PLBuyer recently announced that winners have been selected in 14 individual product categories for its first Design Excellence Awards. A Best of Show winner, Sam’s Club, also was named.
Winners were selected during a day of judging this September by design experts brought together in Chicago for  PLBuyer’s all-star judging panel.
Members of the panel viewed a plethora of private label food and non-food products, rating them on shelf impact; relevancy; benefit/appeal; quality positioning and aesthetic acumen.
The products were submitted for the competition by design firms, supermarkets, drug chains, mass merchandisers and dollar stores.
Awards were given in 14 categories including on-shelf; on-shelf premium; beverages; beverages premium; frozen value; frozen NBE; refrigerated NBE; refrigerated premium; health & personal care; pet food/care/supplies; eco-friendly; household goods; beauty and cosmetics and baby care, as well as an award for best of show.
Judges included co-chair Patrick Rodmell of Watt International; Jonathan Asher of Perception Research Services; W. James Forward of Forward Branding; Lindsey Hurr of Immotion Studios; Todd Maute of CBX; Denis Ring of Bode International and Dennis Whalen of Michael Osborne Design.
All of the finalists were featured at the PLBuyer booth at PLMA’s 2011 Private Label Trade Show in Chicago.

On-Shelf
Michael Osborne Design
For its excellence in design on behalf of
Sam’s Club
Daily Chef Premium Quality Elbow Macaroni

On-Shelf Premium
The Fresh Market
TFM Chocolate Bars

Beverages
World Brews
Hopper Whitman Belgian White

Beverages Premium
Roundy’s Supermarkets
Vero

Frozen Value
Watt International
For its excellence in design on behalf of
Longo's
Longo’s Value Tier

Frozen NBE
Daymon Design
For its excellence in design on behalf of
Spartan
Premium Ice Cream

Refrigerated NBE
Michael Osborne Design
For its excellence in design on behalf of
Sam’s Club
Artisan Fresh
Artichoke Spinach Dip

Refrigerated Premium
Pemberton and Whitefoord
For its excellence in design on behalf of
Tesco
Finest Italian Ready Meals

Health & Personal Care
Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy
Pharmaca Hand Soaps

Pet Food/Care/Supplies
CBX
For its excellence in
design on behalf of
Walgreens
Pet Shoppe

Eco-Friendly
Daymon Worldwide
For its excellence in design on behalf of
Lotte Mart
Smart Eco Tissue

Household Goods
Massmart
Garden Master Lawn Dressing

Beauty & Cosmetics
Watt International
For its excellence in design on behalf of
Zellers
Sentiments

Baby Care
Michael Osborne Design
For its excellence in design on behalf of
Sam’s Club
Simply Right Baby Formula

Best of Show
Michael Osborne Design
For its excellence in design on behalf of
Sam’s Club
Daily Chef Premium Quality Elbow Macaroni