Product Innovation

The most successful new products include Hormel party trays, Hormel Natural Choice deli meats, Hormel Compleats microwave meals and Jennie-O Turkey Store oven ready items and turkey burgers.

The Keurig single cup coffee brewing system was not an overnight success. Little research predicted that it would be a consumer success. But, this disruptive innovation proved to be the exception to the rule. Why? The answer lies in the entrepreneurial, risk-oriented innovation philosophies of the company behind the brand.

The new Goodies Co. box, created by @WalmartLabs, underscores Walmarts commitment to e-commerce and its use of social innovations to create new offerings for consumers.

The collection of winners are widely diverse: from small firms to global operations to academia. Some are located near P&G's global headquarters in Cincinnati, others are scattered around the world.

Over the last few years, with budgets slashed and resources limited, many CG companies have focused innovation efforts on mere line extensions or slight variations of existing concepts. But, there are exceptions. Here, CGT honors two companies that delivered truly revolutionary new products with 2012 Innovation Awards.

Some of the best minds in the CG industry met in Orlando, Fla. earlier this week for the 14th annual Consumer Goods Business & Technology Leadership Conference. There, they swapped insight-driven strategies for driving top-line growth. Hot topics included retailer collaboration, demand chain excellence, IT enablement and much more. Get a sneak peak behind the scenes here.