The shortlist has been unveiled for the first IFE Manufacturing Ingredients Awards., launched in partnership with the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST).  

The IFE Manufacturing Ingredients Awards recognise ground-breaking brands in the ingredients industry harnessing research and creativity to satisfy and delight consumers with healthy, sustainable, and delicious products.   

IFST’s Business Development Director, Deborah Kendale comments: “The scale and scope of innovation covered by the award entries has been hugely impressive. We are hugely grateful to the judges for their insight and knowledge in choosing between many excellent submissions in all five categories and the team at IFE for their shared direction of these awards.”

University of of Greenwich Associate Professor in Nutrition & Health, Shaobo Zhou, added: “'As a judge for these prestigious awards, focusing on the Innovative Protein Sources and Achieving Sustainable Solutions categories, I am both honoured and delighted to partake in this challenging yet rewarding task.  

“This has been a unique opportunity to collaborate with an exceptional team of judges and to witness first-hand the creativity, innovation, resilience, and success within the market of real food science and technology development. It's been an enriching experience, deepening my understanding and appreciation for the complexities and advancements in our field.” 

David Lloyd, Senior R&D Manager at Huel, says: "Thank you to all parties for their submissions. We saw some fantastic, exciting ingredient innovations from all around the world. Debate was fierce amongst us judges but some worthy winners in line with the needs of the food industry; health-focused, sustainable and deploying cutting edge science & technology. I hope this is the first of many great years of entries which can magnify opportunity and impact in our industry."

The finalists are: 

Innovative Protein Sources 

• Dofreeze – Protein Cake Bar 

• Up ‘N’ Mellow – Instant Cashew Nut Porridge 

• PhycoHealth – PhycoTein 

New Technologies for Improved Health 

• Oceanium – Ocean Actives Fucoidan 

• Lynn’s Country Foods – Chicory Inulin 

• NewTree Fruit Company – De-sugared Fruit Juice Concentrate 

• PhycoHealth - SeaFibre 

• Brusco Food Group – Smart Salt 

Achieving Sustainable Solutions 

• Ferm Food – Fermented Binders 

• Azamet Pro – Protein and Fibre Rich Gluten Free Flour and Grissini Sticks 

• PhycoHealth - SeaFibre 

• Still Good – All Purpose Flour 

New Ingredient Launch for a Startup Company 

• Biovit – Biovit Blend 12 

• Horta dos Peixinhos – Dehydrated Organic Salicornia 

• C-Paste Ltd – SweetAble 

Simplified Ingredient Lists for Clean Label 

• Omega Ingredients – OmegaSweet Bespoke Natural Flavouring System 

• Arthur Branwell & Co – EmuLux, Range of Unique Cryogenic Spray Crystallised Fat Crystals 

• Finnebrogue – M&S Plant Kitchen More Than Mince 

Federico Dellafiore, Event Manager for IFE Manufacturing, comments: “Huge congratulations to all the finalists for the first-ever IFE Manufacturing Ingredients Awards. Our judges had a tough time whittling down the amazing entries and innovative products to arrive at our shortlist and I can’t wait to celebrate with the winners on 25 March!” 

Debora Saibene, R&D Scientist at PepsiCo, concludes: "The ingredients industry excels in innovation and creativity, and the entries we received for this Award are a clear testament to that. Great to see the many facets of how food science and technology can be applied to raise the bar on healthy, sustainable and delicious food. Congratulations to the 2024 winners."

The judges for the inaugural IFE Manufacturing Ingredients Awards were: 

• Kerri Fidler, Head of Portfolio at Greencore 

• Jodie Johnston, Category Technical Manager at Marks & Spencer 

• David Lloyd, Senior R&D Manager at Huel  

• Debora Saibene, R&D Scientist at PepsiCo 

• Jacqui Slatter, Development Manager at SALSA Food 

• Steve Timms, Commercial Development Manager at Brenntag Food & Nutrition UK & Ireland 

• Richard Werran, Global Director Food & Retail at BSI 

• Shaobo Zhou, Associate Professor in Nutrition & Health at University of Greenwich  

The winners will be revealed at 4pm on 25 March at ExCeL London on IFE Manufacturing’s Trends & Innovation Platform. IFE Manufacturing takes place alongside IFE, The Pub Show, HRC and International Salon Culinaire as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week.