IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The nominations work on a basket/checkout system. After you pay for your entry, you will receive an email with a form to complete your nomination. Nominations must be complete by 15 September. The rules and information on sending in your products can be viewed here.
Bakery product of the year
Includes: bread, pies, cakes, savoury and sweet biscuits, pasties, cookies and muffins
Judging criteria: flavour and taste, texture, presentation, benefits to market sector and ‘moreishness’
Dairy product of the year
Includes: drinks, custards, yogurt, cheese, butter, spreads, cream and cream alternatives
Judging criteria: taste, nutritional and health USP’s, sector benefits, and versatility
Dessert of the year
Includes: cakes, sponges, tray bakes, cheesecake, tarts, puddings, slices, roulades, crumbles and pies
Judging criteria: flavour and taste, texture, presentation, benefits to market sector and ‘moreishness’
Health and wellbeing award
Includes: probiotic products, fermented foods, powders, low- calorie and low- carb health bars, milk alternative snacks, nut products and seeds. This category would also cover specially modified food products for patients with specific dietary needs.
Judging criteria: nutritional and health USP’s, sector benefits, taste and usage benefits to operator
Larder product of the year
Includes: ready-made sauces, herbs, spices, condiments, grab-and-go pulse pots, beans and lentils, condiments, ready-made jus and stock products
Judging criteria: versatility of the product, taste, time-saving credentials, flavour and innovation
Meat or poultry product of the year
Includes: fresh, frozen and tinned meat and poultry products
Judging criteria: taste, flavour, aroma, presentation and innovation and benefits for end-user
Plant-based product of the year
Includes: any plant-based food or drink products
Judging criteria: nutritional information, taste, format, flexibility and usage benefits to operator
Seafood product of the year
Includes: all fish and seafood products
Judging criteria: taste, flavour, presentation on the plate, innovation and benefits to end-user
Alcoholic innovation of the year
Includes: beers, craft beers, cider, wine, sparking wine, Champagne, and spirits
Judged criteria: flavour, pairing benefits, upselling suggestions, relevance for market
Hot beverage innovation of the year
Includes: traditional tea, fruit and herbal tea, hot chocolate (block and bean) and all variants of coffee
Judging criteria: flavour, aroma, benefits to the operator and quality of serve
Low- and no-alcoholic beverage of the year
Includes: all low- and no-alcohol drinks
Judging criteria: flavour, pairing benefits, upselling suggestions, relevance for market and branding
Soft drink innovation of the year
Includes: carbonates, fruit juices, smoothies, lifestyle drinks and energy drinks
Judging criteria: flavour and innovation, health and diet benefits
Equipment
Beverage equipment of the year (cold drinks)
Includes: juicers, smoothie makers, drinks dispensers, milk shake dispensers, water filtration taps, water boilers, water dispensers and taps, insulated air pots
Judging criteria: quality and speed of serve, labour-saving credentials, design and benefits to the operator
Beverage equipment of the year (hot drinks)
Includes: hot chocolate dispensers, water filtration taps, water boilers, water dispensers and taps, insulated air pots, espresso machines, bean-to-cup machines, capsule coffee machines
Judging criteria: quality and speed of serve, labour-saving credentials, design and benefits to the operator
FOG or waste management equipment of the year
Includes: cooker canopies and extraction hoods, bins, recycling, bin stores, waste compactors and waste systems, cooking oil filtration equipment, waste water and grease management kit
Judging criteria: reduction or management of waste, innovation, technology, efficiencies, potential cost-savings and benefits to the environment
Hygiene product of the year
Includes: air purifiers, hand driers, sanitisers, chemicals, thermometers, social distancing, and sanitisation equipment
Judging criteria: innovation, speed of use, safety benefits to operator and safety benefits to the customer
Laundry and cleaning product of the year
Includes: washing machines, driers, commercial irons, safety products and chemicals
Judging criteria: efficiency, environmental and sustainability credentials, benefits and demonstrable value to the operator
Light equipment product of the year
Includes: Barware, glassware, cutlery, cruets and crockery, blenders, mixers, slicers, food storage, knives, and ovenware
Judging criteria: style, practicality of use, design, benefits to operator, material, and sustainable credentials
Please note for crockery, only individual pieces will be judged. If mentioning a range, please state the piece that you wish to be judged.
Multi-functional cooking product of the year
Includes combi ovens, multi-use bratt pans, multi-cook ovens, cooking centres
Judging criteria: speed of service, design, benefits to the operator, cost-saving benefits, carbon footprint and efficiency
Prime cooking product of the year
Includes: suites, modular and induction ranges, fryers and grills, salamanders and steamers
Judging criteria: energy efficiency, functionality, style, design and benefits to the operator
Rapid cooking product of the year
Includes: accelerated cooking equipment, microwaves, convection oven, conveyor toasters, contact grills, rapid cook and impingement equipment
Judging criteria: speed of service, design, benefits to the operator, cost-saving benefits, carbon footprint and efficiency
Refrigeration award
Includes: display cabinets, blast chillers and freezers
Judging criteria: energy efficiency, storage capacity, innovative features and gas technology
Service and spare parts award
Judging criteria: the judges will accept testimonials in this category and will review the entries based on installation case studies, speed of service, range of spares parts, CSR, preventative maintenance contracts, and emergency breakdown packages
Sustainable products and packaging award
Includes: bottles, cutlery, plates, straws, cups, containers and lighting
Judging criteria: innovation, eco-benefits, design, durability, benefits to the end-user and the planet
Technology innovation of the year
Includes: mobile apps, compliance aids, online booking tools, EPOS/POS systems, in-hotel rooms services, interfaces, revenue and rota management tools, wireless monitoring systems and CRM
Judging criteria: innovation, benefits to operator, convenience and money-saving credentials
Warewasher of the year
Includes: dishwashers, glass washers, pot washers, cutlery washers and chemicals
Judging criteria: energy and water usage, functionality, quality of results and speed