton, CEO, Soil Association Certification, said: “Our recent 2014 Organic Market Report showed growth in the organic market for the first time since 2009 so it’s an exciting time for organic. These awards highlight just some of the fantastic organic products available and the innovation taking place. Congratulations to all involved!”
The shortlisted nominees and winners of The Natural and Organic Awards 2014 are as follows:
BEST NEW FOOD PRODUCT:
Winner: Pulsin’ Ltd, Vanilla Choc Chip Protein Bar
Finalist: Sukrin Ltd, Sukrin Free From Bread Mix
Finalist: Cofresh Snack Foods, Eat Real Quinoa Chips
Finalist: Okobay Ventures, Pineapple & Coconut Water Ice
BEST NEW SPECIAL DIET PRODUCT:
Winner: Marigold Health Foods, CoYo Coconut Yoghurt Vanilla
Finalist: Marigold Health Foods, CoYo Coconut Yoghurt Morello Cherry
Finalist: Rebel Kitchen, Rebel Kitchen Choco Mylk
“We are thrilled to have won the award, it has been a very busy year so far and winning awards like this makes all the hard work worthwhile,” said Bethany Eaton, founder of CoYo.
BEST NEW DRINK PRODUCT:
Winner: Unione Trading UK Ltd, Oi Ocha
Finalist: Flora Tea Company UK Ltd, Flora Tea – Tea Tube
Finalist: Rebel Kitchen, Rebel Kitchen Choco Mylk
BEST NEW NATURAL LIVING & HOME PRODUCT:
Winner: Kingfisher Natural Toothpaste, Children’s Strawberry Toothpaste
Finalist: My Living Water UK Ltd, Libby Chan Probiotic Cleaner
Finalist: Savvy Green LLC, Savvy Green Laundry Detergent
“We were really very happy to receive the Best Natural Living & Home Award as we have put so much care, attention and hard work into getting our new toothpaste ready for the market. The fact that the award is based on the votes of the retailers and wholesalers at Natural & Organic Products Europe is especially encouraging, as these are the very people that we are hoping to impress. And I got to kiss Julia Bradbury,” said Richard Austin, founder and principal of Kingfisher.
BEST NEW HEALTH & NUTRITION PRODUCT:
Winner: Natures Aid, Red Yeast Rice 600mg
Finalist: G&G Vitamin Centre, Organic Essential Food
Finalist: Pukka Herbs Ltd, Vitalise
BEST NEW NATURAL BEAUTY & SPA PRODUCT:
Winner: Neocell Corporation, Neocell Keratin Hair Volumizer
Finalist: Natural Trade Ltd, Simply Bee Propolis Serum
Finalist: Pravera Ltd, Benecos Natural Nail Polish Remover
BEST NEW PACKAGING DESIGN
Winner: Organic Seed & Bean Company Ltd, Organic Chocolate Range
Finalist: George Luther, Poe Tree Organic Olive Oil
Finalist: Savvy Green, Savvy Green Laundry Detergent
Finalist: Viridian Nutrition, Nutritional Oils Range
Finalist: Easy Bean, Easy Bean Chickpea Crisp Bread
“What a lovely accolade – really nice to be appreciated having spent a year developing the marketing and designs,” said Steve Rudkin, founder of Organic Seed & Bean Company.
NATURAL PRODUCTS SALES PERSON OF THE YEAR
Winner: Leon Waters, Territory Manager from Viridian Nutrition
BEST INDEPENDENT RETAILER
Winner: Toucan Wholefoods, Minehead
Finalist : Mulberry Bush Wholefoods, Wales
Finalist : Food For All, London
BEST NEW ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCT:
Winner: Pulsin’ Ltd, beond Raw Organic Blueberry Bar
Finalist: Lovechock, Lovechock Cherry/Chili
Finalist: Pukka Herbs Ltd, Serene Jasmine Green
“Ben, Simon and I are extremely happy and honoured to have won two awards this year. Organic farming is a real passion of ours, which is why we’re humbled by winning best organic food product too. It still feels like a dream ‘doing the double’ but our sincere thanks goes to the natural products retailers who voted for our products!” says Nick Bildner, co-founder of Pulsin’ Ltd, which also won the Best New Food Product Award for its Pulsin’ Vanilla Choc Chip Protein Bar.
BEST NEW ORGANIC PRODUCT:
Winner: Pukka Herbs Ltd, Active Oil
Finalist: Carun UK Ltd, All Purpose Hemp Ointment
Finalist: Bodywise UK Ltd, Organic Make-up Remover Wipes
“Over the last two years Pukka has been active researching the latest in the art of herbal science and blending. This culminated in the release of the Pukka Organic Wellbeing range at Natural & Organic Products Europe. We are very flattered show attendees voted for one of these as a winner. A big thanks to everyone that voted,” says Tim Westwell, co-founder of Pukka Herbs.
SOIL ASSOCIATION ORGANIC INNOVATION AWARD (new for 2014):
Winner: Halkær Ådal (hell-care-o-dell) Eco, Organic Food from River Valley
Finalist: Bio-tiful Dairy, Organic Cultured Milk Drinks
Finalist: iQ Chocolate, Organic Superfood Chocolate
NATURAL PRODUCTS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Winner: Graham Keen, Executive Director of the Health Food Manufacturers’ Association (HFMA)
“Aside from my time living and working in the USA, I have spent all of my career in this industry, and have loved my time working closely with such creative, compassionate, caring and entrepreneurial people. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a passion for working to protect and promote the interests of the HFMA’s member companies and everyone in the industry, so I take great pleasure and pride in receiving this prestigious award,” said Graham Keen.
Natural & Organic Products Europe, launched in 1997, is the UK’s biggest trade show for the natural products, health food and organic sectors. Its 2014 edition, which closed yesterday, has been hailed as its most successful show ever. Total attendance figures are due to be released by the organiser Diversified Communications UK later this week.
The next edition of Natural & Organic Products Europe will take place on 19-20 April 2015 at the new venue of ExCeL London. For more information, please visit www.naturalproducts.co.uk.
