The International Food and Drink Event (IFE), is the largest food and drink trade show in the United Kingdom. It takes place every two years. The latest such event, IFE 2017, was held in Excel, London over four days from Sunday, 19 March 2017 to Wednesday, 22 March 2017 and showcased over 1350 food and beverage suppliers from around the world.
A significant highlight within the IFE 2017 programme was the third annual World Food Innovation Awards 2017. Through the awards, food manufacturing, wholesale and retail businesses, from small single-owner enterprises through to large corporations operating across multiple continents, receive recognition for their innovatory concepts, creations, packaging and even environmental responsibility with their food and beverage products and services.
The World Food Innovation Awards 2017 recognised innovation across 23 separate award categories. The finalists and award winners in the various categories are:
| Category | Place | Entrant / Organisation | Product / Service / Concept |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Food Concept | Winner | Onion Jo | Onion Jo |
| Finalist | CP Foods UK | Taste Inc 100% Chargrilled Chicken Fillet | |
| Finalist | Jimini’s | Whole Seasoned Insect Snacks | |
| Finalist | Thrive on Five | 5-a-day Dish | |
| Best Foodservice or Catering Innovation | Winner | T-Sticks by Innovashion | T-Sticks |
| Finalist | Gem Smokers & Woodchips | Cooking & Flavouring Food Totally Naturallly | |
| Finalist | Matok Vkal | New Meringue Kiss 3D Sweetener | |
| Finalist | Vierra | Pumpkin Sweet Potato Burger | |
| Best Snacking Innovation | Winner | Jimini’s | Energy and Protein Bars made with Cricket Flour |
| Finalist | CP Foods UK | Taste Inc 100% Chargrilled Chicken Fillet | |
| Finalist | Dawn Meats | Fori Piri Piri Chicken Bar | |
| Finalist | Hippeas | Organic Chickpea Puffs | |
| Finalist | iRaw Healthy Habits | Green Healthy Snacking | |
| Finalist | Matok Vkal | New Meringue Kiss 3D Sweetener | |
| Best Convenience Food Innovation | Winner | Tuk in Foods | Curry in a Naan |
| Finalist | Coco & Lucas’ Kitchen | Junior Foodies Frozen Meals | |
| Finalist | Soupologie | Swavoury: Pea, Edamine & Cashew | |
| Finalist | Fuel10K | Quark with Fruit | |
| Best Health Food | Winner | LoveRaw | |
| Finalist | Ice Cream Treats | Yomega3 Greek Style Frozen Yogurt | |
| Finalist | Hormel Foods | Vital Cuisine | |
| Finalist | Mindful Bites | Brazil Nut & Cacao Nibs Nut Butter | |
| Finalist | NewTree Fruit Company | De-sugared Fruit Juice | |
| Finalist | Rushdi Food Industries | Mighty Sesame | |
| Best Artisan Product | Winner | Lily Kerridge Coffee | Something Stronger Than Coffee |
| Finalist | Beyond Water | Honey and Cranberry Water | |
| Finalist | Nutural World | Chocolate Halva Spread | |
| Finalist | Xie Xie | Formosa Ooolong Tea Making Philosophy | |
| Best Free-From Food | Winner | ICI&LA | Vegan Organic Frozen Steaks / Balls / Nugets Free from Animal Protein |
| Finalist | Booja-Booja | Incredibly Delicious Dairy Free Ice Cream | |
| Finalist | Cocofina Coconut Amino | Soya Sauce Alternative | |
| Finalist | DragesBaek | Organic Vegan Spreadable | |
| Finalist | Nutristrength | Goat and Sheep Whey Protein | |
| Finalist | Ready Raw | Vegan & Raw, Organic Bagel Chips | |
| Best Children’s Food | Winner | Claudi & Fin | Minis |
| Finalist | Annabel Karmel | Frozen Kids Meals | |
| Finalist | BKD | Baking Kits for Kids | |
| Finalist | Coco & Lucas’ Kitchen | Junior Foodies Frozen Meals | |
| Finalist | Little Dish | Pots & Pies | |
| Best Confectionery Innovation | Winner | The Solid Chocolate Company | Solid Chocolate Eggs |
