Los Angeles International Competitions

For decades, the Los Angeles International Competitions have awarded gold medals to the best wine, spirits, olive oils and dairy products from around the globe. The competitions are the foundation for an education program that’s available to more than 600,000 paid visitors to the LA County Fair. The Los Angeles International Competitions are committed to education, featuring industry experts with extensive knowledge about selection, tasting and food pairings.

Requirements: None

Categories 

Wine Competition

  • Traditional Wine

  • Bordeaux/Bordeaux Supérieur

  • Limited Production

  • Sake

  • Packaging Design

Spirits Competition

  • Traditional

  • Ready to Drink

  • Mixer & No-Low Alcohol

  • Liqueur

  • Packaging Design

Beer Competition - on hiatus 

Dairy Competition

  • Cheese

  • Cultured Liquid Products and Butter

  • Fluid, Milk and Cream

  • Frozen Dairy Dessert

  • Sour Cream and Yogurt

EVOO Competition

  • Spanish / Espanol 

  • Italian / Italiano

  • English

Nominations due: 

More info

Startup CPG’s Shelfie Awards

The self-proclaimed Emmy’s of Emerging Food and Beverage, the Shelfie Awards recognizes the most promising startup food and beverage brands. Startup CPG understands the cost and labor barriers to nominating brands for larger awards and that award recognition could catapult emerging brands into success. By offering the Best-In-Class Awards to the most promising 1-5 person brand in the CPG space, Startup CPG is helping companies get a foothold in the market with winners being featured in a special edition of The Spotlight magazine and receiving access to major industry partnerships.

Requirements: Must be a member of the Startup CPG Slack channel. Must be a 1-10 person brand (some exceptions considered).

Categories: 

  • All beverages

  • CBD

  • Baby products

  • Sweeteners

  • Supplements

  • Bars

  • Sweet and salty snacks

  • Baking mixers/flours

  • Nut butters

  • Pasta

  • Canned goods

  • Desserts

  • Frozen

  • Dips

  • Seasoning and oils

  • Sauce and condiments

  • Plant-based alternatives

  • Soups

  • Entrees and breakfast

Nominations open: Beginning February 1, 2025

Award date: September 2025

More info

FoodBev Awards 2025

FoodBev Media prides itself on being the premier outlet for honoring the successes and achievements of companies across the world in the food and beverage space. This UK-based company has been hosting these awards for more than 10 years and is recognized worldwide as one of the most credible and respectable awards to influence the international food and beverage industry. With 2,500+ companies submitting nominations and 1,250+ products, businesses and innovations crowned winners, these awards boast an international reputation.

