Its publisher, leading content marketer New Media, garnered a total of 13 accolades, dominating the magazine industry’s premier awards ceremony once again.

In addition to these two top honours, Woolworths TASTE received wins for customer magazine overall design, customer cover of the year, best tie-in with integrated marketing and online solution of the year (across both customer and consumer categories). The magazine also received a highly commended for best layout of the year – again, across both customer and consumer categories.

Always innovative, Woolworths TASTE has raised the bar for South African food magazines since its début. Editor Sumien Brink and food editor Abigail Donnelly are behind the sumptuous pages of this monthly food feast, which achieved record sales and a South African food media first this past month with its inaugural Readers Issue. In 2010, Woolworths TASTE won three PICAs for customer magazine of the year, online solution of the year, and design.

“It was an absolute privilege and honour to receive all of these awards, and we are so extremely proud of Sumien – this really was her night!” said Helena Gavera, Woolworths TASTE account director. Brink, who is content director for both Woolworths TASTE and VISI, received another big nod with an award for VISI for best consumer cover. The luscious 'Kiss and Tell' cover entices readers to dig into an issue filled with design secrets of SA’s most creative families. VISI has been South Africa’s benchmark décor, design and architecture title since its début in 1998.

Especially meaningful to Gavera from Woolworths TASTE was the award the magazine received for best tie-in with integrated marketing. “It’s a win on two levels: both for the demonstrated consumer appeal of this fantastic magazine which shows that it is head and shoulders above its competition, and the recognition that it is a successful tool serving the Woolworths business,” she said. “Facilitating customers to engage with the brand, which strengthens that relationship and ultimately brand loyalty, is the ultimate goal and objective of any customer title, so this award means that we are doing things right on all counts.”

Other New Media wins include:

• Plascon Spaces – highly commended relaunch of the year
Plascon Spaces is an accessible and inspirational décor magazine published for SA’s leading paint retailer that gives readers the chance to discover the amazing transformative power of paint.

• Privé – highly commended customer magazine of the year, highly commended customer cover and highly recommended customer magazine overall design.
Distributed to Sun International’s MVG’s (Most Valued Guests), Privé is a luxurious read for the high roller with lavish visuals and exciting features. The quarterly magazine successfully highlights the varied opportunities to play and unwind at Sun International’s many casino destinations.