Product of the Year USA Names 2012 Winners

Product of the Year USA, a consumer product award contest, held its 4th annual awards ceremony at the Edison Ballroom in New York City last night. Among the winners were some of the biggest brands in household and personal care, such as P&G and Colgate, as well as lesser known firms selling items ranging from odor removers to skin care.

“Now more than ever, brands are focusing on implementing innovative solutions and creative strategies to stand out on shelves in a crowded consumer marketplace,” said Colleen Kelly, managing director, Product of the Year USA. “Shoppers are more likely to buy a product that is recommended to them by their peers. Now in our fourth year in the United States and our 25th year worldwide, Product of the Year recognizes and honors groundbreaking products with an awards seal that is backed by real shoppers throughout the US.”

Here are the winners in HAPPI-related categories:

LAUNDRY – Wisk Deep Clean Original, The Sun Products Corporation


PERSONAL HYGIENE – Softsoap Bar Soap Coconut Scrub – Colgate-Palmolive Company


ORAL CARE – LISTERINE TOTAL CARE ZERO – Johnson & Johnson, Inc.


PROFESSIONAL ORAL CARE – Zoom NiteWhite & DayWhite – Philips Oral Healthcare


WHITENING – Colgate Optic White – Colgate-Palmolive Company


BEAUTY CARE – Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Color Blend Foam – Procter & Gamble


AIR CARE – Air Wick Flip n’ Fresh – Reckitt Benckiser Group


TODDLER ORAL CARE – Aquafresh Training Toothpaste –GlaxoSmithKline

HOUSEHOLD CLEANING – Zero Odor Eliminator – Zero Odor, LLC
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INSECT REPELLENT – OFF! Deep Woods Dry Insect Repellent – S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.


SKIN TREATMENT – RetinoSyn-45 – Beauty Bioscience

According to the 2012 Product of the Year US Shoppers Survey conducted by TNS, young consumers (under 35) are 33% more likely to try a product if it has won some kind of award. Additionally, younger consumers have more of a desire for new products.

“Innovation is the lifeblood for CPG companies,” said Phil Lempert, The Supermarket Guru. “As shoppers spend more time comparing product features and prices, the path to success and their shopping cart is a combination of differentiation and delivering on consumer value. Product of the Year offers assurance that any merchandise that carries the POY seal is one of true innovation.”

Hosted in 28 countries, Product of the Year is the world’s largest consumer-voted program that recognizes innovation in consumer packaged goods.