Innovation, Business & Technology Awards

Excelling in business is a rare feat these days, which is why CGT recently awarded deserving consumer goods companies for excellence in their leading-edge innovation, business and technology initiatives. Based on nominations collected from our readers, CGT's Editorial and Research Advisory Boards elected one overall "Winner" and two "Outstanding Achievement" (aka "honorable mention") recipients in five award categories. With the final votes tallied, CGT proudly presents the Innovation, Business & Technology Award winners for 2009. Read on to find out more about the strategies that enabled each recipient to execute successful business improvements despite an economic slump.

MOST INNOVATIVE PRODUCT AWARD

The Most Innovative Product Award honors the consumer goods industry's most innovative new product launched in 2008/2009.

WINNER

OFF! Clip-On Mosquito Repellent from SC Johnson

Introduced in May 2009, this product was an instant hit with consumers, making it nearly impossible to find in retail stores. Unlike ordinary personal repellents, the OFF! Clip-On repellent provides 12 hours of mosquito protection without putting anything on your skin. The product launch topped SC Johnson's initial sales predictions and achieved a 23 percent share of the personal repellent segment by June 2009. "Clip-On exceeded all of our expectations in year one. We're already looking forward to next season," says John Steed, brand manager -- OFF! Personal Repellents, SC Johnson.  

Outstanding Achievement

Amazon Kindle 2 from Amazon.com Inc. 

Released in February 2009, the new reading device offers the original Kindle's wireless delivery of content in a new slim design with longer battery life, more than seven times more storage and a new read-to-me feature. Originally only available in the United States, the Kindle is now for sale in more than 100 countries as of October.

Dark Chocolate Probiotic Wellness Bars from Attune Foods

Introduced in January 2008, the Attune Dark Chocolate Probiotic Bar taps into the consumer trends of eating both dark chocolate and probiotics for health benefits. Attune's innovative product line is the only probiotic bar in the refrigerated yogurt section of more than 3,000 retailers across the United States.

MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANY AWARD

The Most Innovative Company Award honors the consumer goods company that has continually driven growth through product and/or process innovation in 2008/2009.  

WINNER

Henkel

Henkel set a goal to increase the share of sales attributable to new, innovative products in any three periods from 25 percent to 30 percent. The company currently holds more than 8,000 patents around the world and has an additional 5,000 patent applications pending. "What we have learned is that the greatest rewards typically come from designing sustainability upfront into all our new products," says Dr. Rick Theiler, senior vice president Research and Development for Henkel Consumer Products in North America. "We believe sustainability is a competitive advantage and that it has and will continue to significantly contribute to our success and future growth." Recent sustainable innovations include Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets, Terra Activ Dish Washing products (in Europe) as well as Eco-Smart refill packs for Dial liquid soaps.  

Outstanding Achievement

Hormel Foods

The company already generated $1.3 billion toward its 2012 goal of $2 billion in new product sales, capitalizing on the consumer need for convenience with three new product lines and extensions: Hormel Chili Meals, Dinty Moore Big Bowls and Hormel Compleats.  

RJR launched a Total Tobacco Strategy, anchored with the introduction of modern, smoke-free tobacco products like Camel Sticks, Camel Orbs and Camel Strips. The company also launched Camel Crush in September 2008, a cigarette containing a small capsule in the filter that, when crushed, releases menthol.

This award honors the consumer goods firm that best demonstrates excellence in executing improvements in supply/demand planning, execution or network design.  

WINNER

PepsiCo Inc.

"At PepsiCo, we have been focusing on becoming more demand driven and executing our Performance with Purpose (PWP) mission across the supply chain," says John S. Phillips, vice president, Customer Supply Chain & Logistics, PepsiCo Inc. (PWP focuses on human, talent and environmental sustainability.) Some of the ways that PepsiCo is bringing this to life is by establishing transportation targets to reduce its total carbon footprint and eliminate miles across the network. PepsiCo's logistics organization has taken a lead role working with the EPA SmartWay program, most recently helping to develop the SmartWay 2.0 initiative. The company also worked closely with i2 Technologies Inc. on the newest release of i2 TMS, incorporating detailed emission factors for planning, tracking and reporting. "On the demand-driven front, we are working to incorporate retailer POS data into business processes through our 360o Retail Execution process," adds Phillips.  

