Grand Prix FAQs

• Products that were launched and available to purchase in the Canadian market in the 2024 calendar year are invited to submit.
• Product submissions should be reflected in the examples provided for each category as described here (link to categories page)
• Products should be easy for jurors to test or taste during the at-home evaluation or during the in-person evaluation.

We know it can take time to get products from the concept and development phase and then onto store shelves. We invite products that became widely available for sale within Canada in the said calendar year to participate

A new product might be entirely new or may be an existing innovated product reflecting one of the 7 areas of innovation:

1. Novel Ingredients or Flavours Innovation (new or unique ingredients, flavors, or combinations)
2. Category Extension Innovation (expanding a product line within an existing category)
3. Sustainable and Ethical Innovations (eco-friendly packaging, sustainable sourcing, waste reduction)
4. Convenience-Focused Innovations (Ready-to-eat/cook, single-serve, portable, enhanced shelf life)
5. Health and Wellness Innovations (free-from, low-calorie/sugar, personalized nutrition)
6. Cultural and Lifestyle Innovations (Ethnic, Global flavours, local and artisan products)
7. Price and Value Innovations

There are 52 product categories open for submission. Each category welcomes and recognizes winners from both CPG and Private Label brands.

View Categories here.

There are five specialty awards; Innovation and Originality, Packaging, Overall Consumer Value Award, the All Canadian Award and the Excellence in Ethnic Products Award.

Winners of the Innovation and Originality, Packaging, and Overall Consumer Value Award awards are selected by achieving the highest average score in that area of the evaluation. Winners of the All Canadian and Excellence in Ethnic Products are also selected by achieving the highest overall average score and by reviewing the answers provided to qualifying questions in the submission form. All products have a chance to win their product category as well as one or more specialty awards.

Products must submit to a product category to qualify for the specialty awards, they cannot submit to a specialty award alone.

Yes, it is bilingual.

Our jury includes both English and French speakers from across Canada. Submission information in the four areas of evaluation along with product names must be provided in both languages.

We encourage non-native French or English speakers to have a translator review their submissions to ensure the translated details are accurate and authentic to the product’s selling features.

Finalist and Winner showcase flyers are published in English and French.

The jury for the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards represents a mix of industry experts including representatives of retail grocery brands in Canada, grocery industry and product development experts, media partners representing grocery, food, and packaging, social media influencers, and representatives of the consumer-packaged goods industry.

All products are evaluated through the information presented in the submission form along with samples for tasting or testing as appropriate.

Food products are prepared by a professional chef in a commercial kitchen exactly per the packaging’s directions.

Non-food products and a limited number of food products are sent to juror’s homes in advance of the in-person evaluation for testing. Should jurors not be the appropriate consumer of a product (for example child or pet care products) they are encouraged to share with a friend who is the appropriate consumer and solicit their feedback for consideration in the evaluation.

Jurors will review the information and provide validation or constructive feedback along with a score to reflect if the targets shared in the submission were achieved. Jurors are asked to evaluate from a consumer perspective without regard to their personal tastes or preferences.

The jury is scoring the following four areas of evaluation out of 25 points.

1. Product Characteristics
2. Innovation and Originality
3. Presentation and Packaging
4. Overall Consumer Value

For information on the details of what is requested in the submission form for each area please find the information here.

RCC asks that one sample be sent in its consumer packaging to our office for verification of your submission.

Jury samples are required to be shipped either to Toronto or Montreal. Typically, we require for 22-24 units in consumer packaging be sent. Depending on the nature of your product there is flexibility with this requirement, although we ask for this number of samples so the jury has adequate time to review packaging as well as to taste or test the product.

Finalist announcements are shared by RCC in early April. Participants will receive notice of their recognition ahead of the public media releases, so they have an opportunity to participate in the celebration with their own press releases or social media announcements.

All finalists will receive an email confirming their finalist status. We will provide all participants with the official Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards Finalists Seal. Participants are encouraged to leverage the seal to promote their product’s excellence on social media, product packaging, and other marketing collaterals.

All finalists are included in the finalist showcase flyers on the Flipp and Reebee digital marketing apps. For a report on last year’s flyer performance, please contact us.

Finalists are also published in our media partner publications including Canadian Grocery, Grocery Business, Western Grocer, and Food in Canada Magazine.

All finalist brands are asked to attend the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards Gala held during RCC’s STORE Conference on June 4, 2025. Winners are announced live; notice will not be provided in advance.

The following day, winners will receive an email communication confirming details of their award and recognition.

Winners will receive a prestigious custom-made gold trophy and will be invited backstage during the gala for a winner’s portrait. Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards

 Winner’s Seal that can be used on packaging and in marketing of the product or product line. This seal is valid for two years.

Winners will also benefit from our consumer facing marketing campaign; more details to be announced.

There are no additional winner or finalist fees. Costs to participate include your registration fee, shipment of samples, and attending the gala during RCC STORE.

There is an optional opportunity to secure additional visability in the finalist and winner showcase flyers on the Flipp and reebee digital marketing apps.

We know brands of different shapes and sizes take time to get products to market in a way that is accessible to many Canadians either regionally or nationally. For some brands products can be developed and sold in a limited capacity for some time before they are more widely available. If you consider your product new to the Canadian market either regionally or nationally, can ensure samples are available for jury testing as well as being available to sale during promotion of finalists and winners, your product will be appropriate to submit.