About the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards
The Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards celebrates innovation in food, non-food, CPG and private-label categories.
Comprehensive Food and Non-Food Categories
Our categories are designed to represent how you merchandise/market your product. In total, we have 52 categories for food and non-food products that recognize finalists and winners in CPG and Private Label brands separately.
Specialty Awards
Our five specialty awards recognize the best overall between CPG and Private Label brands. Explore the Specialty Awards
- All-Canadian Award
- Innovation and Originality Award
- Packaging Award
- Overall Consumer Value Award
- Excellence in Ethnic Products Award
Have Questions about the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards?
Curious about the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards and how to submit your entry? Join our Information Session on November 12, 2026 to get an in-depth look at the submission process and learn all about one of Canada’s most prestigious awards programs for new products!
Important Dates
September 2026
Registration Opens
Nov. 30, 2026
Registration Deadline
jan. 6, 2027
Deadline to send 1 sample of each flavor for submission verification
jan. 7, 2027
RCC to communicate shipping instructions for juror evaluation
Jan. 19, 2027
Non-food products to be received in Toronto for juror evaluation
february 2027
In-person evaluation: Food samples to be tested in Montreal
april 2027
Finalists Announced
june 2027
Winners Announced
Why choose the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards?
- Increased visibility and exposure: An esteemed jury of retail and industry experts will test your product and provide feedback.
- Persuasive trade marketing: Finalist and winners will be recognized in the respective showcase flyers and publications including Grocery Business, Canadian Grocer, Food-in-Canada Magazine, and Western Grocer.
- Industry-wide recognition: Celebrate your team’s achievement that they are among the best in Canada and recognize their excellence in identifying consumer trends. Really amplify the pride in your product.
- Celebrate your finalist or winner recognition with no additional fees required. RCC and its media partners promote finalist and winning products to the grocery distribution industry and our presenting sponsor Flipp is a key partner to promote consumer awareness.
Mission of the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards
With the basic objectives of encouraging manufacturers to develop and market innovative food industry distribution products and to provide Canadian consumers with exceptional value and quality, the mission of the Canadian Grand Prix New Product AwardsTM is defined as follows:
A Retail Council of Canada consumer-focused annual awards program, the Canadian Grand Prix New Product AwardsTM celebrates advancement and excellence in new food distribution industry products to further encourage manufacturer innovation and to profile continued value to consumers. The Canadian Grand Prix New Product AwardsTM mission implies that jurors should view and evaluate products in a frame of mind similar to that of a consumer, one who is perhaps exposed to that product for the very first time. Canadian Grand Prix New Product AwardsTM jurors are required to view the products they are testing from the consumer’s perspective.
Questions about the Grand Prix Program?
Contact the RCC Events team at events@retailcouncil.org