Outstanding Achievement

Jarden Consumer Solutions

The brand owner of Oster, Crock-Pot and Sunbeam, Jarden gained the attention of CGT and its advisory boards for successfully operating under a customer-centric forecasting philosophy and effectively leveraging Logility Voyager Solutions to gain visibility into supply chain activities.  

Sara Lee Corporation

Results from Sara Lee's recent supply chain improvement program include more stable planning processes, allowing the company to focus on longer-term strategic issues in addition to day-to-day operations. A set of monitoring metrics was also implemented to ensure compliance with business processes and technical procedures required for optimal planning performance.

This award honors the consumer goods firm that is best managing customer relationships, trade promotions, marketing and/or consumer insights.  

WINNER

Kraft Foods Inc.

Kraft Foods was honored this year for developing Wall to Wall Quick Turn with The Nielsen Company, which enables thousands of retail representatives to access store-level distribution void data via tablet personal computers. On the collaboration front, Kraft and Safeway Inc. have realized business benefits through eDeals, an online trade promotion management program powered by DemandTec. Direct benefits to Kraft include 1,600 man hours saved annually; 100 hours saved in researching authorized Safeway items; and $3,600 in fuel saved annually. "I would like to thank our valued customers as well as both Nielsen and DemandTec for their thought leadership and collaborative efforts throughout these breakthrough initiatives," says Rick Brindle, customer vice president, eSales and Industry Relations, Kraft Foods. 

Outstanding Achievement

Del Monte Foods

Del Monte is reaping the benefits of a trade promotion management and demand synchronization process transformation, enabled by an integrated solution from Oracle, i2 Technologies Inc. and One Network Enterprises. Improvements include customer collaboration in the account planning process as well as increased retailer on-shelf availability.  

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has integrated behaviorally-based market structures into consumer/shopper insights that impact shelf flow and assortment decisions at retail. Most recently, an In-Store Excellence Tool, developed by Henry Rak Consulting Partners, helped J&J to create detailed in-store product assortments based on actual shopper behavior by distinct consumer segments.

SMB AWARD

This award honors the small to mid-size consumer goods firm (with less than or equal to $1 billion in annual revenue) that is best utilizing technology/processes to achieve substantial growth in size and/or revenue.  

WINNER

Spin Master

A multi-category children's entertainment company since 1994, Spin Master is best known for such popular brands as 2009 Toy of the Year winner Bakugan Battle Brawlers, 2008 Toy of the Year winner Air Hogs, Aquadoodle, Tech Deck and Moon Sand. The company also entered into children's media with the launch of Spin Master Entertainment, a division focusing on the design, development and production of television and other media properties. Using Quofore's mobility solutions, Spin Master has a single platform to share data across all levels of the organization, increasing the speed and accuracy of information flowing between its retail operations team and head office. "Having up-to-date information at our fingertips gives us the ability to better manage our growth across all markets and make more informed business decisions," says Dave Balkaran, Spin Master's director of retail operations and consumer care. 

Outstanding Achievement

Kettle Foods

Founded in 1978, Kettle Foods is the No. 1 natural potato chip brand in the United States, according to The Nielsen Company. Leveraging MEI's TPM solution, the company is able to maximize the use of trade funds to more proactively shape demand, influence retailers and collaborate on marketing programs in order to help drive consumer behavior.  

Sweet Leaf Tea

Sweet Leaf Tea is a fast growing, all-natural and organic beverage company. Projected growth enabled by SAP QuickBooks and Valogix Warehouse Management attracted Nestlé Waters North America to invest $15.6 million in Sweet Leaf Tea, enabling distribution expansion nationwide within the next two years.