15 Nov 2023 The 2023 NIQ breakthrough innovation awards – SA beverages

NIQ (fomerly Nielsen) has released its highly anticipated BASES Breakthrough Innovation Awards for 2023 – here are the beverage laureates….

The awards recognise successful product launches across all strategies, ranging from launches that managed to disrupt their categories and grow their brand, to targeted plays that did not intend to appeal to the mass market but were meant to delight a specific target.

1 500 new SKUs were launched in South Africa in 2021 in over 50 product categories. This year, BASES BIA 2023 awarded 21 winners among this year’s innovative brands in SA that have transformed their categories.

In addition, it also acknowledged 6 Wavemakers, products that show great potential for future success.

NIQ comments” “The recipients of this year’s South Africa Breakthrough Innovation Awards have made remarkable strides across diverse product categories. 71% of South African consumers think that their country is in a recession, and their buying behaviour reflects that, as they seek out discounts in their purchases.

“South African shoppers are notoriously price-conscious and continue to rank among the top five most price-sensitive countries in the world. In the snack food category, South African buyers tended to gravitate towards spicy flavours which was reflected in this year’s winners.

“This year’s Breakthrough Innovation winners have successfully navigated through a persistently precarious landscape, marked by the enduring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, extraordinary inflationary constraints and a 61% increase in load-shedding hours.”

“In tough economic times consumers go into a recessionary mindset, reducing purchases and actively looking for promotions. New product launches can be an effective way of keeping your product in their basket without over promoting. However, achieving breakthrough innovation status is not easy. It is important to learn from past winners as their success stories can be the inspiration you need for your own future success story.”

Esti Prinsloo, NIQ BASES Commercial Director for the SA region

The 2023 South African Breakthrough Innovation Award Winners – Beverages are:

• Belgravia Blackberry Gin
• Brutal Fruit Strawberry Rouge
• Cappy Apple Burst
• Monster Mariposa Mule
• Predator Mean Green
• Red Bull the Red Edition Watermelon
• Three Ships Mash Tun 
• Viceroy Smooth Gold Brandy 

The 2023 South African Breakthrough Innovation Award Wavemakers is:

• #WHATTHEFANTA

All the SA winners

ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION REPORT

The 2023 Breakthrough Innovation Awards has evaluated thousands of new products to acknowledge and reward those that have achieved the pinnacle of success.

The brands included in this year’s winners represent a wide array of products that have excelled in their respective categories. Winners of the Breakthrough Innovation Awards are the products that delight customers, gain distribution, stay on-shelf, and drive results for their parent companies.

Learn more about how BASES supports innovation and measures success on our Breakthrough Innovation website.