Requirements: None

Categories

World Food Innovation Awards

  • Best Product of 

    • Artisan product

    • Bakery Product

    • Children’s/baby product 

    • Confectionary product

    • Snack product

    • Low or no product

    • Natural/organic product

    • Dairy product

    • Plant-based product

    • Chilled/frozen product

    • Meat/poultry product

    • Seafood product

    • Functional product

  • Best Innovation of 

    • Drink innovation

    • Food innovation

    • Ingredient innovation

    • Health innovation

    • Technology innovation

  • Best of Business 

    • Marketing campaign

    • New/start-up business

    • Packaging design

    • CSR/sustainability initiative

    • Foodservice initiative

World Dairy Innovation Awards

  • Best Product 

    • Artisan dairy

    • Cheese

    • Children’s dairy product

    • Dairy alternative

    • Dairy drink

    • Dairy protein product

    • Dairy snack

    • Ice cream/frozen yogurt

    • Functional dairy

  • Best Innovation 

    • Dairy alternative Innovation

    • Intolerance-friendly Innovation

    • Manufacturing/technology innovation

    • Health innovation 

  • Best of Business 

    • Marketing campaign

    • New/start-up business

    • Packaging design

    • CSR/sustainability initiative

World Beverage Innovation Awards

  • Best Product 

    • Alcohol beverage

    • Beverage concept

    • Beverage system

    • Craft beverage

    • Energy beverage

    • Functional beverage

    • Low/no alcohol beverage

    • Natural/organic beverage

    • Plant-based beverage

    • Premium beverage

    • Ready-to-drink beverage

  • Best Packaging

    • Glass design

    • Metal design

    • Packaging design

  • Best Innovation

    • Manufacturing/processing innovation

    • Packaging innovation

    • Technology innovation

    • Health/wellness innovation

    • Ingredient innovation

  • Best Business

    • CSR/sustainability initiative

    • Marketing campaign

    • New/start-up business

World Plant-Based Innovation Awards

  • Best Product 

    • Dairy Alternative

    • Foodservice Solution

    • Plant-Based Beverage

    • Plant-Based Condiment

    • Plant-Based Confectionery

    • Plant-Based Convenience Product

    • Plant-Based Dessert

    • Plant-Based Egg Product

    • Plant-Based Functional Product

    • Plant-Based Meat Product

    • Plant-Based Natural/Clean Label Product

    • Plant-Based Seafood

    • Plant-Based Snack

  • Best Innovation

    • Cell-based innovation

    • Health innovation

    • Ingredient innovation

    • Protein Innovation

    • Technology innovation

  • Best Business 

    • CSR/sustainability initiative

    • Brand Extension

    • Packaging design

The Plant-Based Taste Awards

Categories:

  • Plant-based Protein

    • Bacon

    • Burger

    • Chicken

    • Deli meat

    • Mince, fillet & pieces

    • Sausage

    • Seafood

  • Dairy Alternative

    • Butter/spread

    • Cheese

    • Ice cream

    • Milk alternative

    • Yogurt

  • Plant-based Sweet Product

    • Chocolate

    • Confectionery

    • Dessert

    • Sweet bakery

    • Sweet snack

  • Plant-based Savoury Product

    • Pie-pastry

    • Savoury bakery

    • Savoury snack

  • Plant-based Prepared Product

    • Beverage

    • Convenience

    • Egg-based product

    • Foodservice solution

    • Ready meal

    • Vegetable-based product

World Coffee Innovation Awards

  • Best Product

    • Automatic Coffee Machine

    • Barista Tool/Equipment

    • Coffee Capsule/Pod

    • Coffee Flavouring Product

    • Cold Brew Product

    • Functional Coffee

    • Low/no Caffeine Product

    • Manual Coffee Machine

    • Milk Alternative

    • Ready-to-drink Product

  • Best Innovation

    • Brewing Innovation

    • Packaging Innovation

    • Roasting Innovation

    • Technology Innovation

    • Water Filter Innovation

  • Best Business

    • Ethical Initiative

    • New/start-up Business

    • Sustainability Initiative

Nominations due: 

World Food Innovation Awards: 

World Dairy Innovation Awards: Check back for 2025 dates
World Beverage Innovation Awards: Check back for 2025 dates
World Plant-Based Innovation Awards: Check back for 2025 dates
The Plant-Based Taste Awards: Check back for 2025 dates
World Coffee Innovation Awards: Check back for 2025 dates

International Taste Institute’s Superior Taste Award

Since 2005, the Superior Taste Award has evaluated products from over 100 countries to certify the best across the Food and Beverage Industry. With a jury of gastronomy experts, products must achieve an overall score above 70% in the sensory evaluations to be granted the award. The International Taste Institute strives to support and encourage consumer food and beverage producers to develop consistently tastier food.

Requirements: None

Categories

  • Bakery & Breakfast

  • Dairy

  • Antipasti - Dips & Savory Spreads

  • Fruit & Vegetables

  • Meat & Charcuterie

  • Fish & Seafood

  • Ready Meals - Pizza & Savory Pies

  • Savory Snacks - Crackers & Chips

  • Sweet Snacks - Bars - Biscuits - Chocolate - Confectionary

  • Honey - Jams - Sweet Spreads & Toppings

  • Nuts -Seeds & Dried Fruit

  • Oils - Vinegar & Fats

  • Preserves & Canned Food

  • Soups & Stocks

  • Sauces - Condiments - Seasonings & Spices

  • Pasta - Noodles - Rice - Grains

  • Cake & Pastry - Flour - Sugar

  • Ice Cream & Desserts

  • Other Food Products

  • Water

  • Tea

  • Coffee

  • Soft Drinks - Juices & Non Alcoholic Beverages

  • Beers - Ciders & Alcoholic Beverages (<10% alc.)

