The winners of the coveted Natural & Organic Awards were announced on Sunday 3 April at London Olympia’s Conference Centre, after the close of business on the first day of the Natural & Organic Products Europe trade show.
Around 450 natural and organic professionals attended the Natural & Organic Awards, which were hosted jointly by Natural Products magazine and the Soil Association. Recognising the standout brands and products of the year, the Awards were presented by the managing director of the event’s organiser, Diversified Business Communications UK, the editor of Natural Products magazine, Jim Manson, and the Soil Association’s director of trade relations, Jim Twine. Special guests included fashion designer and organic cotton champion Katharine Hamnett, who presented the award for Best Organic Textile Product (sponsored by GOTS Global Organic Textile Standards), and West End star Adam Garcia (in association with mune), who presented the Best New Packaging Design Award.
Commenting on the Awards, Natural Products editor Jim Manson, said: "The standard of entries this year was truly exceptional, right across the board. This year’s new product awards show how creativity and innovation is thriving in our industry despite the regulatory challenges. While the retailer awards were tougher than ever to judge and evidence of the remarkably high standard of natural products retailing at its best. We are delighted too that Peter Kindersley received the Outstanding Achievement Award following an industry vote in which hundreds of NP readers took part."
The shortlisted nominees and winners of The Natural & Organic Awards 2011 are as follows:
’ BEST NEW PACKAGING DESIGN
Winner: The London Seed Company
Shortlisted nominees: Natural Empathy; Bulldog Natural Skincare; Method; and Fair Squared
’ BEST INDEPENDENT RETAILER
Winner: Haselmere Health Foods, Surrey
Shortlisted nominees: Greenlife, Devon and 100% Health, Paignton
’ NAHS RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Greenlife, Devon
Shortlisted nominee: Handley Organics, Herefordshire
’ BEST ORGANIC RETAILER
Winner: Whitmuir Organics, Scotland
Shortlisted nominee: Better Food Company, Bristol
’ BEST ORGANIC FACIAL SKINCARE PRODUCT
Winner: Herbfarmacy, Just Eyes Eye Cream
Shortlisted nominees: Inlight, Floral Face Tonic; Herbfarmacy, Rose & Echinacea Toner; and Essential Care, Lipstick - No. 10
’ BEST ORGANIC BABY PRODUCT
Winner: Essential Care, Gentle Wash & Shampoo
Shortlisted nominees: Bentley Organic, Mother and Baby Hand Sanitiser; Purepotions Skincare Ltd, Camomile Baby Oil; and Green People, No Scent Baby Oil
’ BEST ORGANIC BODYCARE PRODUCT
Winner: Yes Pure Intimacy, Oil and Water-Based Intimate Lubricant
Shortlisted nominees: Green Hands, Organic Cuticle and Nail Oil; Inlight, Joint-Easy Balm; Lucy Russell Organics, The Sugar Scrub; and Botanicals, Mint & Tea Tree Foot Balm
’ BEST ORGANIC TEXTILE PRODUCT (sponsored by GOTS Global Organic Textile Standards)
Winner: Organic for Kids, Selection of Baby garments
Shortlisted nominees: Llynfi Textiles, Organic wool knitwear (Commended); and
Fou Furnishings, Elisabetta duvet cover (Highly Commended)
’ THE NATURAL PRODUCTS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (sponsored by Pegasus PR)
Winner: Peter Kindersley (founder of Sheepdrove Organic and owner of Neal’s Yard Remedies)
The Natural Products Outstanding Achievement Award was accepted by Peter Kindersley’s son, Barnabas, who said: "My father is delighted and honoured to receive this Award, all the more because it has been voted for by you, the natural and organic industry. The reason he isn’t able to be here tonight is that he is busy bottling organic olive oil in Spain for our Sheepdrove shops in London and Bristol. He really is walking the talk and I can assure you that you really have given this prestigious award to someone who is totally committed to the values you all share."
The Best New Food Product, Best New Non-Food Product, Best New VMS Product, Best New Natural Beauty Product, Best New Sports Nutrition Product, and Best New Organic Food Product Awards, were voted for by visitors to the show’s New Product Showcase throughout Sunday 3 April.
’ BEST NEW FOOD PRODUCT
Winner: Peppersmiths, Fine English Peppermint Fresh Mints
Finalists: Absolutely Foods Ltd, Moocluck Ice Cream; and Healthy Secret Ltd, Mune
’ BEST NEW NON-FOOD PRODUCT
Winner: Mohdoh, Mohdoh Headeez
Finalists: Ecover (UK), Plantastic Packaging; and The Health Store, The Environmental Toothbrush
’ BEST NEW VMS PRODUCT
Winner: Natures Aid, FemEze
Finalists: Pukka Herbs Ltd, Clean Greens & Vitalise; and Viridian Nutrition, 65+ Multi
’ BEST NEW NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCT
Winner: Natural Empathy, Beautifully British
Finalists: Earth Solutions, PURE Papaya Ointment; and Vital Touch, Pure Nurture Organic Skin Butter
’ BEST NEW SPORTS NUTRITION PRODUCT
Winner: Pulsin Ltd, Maple & Peanut Protein Sport
Finalists: Scheckter’s Organic Beverages, Scheckter’s Organic Energy Drink;
and Freedom Brands, Go Coco Coconut Water
’ BEST NEW ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCT
Winner: Pukka Herbs Ltd, Three Fennel Organic Herbal Tea
Finalists: Scheckter’s Organic Beverages, Scheckter’s Organic Energy Drink;
and Green & Blacks Ltd, Green & Black’s Tasting Collection
