In a market flooded with choices and shaped by cautious spending, Canadian shoppers are still willing to try something new – if they believe it’s worth the switch.
According to research and consulting firm BrandSpark International, 72% of Canadians like trying new products, but rising prices make experimentation feel risky. That’s where the Best New Product Awards program comes in. As Canada’s most influential, 100% consumer-voted awards program, it offers brands a rare edge: a recognizable logo that signals credibility, drives trial and, as research shows, can deliver a serious lift in sales.
When winning brands sport the Best New Product Awards logo on their products and advertising, says Awards’ president Robert Levy, “It gives brands a key opportunity to maintain their customers and attract new people. It really helps them stand out.”
In fact, according to BrandSpark research, consumer-voted awards are one of the most trusted sources for new product recommendations.
BrandSpark’s 2025 Best New Product Awards saw more than 12,000 Canadian shoppers taking part in a nationwide online survey that rated new products in 118 categories, from Food & Beverage and Health, Beauty, Personal Care, Household, Kids, Pet to Quick Service Restaurant New Menu Items-the Awards biggest year so far in terms of both entries and categories.
Winners were celebrated at a June 18 awards event held at the Oakdale Golf & Country Club in Toronto attended by more than 200 marketers, hosted by Global Morning Show hosts Carolyn Mackenzie and Jeff McArther. The event was attended by leading brands that received their Best New Product Awards trophies, networked over food and drinks and went home with a gift bag valued at over $300 of winning products gifted by the brands.
Winning brands showcase the Best New Product Awards logo on packaging, social media, in-stores and on e-commerce. The winners are also featured in a national campaign across Global TV, TikTok, Chatelaine, The Kit and the Flipp flyer app.
In addition, retail giant Walmart houses the best new product awards winners in an online shopping gallery at Walmart.ca, to which Walmart Connect Media drives traffic – and with good reason. This unique high impact promotion resonates with both consumers and marketers.
From national exposure to strategic retail placement, the Best New Product Awards offer more than just bragging rights – they continue to deliver measurable value. In-store promotions featuring winning products drive sales lifts, while digital campaigns and shelf presence help extend momentum well beyond the launch window. But the strongest endorsements may come from the marketers themselves.
“We’ve been participating for many years now,” says Sabah Zaman of Nestle. “We love winning these awards. The Best New Product Awards logo really helps distinguish us from the other competitors on shelf.”
“Our team is always so proud to win a Best New Product Award and our senior leadership is super excited. And there is no better team to work with than the Best New Product Awards team,” exclaims Danielle Causarano of Revlon.
“KDP participates in the Best New Product Award program because we know consumers trust this award, recognize the brand on shelf and it brings a lot of recognition and trust when it comes to purchases,” says Jordan Masciarelli of Keurig Dr Pepper.
Adds Jodie Rogers of Burnbrae Farms: “The Best New Product Awards helps breakthrough to consumers. It’s like word of mouth. It really helps consumers!”
When Hershey’s Skor Minis won a Best New Product Award, for example, the brand substituted the “New” claim on packaging with the Best New Product Awards logo. The result: Nielsen found Skor Minis experienced a 47% sales lift.
The Awards recently expanded into honouring best new menu items in the Quick Service Restaurants category, with winning brands like KFC and Tim Hortons using the logo for their online menus and in-store activations.
Why does it work so well? According to BrandSpark research, even the best new products sometimes take time to break through. Despite significant marketing efforts, fewer than one in three shoppers are aware of major innovations a full year after launch. That’s why the timing of the award matters.
By the time brands learn they’ve won a Best New Product Award, their launch is often entering its second year, Levy articulates. And that’s when the logo can deliver results–being able to say that “this product has been voted a “Best New Product” by people who actually tried it really gives it a boost,” he explains.
The Best New Product Awards is the only new product awards program to support new products upon entry with the New Launch Logo along with media and PR.
The 2026 Best New Product Awards is now open for entries, and all new product innovations launched between July 1, 2024 and Oct 15, 2025 are eligible for entry.
Brands can enter their new innovations here
Now in its 23rd year, the Best New Product Awards have become more than just a marketing badge–they’ve established themselves as a trusted barometer for consumers and a strategic asset for brands. Backed by research, retail partnerships and real-world results, the program continues to prove its value year after year. As Levy puts it, “longevity in the marketplace really does equate to awareness, influence and credibility.”
CONTACT:
Kim Diamond
Vice-president
KDiamond@BestNewProductAwards.com
