23 COMPANIES WIN ANNUAL CONTEST "PRODUCT OF YEAR 2008"

ARKA
Sep 11, 2008

YEREVAN, September 11. /ARKA/. Twenty-three local and oversees
companies have won the annual national contest "Product of the Year
2008", with four of them being Grand Prix winners. The companies
exhibited 41 product items.

Grands Prix were awarded to the following companies: Bari Samaratsi,
Arzni livestock breeding factory, Borodino cannery (Armenia), Shen
Concern building materials company.

"Now we can state with confidence that this contest is a traditional
one and is a method of selecting the best representatives of Armenian
business," Arsen Ghazaryan, Chairman of the Union of Employees of
Armenia, stated at the awarding ceremony.

He expressed the confidence that Armenia’s market, though narrow from
outside, is actually "fantastic" and impresses foreign producers and
importers by its demand and supply.

Ghazaryan pointed out that the goods produced by many of the contest
winners have become well-known brands in Armenia. However, they can
stand competition on the foreign market as well.

"I am sure that, if our country resolves some communication problems,
our producers will be a success in other countries in view of the fact
that Armenia’s market is the most competitive in the CIS," he said.

RA Deputy Minister of Economy Ara Petrosyan urged Armenian producers
to develop their brands at t he regional and international level
and the contest organizers to promote Armenian products on the
international market.

Petrosyan expressed the opinion that services sector representatives
should also take part in the contest from next year.

Norair Nazinyan, Director of the Master center for international
integration, said that over 60 organizations applied for participation
in the contest. He reported that prizes are awarded in the "foodstuffs"
and "convenience goods" categories. The motto of the contest is
"Popularity – highest mark for product".

"During one year experts were following the demand for products
in terms of sales and sale by the piece, and when certain products
received prizes it was evidence pf not only high quality, but also
competent marketing," Nazinyan said.

The survey was conducted by the Master center with the assistance of
the Union of Employers (Manufacturers and Businessmen) of Armenia.

Among the winners are such products as Ararat brandy (Yerevan Brandy
Company), Armenian champagne (Yerevan Champagne Factory), Coca-Cola,
"Asa" ice-cream and confectionery, "Latino" coffee, "Golden Sun"
vegetable oil, Black&White cigarettes (Cigaronne company), Lamborghini
gas-fired boilers (Termoros AR company), Castrol oils (GTR Group),
Peronda и ABK tiles (R&V Comfort company).

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