  • Alcoholic Beverages - Spirits & Liquors

Nominations due:

  • Food - March 7, 2025

  • Drinks - April 11, 2025

Award date: June 2025

Apply here /More info

Prepared Foods Spirit of Innovation Awards

Prepared Foods’ Spirit of Innovation Awards recognize product development teams for excellence with innovative new products. Winners are acknowledged for each step of the process: from insights and ideation through formulation and full development of the product. Established in 2003 by Prepared Foods, these awards have recognized landmark food and beverage product launches.

Requirements: Product(s) must have been introduced between January 2024 through March 2025. Company must be operating in the United States or Canada.

Categories:

  • Best New Product - Retail Food

  • Best New Product - Retail Beverage

  • Best New Product - Foodservice / Front of House

  • Best New Product - Foodservice / Back of House

  • Best New Product - Alternative Channel (in-store bakery/deli or convenience store)

Nominations due: April 15, 2025

Award date: November 2025

Apply here / More info

BevNET’s Best of 2025

Producing an annual Best Of Awards since 2007, BevNET hosts the Best of 2025 awards to honor companies, brands, individuals, products, ideas, and trends across the beverage market. The leading food and beverage-oriented media company seeks to recognize beverage brands across a variety of categories that are making waves in the industry and bringing innovative ideas to the landscape.

Requirements: Any beverage company/product that you find deserving can be nominated.

Categories:

  • Brand of the Year & Person of the Year: Reserved for companies and individuals whose work throughout the year has created lasting, substantial, positive change through innovation and high quality

  • Rising Stars: Companies whose work has great potential to shift or open categories, create new ideas about products or brands, and have shown growth that indicates they will have an enduring presence in the industry

  • Best New Products: Lines or SKUs that have been introduced in the previous year that have at least one outstanding quality in terms of taste, design, cause, formulation, or that generate interest over their disruptive potential

  • Best Packaging Design: The brand or product with innovative package design that stands out amongst the rest on the shelf, which can include either a new product on the market or a brand that has undergone a major packaging refresh

  • Best Marketing Campaign: Awarded to the company that broke through the noise with its marketing campaign which grabbed the attention of both consumers and industry peers

  • Best New Spirits Products: Packaged RTD spirit-based products that have been introduced in the previous year that have at least one outstanding quality in terms of taste, design, cause, formulation, or that generate interest over their disruptive potential

Nominations due: TBD

Award date: December 2025

More info

NOSH’s Best of 2025

BevNET’s natural food counterpart, NOSH’s annual Best Of awards honors companies, brands, individuals, products, ideas, and trends from the natural food market. NOSH provides information and resources for the world of entrepreneurial packaged food companies and services. Due to the rising interest in Natural, Organic, Sustainable, and Healthy (NOSH) products, companies are seeing rapid expansion and NOSH wants to become the leading source of informed, comprehensive coverage and context about this community and the larger trends affecting it.

Requirements: Any NOSH company/product that you find deserving can be nominated 

Categories:

  • Brand of the Year & Person of the Year: Reserved for companies and individuals whose work throughout the year has created lasting, substantial, positive change through innovation and high quality

  • Emerging Brands: Emerging Brands are early-stage or emerging companies whose work shows great potential to shift or open categories and whose efforts have already shown indications they will have an enduring presence in the industry.

  • Rising Stars: Companies whose work has great potential to shift or open categories, create new ideas about products or brands, and have shown growth that indicates they will have an enduring presence in the industry.

  • Best New Products: Lines or SKUs that have been introduced in the previous year that have at least one outstanding quality in terms of taste, design, cause, formulation, or that generate interest over their disruptive potential.

  • Best Packaging: The brand or product with innovative package design that stands out amongst the rest on shelf, which can include either a new product on the market or a brand that has undergone a major packaging refresh

  • Best Marketing Campaign: Awarded to the company that broke through the noise with its marketing campaign which grabbed the attention of both consumers and industry peers

Nominations due: TBD

Award date: December 2025

More info

sofi™ Awards

For over 50 years, the Specialty Food Association has honored the best in specialty food with the sofi™ Awards. Members of the Specialty Food Association are specialty food artisans, purveyors, importers and entrepreneurs, as well as distributors, retailers, and others involved in the specialty food trade. This award is not only a symbol of great work but also a doorway to invaluable business opportunities and global recognition.

