Natural Beauty Yearbook 2016

This week saw the return of one of the most anticipated events in the natural beauty calendar and the one in which we get to find out who has made it into the 2016 Who's Who - yes, it's time for the launch of the Natural Beauty Yearbook!

The launch was held at Carousel in London's Marylebone and was hosted by Melvita. Sadly I was unable to attend this year due to a last minute booking, however I am able to bring you the all important results.

The 2016 Who's Who, Top 25 Personalities are...

1 Sonia White - founder of the online store Love Lula

2 Janey Lee Grace - Broadcaster and founder of Imperfectlynatural.com

3 Kim & Alexander Barani – founder of Kinetic Enterprise

4 Kirstie Sherriff – founder of Pinks Boutique

5 Francesca Morgante – Label Manager, NATRUE (new entry)

6 Graeme Hume – Managing Director, Pravera

7 Jayn Sterland – Commercial Director, Weleda

8 Emma Reinhold – Trade Relations Manager, Soil Association (new entry)

9 Tracey Robinson – founder of Vert PR

10 Ben Wigley – Founder of Big Green Smile (new entry)

11 Fiona Klonarides – founder of The Beauty Shortlist

12 Lorraine Dallmeier – Managing Director, Formula Botanica (new entry)

13 Olivia Crighton – Organic Hair Stylist, The Glasshouse (new entry)

14 Simon Golding – Director, Australis Distribution

15 Rebecca Goodyear – Blogger & PR, founder of Biteablebeauty.com

16 Ailish Lucas – Blogger, The Glow Getter (new entry)

17 Kim Allan – Director, Botanical Brands (new entry)

18 Wendy Stirling – founder of Botanicals

19 Simon Ford – L’Occitane Group

20 Catkin Wemyss-Bodmer – founder of BRYT Skincare (new entry)

21 Jo Fairley – author of The Beauty Bible

22 Dr Mariano Spiezia – Managing Director, Inlight Organic Skincare

23 Abi & Margaret Weeds – founders of Odylique

24 Emma Coleman – founder of Inner-Soul Organics

25 Elijah Choo – founder of Bodhi and Birch

Also held were the first ever Natural Beauty Retail Awards, which celebrates the achievements of high street and independent stores. The winners were...

Best Department Store - Debenhams

The judges said... We weren’t expecting an exclusively natural or organic offering with this category – we were looking at retail environment, having a credible natural offering and, ultimately, reach. With 240 stores, Debenhams is giving brands like Korres, Balance Me, Trilogy and Nourish the platform to reach the mass market.

Best Branded Store - Neal's Yard Remedies

Highly Comended - The Organic Pharmacy

The judges said... With their reach, ethos, campaigning and overall retail experience Neal’s Yard Remedies really sets the benchmark for great beauty retailing.

Best Supermarket - Waitrose

Highly commended – Ocado

The judges said... The ‘Waitrose Way’ prioritises treading lightly on the environment – an ethos in harmony with natural and organic brands. Having increased their proportion of natural and organic brands within all of their beauty categories they have been rewarded with strong sales growth.

Best Online Retailer - Love Lula

Highly Commended - Naturisimo

The Judges’ said... LoveLula has a clean, sophisticated e-commerce site and a great range of brands, but most impressive is their dedication to the organic beauty field, both in growing it and establishing trust with their Real Beauty Manifesto.

Best Independent Retailer – Content Beauty/Wellbeing

Highly commended Independent – Amaranth

Highly commended Independent – Earth Mother Soul Sister

The judges said... Content Beauty retails natural beauty like no other store, managing to meld the best aspects of an upmarket department store vibe with all the individuality, personality and personability of an independent. Distinctive, cohesive styling and shop-fitting, a unique tone of voice and with a finger on the pulse of the latest trends and brands before anyone else, Content has done a great deal to raise the profile of natural beauty amongst mainstream beauty influencers and does an incredible job of bringing the customer closer to the brand via ‘Meet the maker’ events.

I am sure you will agree that this is a fabulous line-up and you will join me in congratulating the winners.

Next year the Natural Beauty Yearbook will undergo a but of a transformation and will become known as Natural Beauty News with a printed publication and digital edition released in March and October. It will retain all of the popular elements of the yearbook such as the Who's Who, The Beauty Round Table and the Retailers Choice whilst also covering the best in seasonal trends, supported by a news driven website and monthly e-bulletins.

I for one, can't wait!