Product of the Year USA, the largest consumer product award for innovation voted on by consumers, brought together executives from iconic consumer brands, such as Proctor & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, PepsiCo, ConAgra Foods and Johnson & Johnson among many others, Feb. 29, at the fourth annual Product of the Year USA awards ceremony in New York City.

Today, brands focus on creative solutions and strategies to stand out on store crowded shelves, according to Colleen Kelly, managing director of 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 U.S. 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 U.S.”

The winners range from SNICKERS Peanut Butter Squared from Mars Chocolate North America to New York Brand Garlic Knots from T. Marzetti Co., among many more. For snacks, ConAgra Foods’ Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn took the lead.

The 2012 Product of the Year U.S. Shoppers Survey indicates that consumers under 35 are 33% more likely to try a product if it has won some kind of award. Younger consumers have more of a desire for new products. For more information, visit Convenience Store Decisions at www.csdecisions.com.

Source: www.csdecisions.com