The finalists for the IFE Manufacturing Ingredients Awards 2026, in association with the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST), have been revealed ahead of this year’s awards ceremony at IFE Manufacturing, taking place 30 March – 01 April 2026 at Excel London. 

Celebrating pioneering ingredient innovation across the food and drink manufacturing sector, the awards recognise the businesses, products and technologies driving progress in sustainability, health, sourcing, start-up development and enabling technologies.  

Following a rigorous judging process led by a distinguished panel of experts from across industry, academia and policy, finalists have been selected across five categories, with all shortlisted entries automatically considered for the overall Innovation of the Year award. 

Winners will be announced live on Monday 30 March from 14:45 – 15:35 on the Trends & Innovation Platform at IFE Manufacturing. 

Sustainable Ingredient Innovation 
• Accelta Ltd – Cultured Dairy Fat 
• Calleva Ingredients | JRS Silvateam – Vitacel 
• POSEIDONA – Red Algae Extract from Sustainable Sea Biomass 

Responsible Sourcing & Ethical Partnerships 
• ORIGINE S.R.L. – Vanilla Planifolia 
• Calleva Ingredients | JRS Silvateam – Aglumix 01 
• NESCO GIDA ICECEK TUR INS ITH IHR SAN VE TIC LTD STI – Popping Bubble Tea 

Public Health Impact – Ingredients 
• Crawfords Rock Ltd – Dillisk Sprinkles 
• Glebe Farm Foods – Gluten Free Oats 
• Johnny Cashew Netherland BV – Way To Go Italian Rasp 

Start-Up Ingredient Launch 
• NUCAPS – NuPro 
• MAIA Farms – FORM 
• Summ Ingredients – FermiPro 

Enabling Technologies for Ingredients 
• HypeSound – Acoustic Fermentation Optimisation Platform 
• Sibelius LipoActive – EncapSure 
• BIOVIT – Circular Vitamin C 
• MicroSalt – MicroSalt plc 

The Innovation of the Year award will be selected from across all shortlisted entries, recognising the single most impactful and forward-thinking solution presented to the judges. 

The 2026 judging panel comprised: 

• Iain Beck, Senior Director Innovation Programme, dsm-firmenich 

• James Brace, Managing Director, Daymer Ingredients Ltd. 

• Sarah Munday, Head of R&D, Innocent Drinks 

• Prosper Nyabanga, Technical Manager, Isle of Man Creamery Ltd. 

• Henrietta Sameke, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Holland & Barrett 

• Jas Scott de Martinville, Global R&D Head of Technical & Regulatory, Scientific Affairs, Nestlé 

• Mark Spurdens, Director; Honorary Fellow, Rice Consulting; University of Lincoln 

• Richard Werran, Global Director Food & Retail, BSI 

Robert Edge-Partington, Senior Communications Manager at IFST, said: “What always stands out to me about the judging day is the energy in the room. We have a range of judges from different backgrounds across the industry and across academia and policy, really representing the depth of the food system. There was a robust and constructive debate in the room, with critical evaluation of the entrants and categories. We've chosen finalists that we're really proud of and there was a hard-fought discussion to choose our overall Innovation of the Year.” 

Federico Dellafiore, Event Director for IFE Manufacturing, added: “The calibre of entries this year has been exceptional. The breadth of innovation across sustainability, health, sourcing and enabling technologies demonstrates just how rapidly the ingredients sector is evolving. These finalists represent the businesses and solutions that are helping manufacturers respond to changing consumer expectations and build more resilient, forward-looking supply chains.” 

Delivered in association with IFST, the awards reflect a shared commitment to scientific rigour, responsible innovation and the advancement of food technology across the sector.  

IFST will also be collaborating with Campden BRI to deliver a full day of content at IFE Manufacturing for the food science and technology community.  

Visitors can register to attend IFE Manufacturing and the awards ceremony at ifemanufacturing.co.uk.