Requirements: Member in good standing of the Specialty Food Association

Categories

  • Alcoholic beverages, cocktail mixes & mocktails

  • Appetizers & snacks

  • Baking mixes/pastry doughs, flours & grains, baking inclusions, decorations & toppings, fats & functional ingredients

  • Barbecue sauce

  • Beans, grains, rice & mixes

  • Breads

  • Baked goods - bakery desserts

  • Breakfast foods

  • Cereals & granola

  • Cheese - cow milk

  • Cheese - non-cow milk, mixed milk

  • Chips, pretzels, rice cakes & salty snacks

  • Chocolate - dark

  • Chocolate - milk, white & ruby

  • Chocolate candy

  • Confectionary (non-chocolate)

  • Coffee & hot cocoa (non-ready-to-drink)

  • Condiments, dressings & marinades

  • Cookies & snack bars

  • Crackers & Crispbreads

  • Dessert toppings

  • Entrees, lunch, dinner

  • Frozen desserts

  • Fruit spreads, jams & jellies

  • Fruits & vegetables

  • Functional beverages

  • Hot sauce

  • Jerky & meat snacks

  • Juices & beverages

  • Meat & poultry

  • Nut, seed & confectionary butters

  • Nuts, seeds, trail mix, dried fruit

  • Nut & other oils

  • Olive oils

  • Other dairy

  • Pasta & noodles

  • Pickles & olives

  • Plant based milk

  • Plant based dairy

  • Plant based protein

  • Salsa & dips

  • Sauces

  • Seafood 

  • Seasoning & spices

  • Soda & carbonated beverages

  • Soup

  • Sweeteners

  • Tea, chai, & tisanes

  • Tea & coffee (ready-to-drink)

  • Vinegars

  • Waters 

  • Wellness bars & gels

  • Yogurt & Kefir

Nominations due: TBD for 2025

Award date: TBD for 2025

More info

NEXTY Awards

The NEXTY Awards recognize the most progressive, innovative, inspiring and trustworthy products in the natural products industry. Entering your product for a NEXTY Award gives you unprecedented exposure to New Hope Network’s editorial team.

Requirements: Any CPG brand in the natural products industry with a finished product can nominate for a NEXTY Award.

Categories 

  • People-Forward Product: These brands put people first, whether through their transparent, fair or direct-trade sourcing practices, support of local or global communities, vertical integration, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion practices; support of food access, living wages, employee care, etc.

  • Planet-Forward Product: These brands have demonstrable commitments to sustainable environmental practices (alternative energy, zero waste, regenerative agriculture, circular economies, environmentally responsible packaging, food waste, upcycling…) and exhibit an exemplary level of transparency and understanding of how their practices impact the planet.

  • Certified Organic Product: This category is for brands that are doing more by engaging in policy to strengthen organic standards, converting or expanding acreage or showcasing a deep understanding of the ecological journey to their organic efforts. Nominating brands must be Certified Organic (USDA NOP standards or equivalent.

  • Certified Regenerative Product: This category is for brands that are doing more by engaging in policy to strengthen regenerative standards, converting or expanding acreage or showcasing a deep understanding of the ecological journey to their regenerative efforts. Nominating brands must be certified by an accredited third-party agency such as Regenerative Organic Certified, Land to Market Verified, Regenified, or Certified Regenerative by AGW.

  • Plant Party! These products help promote and educate about the benefits of putting plants at the forefront and answer a growing consumer demand for plant-focused products that support climate, health and/or animal welfare issues. Products do not need to be strictly 100% plant-based or vegan (i.e. honey may be used as a sweetener) but rather celebrate the plants at center stage.

  • Natural Living Product: Includes natural products for the home, such as cleaning supplies, apparel, pet products, clothing, gear, etc.

  • Natural Kid’s Product: Gear, supplements, foods or beverages designed with the youngest consumers in mind.

