Gardein Earns "Three-Peat" with Coveted Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards™

Leading Meat-Free Brand Sweeps Retail Council of Canada 'Off Their Meat' Three Years in a Row

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 18, 2013 /CNW/ - Gardein, the revolutionary brand that is transforming America's table with meat-free foods, today announced that its Ultimate Beefless Sliders and Teriyaki Chick'n Strips have won the 2013 Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards in the Fruits, Vegetables & Produce category. This marks the third consecutive win and fourth overall for the company's delicious meat-free foods by the Retail Council of Canada, which is celebrating its 20th year honouring new product development as a part of the annual awards program that recognizes excellence and innovation in the Canadian grocery industry.

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"At Gardein, our goal is to lead the growing meatless movement by offering great-tasting, nutritious meat alternatives as more consumers realize the benefits of eating less meat and seek convenient options," said Yves Potvin, founder of Gardein. "We are proud to see that the demand for our foods has been growing rapidly and that our position as a meat-free foods leader in the retail space has been recognized by such a respected organization for the past three years. We hope to continue using our new foods to grow this category."

Gardein is one of 26 winners selected among 127 finalists to receive a 2013 Canadian Grand Prix New Product Award, which celebrates new products in 26 food, non-food and private-label categories. Winners are determined by a jury of industry experts based on five criteria: uniqueness and innovation; product characteristics; presentation and packaging; overall consumer value; and customer acceptance.

Gardein believes that going meatless doesn't mean making sacrifices or giving up favorite foods. The company's portfolio of delicious, center-of-plate foods delivers real meat taste, texture and nutrition—with no cholesterol and less fat and calories than traditional proteins—offering healthier versions of the everyday foods people love to eat. Its award-winning Ultimate Beefless Sliders and Teriyaki Chick'n Strips are low-fat, high-protein, meat-free, frozen foods; the Ultimate Beefless Sliders contain 9g of plant-based protein per slider and the Teriyaki Chick'n Strips offer 15g per serving.

Gardein foods are available at a variety of national grocery and natural retailers, restaurants and universities. For more information on where to purchase, click here.

For more information on the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards and a full list of winners, please visit www.retailcouncil.org/events/grandprix/.

About Gardein
Gardein (garden + protein) is an award-winning line of delicious and healthy meat-free foods. Gardein founder Yves Potvin created the first veggie dog in the 1980s and is now dedicated to elevating – and beefing up – the category with a full range of great-tasting, better-for-you meat-free innovations. From its signature Seven Grain Crispy Tenders to the Ultimate Beefless Burger, Gardein offers mouthwatering, center-of-plate foods that deliver real meat taste, texture and nutrition—with no cholesterol and less fat and calories than traditional proteins. Made with soy and grains, Gardein's foods can easily replace traditional protein in any meal or recipe.

Gardein is popping up everywhere, available in the produce cooler and freezer aisle at more than 18,000 grocery stores in Canada and the U.S. You can also find us on college campuses and in your favorite restaurants across the country. For more information and delicious recipes, visit www.gardein.com, www.facebook.com/gardein or https://twitter.com/gardein.

SOURCE: Gardein

Bridget Evans, Formula, 619-234-0345, [email protected]

http://www.gardein.com

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