Product of the Year announced that the panel of experts from various FMCG and creative industries, gathered on January 19th 2016 for Jury Day. The Jury members have now their hands on the assessment process and kick started the identification of entries from different categories that are matching this year’s standards of PoY.
The Jury made a thorough assessment of the presented products that went through all types of physical and visual checks, turned upside down and inside out. Testers made their way from one product to another, taking notes and scoring on sheets. The focus was centred on Innovation as key success criteria to entries in 2016. The Jury made sure that only products serving this criteria will make it to the next phase where consumers will be asked to directly vote for the product of their choice.
The Jury Day saw a gathering of a pioneering committees consisting of representatives of top official, business and creative entities known for promoting the values of innovation and ethical competition. The committee includes government figures, renowned experts from various academic, marketing and media fields, including The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, the USJ, the ALBA University, the International Advertising Association (IAA), the Advertising Agency Association (AAA), the Association of Lebanese Industrialists, the RDCL, Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industries, Syndicate of Lebanese Chemical Industries, Syndicate of Importers of Foodstuff Consumer Products and Drinks in Lebanon and HORECA.
Zeina Estwany, Director of Operations at Product of the Year- Levant remarked that the PoY has got some strong entries this year, which bring some innovation boost to the FMCG scene. She added: “We have for this edition set challenging standards for the competition. This reflects positively on the Lebanese consumers who have changing needs and aspire to see their requirements met by product makers.”