  • Packaging: These products have packaging that stands out for its sustainability, messaging, branding, design or innovation.

  • Sustainable Supplement: These products put sustainability front and center, whether through the use of regenerative or organic ingredients, good sourcing practices, renewable energy, innovative packaging or other exemplary practices.

  • Supplement Trailblazer: These products are industry trailblazers, answering the question “what’s next?” in supplements. They might exhibit strong scientific rigor, the use of cutting-edge technology, inventive delivery formats or address conditions not yet widely known or understood.

  • Supplement for the Mind: These products are formulated for and positioned to address conditions of the mind including stress, mood, sleep, relaxation, mood, focus, concentration, etc.

  • Supplement for the Body: These products are formulated for and positioned to address conditions of the body including skin, bones, performance, weight management, joint and heart health, digestion, microbiome, etc.

  • Functional Food or Beverage: These products seek to support wellness by harnessing functional ingredients such as botanicals, adaptogens, nootropics, etc. Brands are strongly encouraged to include amounts per serving information for the functional ingredients in their nomination application, particularly in support of any wellness claims made about the product on the packaging.

  • Meat, Dairy or Animal-Based Product

  • Meat Alternative

  • Dairy Alternative

  • Special Diet Food: Keto, vegetarian, Paleo, FODMAP, Whole 30.

  • Gluten-Free Product

  • Vegan Product

  • Prepared Pantry Product: Canned goods, jarred sauces, heat and eat meal helpers, etc.

  • Pantry Staples: Dry goods and uncooked items such as pasta, rice, grains, oats, cereals and baking mixes.

  • Spices and Condiments (herbs, salts, traditional condiments, slaws, relishes, pickles…)

  • Dips and Spreads

  • Breads and Bakery (refrigerated, frozen or shelf-stable)

  • Packaged Produce (dehydrated, fresh and frozen): Salad kits, sprouts, prepared beets, frozen smoothie fruit and acai bowls, packaged mushrooms, etc.

  • Savory or Salty Snack

  • Sweet Snack and Desserts: Chocolate, cookies, gummies, fruit snacks and other sweet treats.

  • Frozen Desserts: Ice cream, popsicles and novelties.

  • Prepared Frozen Products: Pizza, frozen dinners and other savory frozen products. NOT sweet.

  • Beverage: This includes all RTD beverages, drink mixes, juices and mixers that are labeled with the appropriate nutrition facts panel where required.

  • Coffee or Tea: RTD, cold brew, loose leaf, bagged, whole grain or ground.

  • Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Alcohol-free beer, wine, cocktails and other drinks.

  • Alcoholic Beverages: Beer, wine, spirits and other alcoholic drinks.

Nominations open: 2025 nominations for 2026 winners TBD

Award date: TBD

More info

The Brewers Association’s World Beer Cup

Known as “the Olympics of Beer,” the World Beer Cup is the most prestigious beer competition in the world. Developed in 1996 to celebrate the art and science of brewing, the Brewers Association utilizes 200+ highly qualified beer professionals as judges across 100+ style categories.

Requirements: All World Beer Cup entries must be commercially available, fermented malt beverages conforming to the trade understanding of “beer” (see “Beer Eligibility Criteria” section below) brewed by a permitted commercial brewery.

“Commercially available” means available for sale at retail at the time of registration. Entering United States breweries must have a current Brewer’s Notice on file with the U.S. Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

Beer entries that contain any substances not authorized for use in human food, or which are made with ingredients that contain such substances, or which are made in contact with materials not authorized as food contact materials, all in accordance with the United States federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as interpreted and administered by U.S. FDA are not eligible to compete in the World Beer Cup.

New, beginning in 2022: Beer entries that do not comply with the Brewers Association Advertising & Marketing Code will be disqualified from the competition and will not be refunded for competition fees.

Categories:

There are over 100 category styles to be nominated for - see the full list here!

Nominations due: Check back for 2026 nomination deadline!

Award date: TBD

More info


Black Women in Food Awards

Now in its sixth year, these awards celebrate the contributions to the food system by Black women across the world. The Black Women in Food initiative identifies, amplifies, and supports Black women in the food and beverage space to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable food system while advancing their work.

