Spirit of Innovation Awards
The Spirit of Innovation Award is designed to recognize product development teams for excellence in creating an innovative new product. The winners are acknowledged for each step of the process: from ideation and development to design, creation and launch of the product.
The Spirit of Innovation Award is sponsored by Prepared Foods. Created back in 2003 by Prepared Foods, the award has a history of recognizing landmark food and beverage product launches. In addition to being rewarded for true excellence in innovation and outstanding teamwork, these winners have received priceless worldwide exposure.
2020 SOI AWARD WINNERS
Editor’s Choice / Most Innovative: Mind Blown Coconut Shrimp, Plant Based Seafood Co.
New Retail Food: Green Giant Cauliflower Breadsticks, B&G Foods Inc.
New Retail Beverage: KÖE Shelf Stable Organic Kombucha, Stratus Group LLC
New Foodservice Product / Front of House*: Tyson Crispy Thigh Strips, Tyson Foodservice
New Foodservice Product / Back of House**: Marco's Adovada Sauce, Ready Foods
New Alternative Channel Product***: Lobster Salad Sensations, King and Prince Seafood Corp.
*Addressing foodservice consumer trends, tastes
**Addressing foodservice customer-operator needs
***New item for in-store deli and/or convenience store channel
Honorable Mention / Retail Food: Ground Veggie Meatless Mix, Urban Accents
Honorable Mention / Technical Achievement: Spaghetti Squash Pasta, Solely Inc.
Honorable Mention / Technical Achievement: Caliper CBD Powder, Caliper Holdings
JUDGING & CRITERIA DETAILS
Product Eligibility: To be eligible, product(s) must have been introduced between January 2019 and March 2020.
Success Story / Teamwork: Prepared Foods’ Spirit of Innovation awards are unique in that they honor product R&D teams’ multi-functional collaboration to identify market opportunities and do work together in product development. Please tell us how and why this product addresses a market need as well as how team members worked together to address and solve internal challenges.
Success Story / Sales: Can you demonstrate positive market sales results? Please do…
Packaging: Packaging innovation is a judging consideration but not weighted as highly as overall formulation and product development. Please note new-to-category packaging innovation (as appropriate)
Submissions: Products may be nominated directly by manufacturer-processor representatives, public relations firms or industry suppliers (ingredients, packaging, etc.)
Judging / How: Each product will be evaluated on an initial 10-point grading scale according to its originality, demonstrated teamwork, demonstrated sales success
Judging / Who: Prepared Foods staff will evaluate all submissions and seek additional input from Chief Editors of sister BNP Media titles: Beverage Industry, Dairy Foods, The National Provisioner (meat/poultry/seafood), Snack & Wholesale Bakery, Candy Industry, Refrigerated & Frozen Foods and Industria Alimenticia. Related titles include Brand Packaging, Flexible Packaging and Packaging Strategies.
Second-round Taste Test: Prepared Foods will ask manufacturers to submit samples of top-scoring new products for additional taste testing / evaluation.
2019 SOI AWARDS PHOTO GALLERY
Prepared Foods presented its 17th annual “Spirit of Innovation” awards for new product teams during the New Products Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Chicago’s Swissotel.
PAST SOI AWARDS WINNERS
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016
Foodservice Category Archives
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
Retail Category Archives
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New Products Conference is Going 100% Virtual in 2020!
Prepared Foods’ New Products Conference delivers the industry’s most focused look at food & beverage innovation—from consumer insights, product and packaging trends to the new tastes and latest technologies (e-commerce, artificial intelligence, etc) impacting R&D. Join us when the virtual event portal opens on August 14, 2020 and will remain open and accessible through August 2021.
