ECRM/MMR Buyers Choice award winners chosen

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Coast Brands Group won the ECRM/MMR Buyers Choice award for its Frozen- and Star Wars-branded juice cans during ECRM’s recent Impulse, Front-End & Checklane EPPS. Mad Scientist Nuts was a finalist for its Pizootz flavored peanuts.

Coast Brands Group’s Starwars Space Punch

The two companies were selected from dozens of entries in the award program, samples of which were displayed in the ECRM hospitality area during the EPPS meetings. Buyers cast their votes based on product innovation and packaging.

Coast Brands Group, Newport Beach, Calif., handles U.S. sales for licensee Drink Department One, a Hamburg, Germany based provider of Disney-branded beverages.

The company’s Frozen Arctic Berry Drink is a natural, slightly sparkling kids’ beverage with 20 percent juice content in a multi-berry flavor and combines natural ingredients together with Disney’s Frozen brand. The Star Wars Space Punch Sparkling Vitamin Drink is available in a range of 32 collectible cans.

Both are low in calories, caffeine-free, have no artificial flavors or sweeteners, and include a packaging innovation that features an integrated straw that comes out automatically after opening the can. According to the company, this packaging is very hygienic since the straw is fully inside the can before consumption, and avoids liquid seeping out if the product is tipped over.

Mad Scientist Nuts’ Pizootz peanuts

Portsmouth, Va.-based Mad Scientist Nuts’ Pizootz are premium Virginia artisan peanuts with flavors infused right in the peanut through a process that takes more than 30 hours. They are all-natural and kosher, with no artificial flavors, preservatives, trans fats, MSG, or GMOs, and are gluten free. The line includes nine infused flavors: Baja Taco, Bay Spice, Blazing Buffalo, Habanero, Jalapeno, NY Dill Pickle, Sea Salt, Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt & Vinegar.

“Buyers attending ECRM’s Impulse, Front-End & Checklane session are looking for those items that will grab shoppers’ attention and grab incremental sales,” said Melinda Young, SVP of General Merchandise for ECRM. “The two winners have products that are ideal for accomplishing just that.”