Automatic Merchandiser Honors 2005 Readers' Choice Products of The Year

The stakes are high, the action fast and furious, and the results always exciting. The 2005 Automatic Merchandiser Readers' Choice Products of the Year featured two first-time winners, three recaptured first place titles, and three returning winners. This year's first-time winners are: Cloverhill Bakery's Big Texas Cinnamon Roll and Nestl? USA's Butterfinger Crisp.

This year also witnessed the most products to recapture top honors than ever. The three reclaiming winners are: Kellogg's Food Away From Home Famous Amos Chocolate Chip, Foodservice and Vending Sales' CHEETOS, and PepsiCo's PEPSI Cola.

There were also three returning winners: Masterfoods, USA's SNICKERS Bar, Nestl? USA's Nesquik Chocolate Milk and Pierre Foods' Big Az Beef Charbroil with Cheese.

For the second consecutive year, this year's competition included more electronic nominations -- via the magazine's website, www.AMonline.com -- than those that were mailed in or faxed. Readers faxed in and mailed ballots that were attached to the cover of the January issue of the magazine and inserted into the February issue.

Readers were asked to select their best selling, most profitable and most requested products.

2005: more nominations than ever

In 2005, the annual contest once again fielded more nominations in all six product categories than ever before.

Masterfoods, USA's SNICKERS Bar remains the contest's only undefeated winning product, as indicated on the historical charts on page 100. SNICKERS Bar also maintains the distinction of being the all-time top vote getter for all products.

This year also marks SNICKERS' 75th anniversary.

Masterfoods, USA's M&M'S Peanut Chocolate Candies took runner-up honors in the candy category.

This year, Kellogg's Food Away From Home Famous Amos Chocolate Chip recaptured its winning position in the cookie category. The cookie was upset for the first time last year by Masterfoods, USA's COOKIES&. COOKIES& also won top honors in the new product competition last year.

Famous Amos Chocolate Chip was not the only product to reclaim first place honors this year.

CHEETOS from Foodservice and Vending Sales reclaimed first place honors in the salted snack competition from Kar Nuts Sweet 'N Salty Mix, which held that position for two straight years. CHEETOS has been a periodic winner in the category, having taken first place in 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2001.

DORITOS, another Foodservice and Vending Sales product, won the salted snack competition in 2002.

Kar Nuts Sweet 'N Salty Mix took runner-up honors in the salted snack category. The product also took runner-up honors in 2002.

Health appeal plays a role

Kar Nuts has emerged as a serious contender in the salted snack category in recent years. Operators have credited the popularity of the Sweet 'N Salty Mix to its health appeal. Vending operators have consistently stated that consumers will choose better-for-you snacks if they have good taste, attractive packaging, and competitive pricing.

Pastry competition gets fierce

First-time winner Big Texas Cinnamon Roll from Cloverhill Bakery, last year's runner-up in the pastry category, also unseated a long-time winner, Mrs. Freshley's Jumbo Honey Bun, this year's runner-up.

Mrs. Freshley's Jumbo Honey Bun had a five-year winning streak beginning in 2000 in the pastry category. The product also enjoyed a two-year winning streak in 1997 and 1998.

Big Az name stakes a claim

This year marks the second consecutive winning year for Pierre Foods' Big Az Beef Charbroil with Cheese and the third time the product has won the top honors in the hotly contested food category.

Big Az Beef Charbroil with Cheese also grabbed top food honors in 2002.

Meat and cheese sandwiches have grabbed seven of the 12 first place prizes in the food category. Pierre Foods has fielded six of the 12 food category winners.

Nestl? Hand Helds Pizza Hot Pockets and Tony's 5" Pepperoni Pizza from Schwan's Food Service shared runners-up honors in this year's food competition.