| Finalist | Chuao Chocolatier | The Firecracker Bar | |
| Finalist | Cakely | Spirugar | |
| Finalist | Gato & Co | Puddings | |
| Best Brand Extension or Limited Edition | Winner | Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn | Marmite Popcorn |
| Finalist | Shaken Udder | Yoghurt Range | |
| Finalist | The Naked Marshmallow Company | Marshmallow Gin & Vodka | |
| Best Beverage Concept | Winner | Expressate (Cuida-te Tea & Coffee) | One Cup Pyramid Coffee Filters |
| Finalist | Jeeva Natural UK Ltd | First Organic Fresh Turmeric – King Coconut Water | |
| Finalist | Lily Kerridge Coffee | Something Stronger Than Coffee | |
| Finalist | QikVin Wine Preservation | Space-age Moving Punt | |
| Finalist | Victor’s Drinks Ltd | Make Your Own Apple Cider | |
| Finalist | Yumcha Drinks | No More Tea Bags | |
| Best New Brand or Business | Winner | Coco & Lucas’ Kitchen | Junior Foodies Frozen Meals |
| Finalist | Mindful Bites | Cashew Nut Butter & Baobab Crunchy Bites | |
| Finalist | Piccolo Foods | Piccolo Organic Baby Food | |
| Finalist | Rushdi Food Industries | Mighty Sesame | |
| Finalist | Tea Rex | The World’s First Fresh Fruit and Root Infusion | |
| Best Great British Product | Winner | Hilfarm Oils | Hilfarm / Aspall Dress and Dip Set |
| Finalist | Mr Trotter’s | Mr Trotter’s Great British Pork Sausalami | |
| Finalist | Salubrious Sauce Co | British Breakfast Sauce | |
| Best Frozen Food | Winner | Poptails & Dreams | Poptails |
| Finalist | Claudi & Fin | Minis | |
| Finalist | Coco & Lucas’ Kitchen | Junior Foodies Frozen Meals | |
| Best Organic Food | Winner | DragesBaek | Organic Vegan Spreadable |
| Finalist | Auga Group | Auga Organic Foods | |
| Finalist | Healthy Planet | DasElis | |
| Finalist | The Soul Food Collective | The Soul Food Collective Range | |
| Best Clean Label Initiative | Winner | Pure Maple | 100% Golden Delicate Maple Syrup |
| Finalist | Nutural World | Hazelnut and Carob Spread | |
| Finalist | Fresh Organic Products | Aqua Carpatica | |
| Best Packaging Design | Winner | Ardagh & Duerr | Unique Citrus Jar |
| Finalist | Auga Group | Auga Organic | |
| Finalist | Berlin Packaging | Moreno Cedroni Jams and Marmalades | |
| Finalist | Popcorn Shed | Gourmet Popcorn | |
| Finalist | ProAmpac | E-Z SnackPak | |
| Finalist | ProAmpac | Farmhouse Culture Organic Kraut | |
| Best Convenience of On-The-Go Packaging | Winner | T-Sticks by Innovashion | T-Sticks |
| Finalist | Innovative Blending | Smoothie Vending Machine | |
| Finalist | ProAmpac | E-Z SnackPak | |
| Best Technology Innovation | Winner | Innovative Blending | Smoothie Vending Machine |
| Finalist | NewTree Fruit Company | De-sugared 100% Fruit Juice | |
| Finalist | OAL | April the Robotic Chef | |
| Best Ingredient Innovation | Winner | Just A Splash | Bring Out the Chef in You |
| Finalist | Holy Lama Naturals | Spice Drops | |
| Finalist | Salt of the Earth | Mediterranean Umami | |
| Best Waste-Saving Initiative | Winner | W-Cycle | The Hotray |
| Finalist | Snact | Surplus-Sourced Fruit Jerky in Compostable Packaging | |
| Finalist | Yeo Valley | Apple and Custard Left-Yeovers Yogurt | |
| Best Social Responsibility Initiative | Winner | Sacoma | Kenya Sweet Potatoes Innovative Healthy Products |
| Finalist | HCM Development | Greening the Desert of Sahara and Beyond | |
| Finalist | Hormel Foods | Vital Cuisine |
AUTHOR
Lloyd Conrade
Editor
Image Credits:
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Feature Image‘The ExCel Centre – London’, by Jim Linwood (photo with minor modifications)Image courtesy of Jim Linwood