PLBuyer presented awards to the winners of its Design Excellence Awards contest this morning at PLMA’s 2012 Private Label Trade Show.

Busy PLMA patrons started to crowd around the PL Buyer booth as 11 a.m. loomed near today. Taking a break from walking the show floor attendees snapped photos of the winning products, which are displayed in cases at the PLBuyer booth. As the presentation of the awards began, passersby stopped to learn who was among the winners selected from more than 100 submissions.

Editor Chris Freeman did the honors this time around, announcing the winners from the contest now in its second year. Winners chosen for 16 categories, with two products earning Best In Show honors from the panel of judges. Judge Christopher Durham of My Private Brand was present this morning to see awards he helped choose among three other judges, Lindsey Hurr of Immotion Studios, Todd Maute of CBX, and Dennis Whalen of Michael Osborne Design, be presented.

 BLDG No. 4 Marketing was the first to receive an award. We spoke with Greg Crombie of BLDG No. 4 Marketing after the ceremony to learn more about Rexall Gripe Water, which won an award for the Baby Care category. This staple product for young mothers with newborns features a colorful dinosaur character and cures minor upsets stomachs.

Crombie said Rexall came to them looking for an innovative package design. The character they created helps this product stand out on shelves, highlighting the product apart from both national brands and private labels. Since the introduction, “sales have quadrupled,” Crombie said, proving that innovative design can quickly helps a store brand get noticed on shelves.

Danielle Kidney from P&W Design Consultants was on hand to accept not one, but two awards: Italian sodas for Fresh & Easy and Spanish Orange Juice for Tesco UK.

“We are so excited to win two awards for both our clients Tesco and Fresh and Easy,” Kidney said. “Designing the Italian sodas for the impulse category was a lot of fun, as we are always allowed tons of creative freedom. We are so pleased to be recognized for this design, which we are so proud of and has been well received.

“The Spanish orange juice design delivers a highly creative solution to a very competitive category. It truly delivers both humor and shelf standout. We look forward to entering more projects next year.”

Stop by the PL Buyer booth 600-701 to see all of the winners on display and find out how to enter your product in 2013.

Here are the winners of the 2012 Design Excellence Awards contest:

BEST IN SHOW

Metolius India Pale Ale. Company: Winery Exchange. Retailer: Supervalu.

President’s Choice Black Label Pasta. Company: Loblaw Companies Ltd. Retailer: Loblaws.

BABY CARE

Gripe Water. Company: BLDG No. 4 Marketing. Retailer: Rexall

BEAUTY AND COSMETICS

V Moroccan oil. Company: Navarro Discount Pharmacy’s Vida Mia. Retailer: Various retailers and wholesalers.

BEVERAGES-PREMIUM

Italian sodas. Company: P&W Design Consultants. Retailer: Fresh & Easy.

BEVERAGES-NBE

Spanish Orange Juice. Company: P&W Design Consultants. Retailer: Tesco UK

ETHNIC

Full Circle Udon and Noodle Bowls. Company: Topco Associates LLC. Retailer: Topco.

FROZEN-PREMIUM

Western Family Classics Limited Edition Ice Cream. Company: RKW Communications Inc. Retailer: Overwaitea Food Group

FROZEN-NBE

Full Circle Organic Frozen Fruit Medleys. Company: Topco Associates LLC. Retailer: Topco

HEALTH AND PERSONAL CARE

Body Washes and Lotions. Company: Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy. Retailer: Pharmaca.

HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND SUPPLIES

Blue Hawk. Company name: united* dsn llc. Retailer: Lowe’s.

ON-SHELF PREMIUM

President’s Choice Black Label Pasta. Company: Loblaw Companies Ltd. Retailer: Loblaws.

ON-SHELF NBE

Organic Quinoa. Company: Pedon S.P.A. Retailer: Norgesgruppen.

ORGANIC

The Fresh Market Organic Rice And Quinoa. Company: The Fresh Market. Retailer: The Fresh Market.

OTC MEDICATIONS

Medications. Company: Fred’s. Retailer: Fred’s.

PAPER PRODUCTS

Kirkland Signature Parchment Paper. Company: Costco Wholesale. Retailer: Costco.

 PET FOOD/CARE/SUPPLIES

President’s Choice Nutrition First Pet Food. Company: Loblaw Companies Ltd. Retailer: Loblaws.

REFRIGERATED

365 Everyday Value Greek Yogurt. Company: Whole Foods Market. Retailer: Whole Foods Market.