P&G, Reckitt Benckiser among 2011 Product of the Year USA award recipients

NEW YORK — The world's largest consumer-voted program that recognizes innovation in consumer packaged goods announced this year's award-winning brands.

At the third annual 2011 Product of the Year USA awards ceremony, Product of the Year unveiled the most innovative products of the year, voted by more than 60,000 American shoppers in a survey conducted by TNS, a custom research agency.

Big winners during the ceremony, which was held in New York on Feb. 8, included Procter & Gamble and Reckitt Benckiser. P&G was awarded in the hair care, hair styling, male grooming and baby care categories for Pantene Pro-V customized solutions (which won for both hair categories), Gillette Fusion ProGlide power razor and Pampers Cruisers & Swaddlers, respectively. Reckitt Benckiser was recognized for its Air Wick air freshener and Lysol Healthy Touch no-touch hand soap system, in the air care and personal hygiene categories, respectively.

Other winners included:

• 
  

  Personal care: Colgate-Palmolive's Speed Stick and Lady Speed Stick Stainguard antiperspirant deodorant;

  
  


• 
  

  Toothpaste: GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare's Aquafresh Iso-active whitening;

  
  


• 
  

  Mouthwash: Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products' Listerine Zero;

  
  


• 
  

  Feminine products: Kimberly-Clark's U by Kotex;

  
  


• 
  

  Candy and snacks: Mars Chocolate North America's M&M's pretzel chocolate candies;

  
  


• 
  

  Cooking: Sovena USA's Olivari Mediterranean olive oil;

  
  


• 
  

  Breakfast: Sara Lee's Jimmy Dean hearty sausage crumbles;

  
  


• 
  

  Cooking Spices: McCormick's Recipe Inspirations

  
  


• 
  

  Specialty Foods: Nestle USA's Buitoni Riserva frozen complete meals for two

  
  


• 
  

  Frozen Food: Nestle USA's Lean Cuisine Market Creations

  
  


• 
  

  Insecticide: S.C. Johnson's RaidMax bug barrier;

  
  


• 
  

  Cosmetics: La Canada Ventures' MD Lash Factor eyelash conditioner.

  
  


• 
  

  At-Home Beauty Treatment: Radiancy's No!no! Hair 8800; and

  
  


• 
  

  Pet Health: The Nutro Co.'s Greenies Joint Care treats.

  
  

Shoppers nationwide will be able to recognize the winners starting in February of this year by looking for the red "Product of the Year" stamp on packaging, in advertising and in-store displays.

"Consumer packaged goods continue to demonstrate a need for the market to create products that enhance both consumer confidence and product loyalty," said Colleen Kelly, managing director of Product of the Year. "Product of the Year is pleased to offer consumers the ability to easily sift through and distinguish those brands that stand apart in the [CPG] sector."