Asia scores 4 FAB awards and 5 Silver awards at the 18th annual FAB Awards in London

The 18th Annual International Food and Beverage Creative Excellence Awards (The FAB Awards) were held last night at the quintessentially British – The Hurlingham Club in London.

Guests were treated to cocktails and a delectable three-course dinner followed by the ceremony itself, in which the award-winning design, creative and effective work was showcased to the audience, and the teams behind them presented with their trophies.

This year also marked the first time all the finalists or ‘Silver Award’ winners were handed out a plate at The FAB Awards Ceremony.

Asia scored four FAB awards: Beacon/Leo Burnett Tokyo for “Mask of Sociability Smirnoff” in Collateral & POS, which also won two Silver awards in the Sales Promotion and Best Use of Media categories, Imayotsukasa Bullet Japan for “Japanese Sake – KOI” in Packaging Design, Party/Space/Design Thailand for “Dessert Bar Shugaa” in Interiors & Retail Environment and Leo Burnett Hong Kong for “Opening Good Times Calbee” in Direct Marketing.

Out There Media/Mindshare/Arcade/XL Axiata Indonesia won Silver for Walls’ “Taste Joy Campaign” in Mobile Marketing, Mindshare Indonesia also won Silver for “Bango App – Serving Street Food to the Masses” also in Mobile Marketing and Hakuhodo Japan won Silver for “Talkable Vegetables Hug Mart” in Ambient.

The recipients of the highest prize (FABulous Award) on the night, were as follows:

FABulous Award across Packaging Design, Retail Environment, Logo Design Brand Redesign & Brand Identity

•    TÅPPED – TÅPPED Birch Water by Horse, UK

•    Oh! Saft – Squeeze Bottles by Leo Burnett, Germany

FABulous Award across Press, Poster/OOH, TV & Cinema, Ambient & Radio

•    McDonald’s – We Hear You + Celebration by Leo Burnett Chicago

Viral Marketing

•    Extra Gum – “Sarah & Juan” by Energy BBDO Chicago

Online Advertising

•    KFC – Rich Kids of Instagram by MRM McCann Romania

For a remarkable third consecutive year, AMV BBDO were named the Google FAB Agency of the Year, having received 12 nominations and winning five FAB Awards. The awards were spread over four different clients: Sainsbury’s (x2), Pepsi Max, Guinness and Snickers.

Says Ian Pearman, group chairman and group CEO AMV BBDO: “To win Agency of the Year at The FAB Awards three years running is a source of great pride for our people and clients. Food and drink is a crowded category and to have standout work recognized by FAB is fantastic.”

The Google FAB Brand/Marketer of the Year was Mars Incorporated for a second year running, with a remarkable 18 nominations across all categories. Snickers was Mars Incorporated’s most successful brand, constituting 14 out of their 18 nominations, and winning an impressive 10 FABs and one FABulous Award on the night.

Says Bruce McColl, global chief marketing officer at Mars, Incorporated: “We are deeply honoured to receive this prestigious award for the second year in a row. It demonstrates what is possible when you connect the creative excellence of our agency partners with the outstanding marketing talent that resides within our business at Mars. The chemistry that exists between these teams is palpable. The work they have created together is being recognized for its ability to engage our consumers and drive our business. Personally, I cannot be more proud of what they deliver time and time again.”

Design Agency Horse bagged the inaugural FAB Design Agency of the Year prize after winning two FAB Awards and a FABulous Award on the night.

Says Sarah Pidgeon, founder/creative partner of Horse: “What an incredible evening for Horse. It means a great deal to receive such an accolade from our peers, and to be recognised for the work we’re doing as a new agency. It’s an unbelievably proud moment for us. We continually strive to create designs that express products in an original and challenging way. The multiple wins tonight for Horse solidify the hard work from our team to continually push the boundaries in market categories, and the bravery and uncompromising vision from our clients.”

A full list of the finalist and the winners at The 18th FAB Awards can be seen here.