Awards Banquet Recognises Visionaries in Chemicals, Materials and Food Industry.

LONDON, November 14 /PRNewswire/ --

Showcasing unparalleled innovation across a wide variety of products and services which continue to flourish amid the current global economic gloom, eighteen exemplary organisations were honoured at Frost & Sullivan's recent Excellence in Chemicals, Materials and Food Awards Banquet.

The ceremony saw pioneers and innovators from a diverse range of markets, including food ingredients, speciality chemicals, bioplastics, high-performance fibres and protective equipment, lauded for superlative accomplishments in a broad spectrum of categories, such as Product Line Strategy, Product Innovation, Growth Strategy Leadership and Green Excellence.

Speaking at the ceremony at the London Hilton on Park Lane last Tuesday, Bill Stringer, Director of Frost & Sullivan's Chemicals, Materials and Food Practice addressed the megatrends in the chemicals sector while Dorman Followwill, Director of Healthcare, elaborated on how the paradigm shift in healthcare unleashes new potential for chemicals and food ingredients businesses.

At the top of the supply chain, the chemicals sector can develop new products that will help the downstream markets meet the demands of both the consumer and the regulator, as well as drive down costs. According to Mr Stringer, future growth is very real for the sector but shifts in approaches towards better insight in the downstream markets will be a critical key to success.

"We should be under no illusion that the future industry climate will not pose tough challenges, but sizeable opportunities for growth can be exploited if we understand and focus on the consumer and the value chain drivers."

In addition, the key shifts in healthcare towards the empowerment of the 'Expert Patient', rising costs, preventative treatments and non-invasive treatments also provide fresh potential to the functional food ingredients sector, performance materials and chemicals sector, adds Mr Followwill.

The event culminated in a celebration of achievements by the following organisations demonstrating best practices in their respective disciplines.

    Award Recipient                     Award Category

    Evonik Goldschmidt GmbH             2007 European Construction Green
                                        Product of the Year Award
    Dr. Straetmans GmbH                 2008 European Active Ingredients
                                        Product Line Strategy Award
    Dow Corning Corporation             2008 Global Specialty Chemicals
                                        Corporate Leadership Green
                                        Excellence Award
    Teijin Aramid                       2008 European High Performance
                                        Fibres Growth Strategy Leadership
                                        Award
    Dyneon GmbH & Co. KG                2008 European High Performance
                                        Polymers Green Product Innovation
                                        Award
    Ansell Healthcare Europe            2008 European Protective Gloves
                                        Customer Service Leadership Award
    Songwon Industrial Co., Ltd.        2008 Global Plastic Packaging
                                        Additives Growth Strategy
                                        Leadership Award
    Cognis GmbH                         2008 European Insect Repellent
                                        Textiles Product Innovation Award
    EXTRAMEL(R) (Bionov Sarl)           2008 European Anti-Stress
                                        Promising Ingredient of the Year
                                        Award
    GELITA                              2008 European Health Ingredient of
                                        the Year Award
    Gencor Pacific Group                2008 Global Appetite Suppressant
                                        and Satiety Ingredients Product
                                        Innovation of the Year Award
    Cosucra Groupe Warcoing             2008 European Weight Management
                                        Ingredients Brand Leadership of
                                        the Year Award
    INDENA S.p.A.                       2008 European Green Tea Extracts
                                        Excellence in Research Award
    JUNGBUNZLAUER                       2008 European Functional
                                        Ingredients Product of the Year
                                        Award
    EPAX AS                             2008 European Omega-3 Ingredients
                                        Excellence in Product Quality
                                        Award
    Leiber GmbH                         2008 European Yeast Product Line
                                        Excellence Award
    Biogenerics                         2008 European Eye Health
                                        Ingredients Customer Service
                                        Innovation Award
    Avebe Group                         2008 European Food Ingredients
                                        Customer Value Enhancement Award

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievements and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan's Growth Partnerships, visit http://www.frost.com.

    For further information, please contact:

    Kristina Menzefricke
    Frost & Sullivan
    Best Practices
    Promotions Manager, Europe
    [e-mail]
    T: [phone]

Kristina Menzefricke, Frost & Sullivan, Best Practices, Promotions Manager, Europe, [phone], [e-mail]