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 Winners
2020 Spirit of Innovation Awards Promotional Video
"This year’s Spirit of Innovation Awards brought more than 200 submissions for new products introduced from January 2019 through March 2020. True to form, they represent every taste, technology and trend now cutting across foods and beverages—including plant-based meat and seafood, clean label products, intriguing new flavors, CBD products and products with functional, better-for-you benefits."
— Bob Garrison, Prepared Foods Editor-in-Chief
Select a winner to learn more
How to Enter
Product Eligibility: To be eligible, product(s) must have been introduced between March 2020 through March 2021.
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.
Submission Deadline: March 31, 2021
Why Enter?
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.