ALDI recognized for its exclusive brands

ALDI Inc., Batavia, Ill., said almost two dozen of its exclusive brand products received national recognition for innovation, quality and excellence in 2012. Highlights from the retailers 2012 award-winning lineup include:

• Lullabies Moist Wipes, which were awarded the 2012 Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) Winners Seal of Approval, bestowed by PTPA Media, North Americas largest volunteer parent testing community, with more than 40,000 parents. Independent parent volunteers evaluate products in their own homes, certifying consumer products for quality, effectiveness and value.
• An import from Ireland — ODonnells Irish Cream — which was named a 2012 International Wine & Spirit Competition Silver Medal Quality Award winner. The International Wine and Spirit Competition promotes the quality and excellence of the worlds best wines, spirits and liqueurs, ALDI said. Entries are judged in a rigorous two-stage process of professional blind tasting and detailed analysis.
• Natures Nectar 100% Berry Burst Juice, which won the SELF magazine Healthy Food Award under the drink category. The Healthy Food Award selection process begins with SELF’s registered dietitians, who evaluate each product against strict nutrition criteria, ALDI noted. Readers then participate in a blind taste test and vote for their favorite products.
• Loven Fresh Multigrain Sandwich Skinnys and Priano Bronze Cut Pasta, which were honored in the Private Label Manufacturers Associations 2012 Salute to Excellence Awards competition. The competition recognizes outstanding store brand products new to the market each year. The Loven Fresh Multigrain Sandwich Skinnys won in the Breads, Rolls & Muffins category, while the Priano Bronze Cut Pasta won in the Pasta category.
• More than a dozen ALDI exclusive wines, most priced at $6.99 or less, which garnered numerous accolades in 2012. Honors include a "Best Value" designation from Wine Spectator magazine for the retailers Sunshine Bay Sauvignon Blanc, as well as “Best Buy” designations from the Beverage Testing Institute for ALDI’s Villa Malizia Pinot Grigio, Toca Diamonte Malbec, Vina Decana Tempranillo, and several other wines. ALDI said its wines come from the most fertile grape-producing regions in the world, offering shoppers “high quality and remarkable flavor at an incredible value.”

ALDI noted that it stands behind the quality of its own brands with a Double Guarantee. If for any reason a customer is not 100 percent satisfied with a food product, the retailer will replace the product and refund the customers money.