Requirements: Anyone who self-identifies as a Black woman in any country around the world and demonstrates significant accomplishment(s) in one of the award categories.

Categories:

  • Game Changer: A game changer uses their voice or influence to bring about positive change for individuals, groups, communities, or the environment (e.g. activist, policymaker, and/or venture capitalist, etc.).

  • Innovator: An innovator creates or adapts tools, models, approaches, and/or harnesses technology in efforts to solve challenges within the food system (e.g. inventor, researcher, product developer, intrapreneur, etc.)

  • Trailblazer: A trailblazer is a well-accomplished leader who has paved the way for others and has made groundbreaking contributions to the food system (e.g. pioneer, vanguard, etc.).

  • Creator: A creator is an individual that creates content, experiences, or products that connect people to different foods (e.g. food blogger, food stylist, curator, content creator, consumer packaged goods entrepreneur, etc.).

  • Culinarian: A culinarian is trained or self-taught in the art of cooking and demonstrates exemplary talent through their work (e.g. chef, home cook, caterer, etc.).

  • Amplifier: An amplifier is an individual that leverages their voice and platform(s) to highlight stories or narratives in the food system (e.g. journalist, author, photographer, podcaster, filmmaker, etc.).

  • Corporate Champion: A corporate champion works in the private sector to shape products, ideas, and/or opportunities that contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive food system (e.g. branding and marketing professional, buyer, research and development professional, diversity & inclusion professional, sustainability strategist, etc.).

  • Beverage Master: A beverage master is an individual with knowledge in spirits or wine that leverages their expertise to move the industry forward through education, creativity, and/or engagement with people or brands (e.g. sommelier, mixologist, bar owner, wine and spirit maker, vineyard manager, etc.)

Nominations due: Check back for 2026 nominations deadline!

Award date: TBD

More info

Good Food Awards

In an effort to celebrate both social/environmental responsibility and craftsmanship/flavor simultaneously, the Good Food Awards was born to bring people together while building strong, healthy communities. With over 2,000 entries from all 50 states submitted each year, companies that top the charts in a Blind Tasting and meet the environment and social responsibility standards have stiff competition.

Requirements: 

  • Products must be made in a licensed kitchen, or as required by state and local regulations, and be ready for sale.

  • If produced by a copacker (or for Fish, a cannery or processor), the product must be made:

    • from the entrant’s own recipe

    • with strict sourcing guidelines set by the entrant

    • with regular quality control measures set in place

  • Ingredients that are part of an entry which fall into one of Good Food Awards categories (e.g., honey or olive oil in a snack entry) should meet the sustainability standards of those categories.

  • Entrants who score well in the Blind Tasting will be asked to provide more information on sourcing and their sustainability and social responsibility practices to verify they meet the Good Food Awards standards details listed in the Entry Form. Entrants will be disqualified if they do not meet the standards or any statements made are found to be false.

  • Additional criteria for large-scale companies: While larger companies make up less than 1% of the companies that enter, we welcome larger-scale companies who honor the criteria of “being an upstanding member of the good food community, committed to equity and inclusion in all levels of their business” in ways that are unique and beyond what is required of smaller companies, due to their unique situation of having substantially more resources. With that in mind, both publicly-held companies and those with over $100 million in annual revenue are required to meet these additional equity criteria to qualify for a Good Food Award:

    • Offers a minimum of 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all employees

    • Has at least one woman, minority, or LGBTQ+ representative on their Board of Directors

    • Has a proven track record of prioritizing a safe and fairly-compensated work culture, with no violations in the area of wage or workplace safety in the past 5 years.

Categories:

  • Beer

  • Charcuterie

  • Cheese

  • Chocolate

  • Cider

  • Coffee

  • Confections

  • Drinks

  • Elixirs

  • Fish

  • Grains

  • Honey

  • Oils

  • Pantry

  • Pickles

  • Preserves

  • Snacks

  • Spirits

Nominations due: TBD for 2026

Award date: TBD for 2026

More info | Sign up for the Good Food Awards newsletter to be notified of how to register!

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Written by: Toni Aston

Julee Ho Media is a boutique food photography company specializing in remote photoshoots for CPG brands.

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