Our awards criteria

Disruptor Award

This category is for SMEs that can demonstrate originality and a clear value case for how they have disrupted the food, drink or health sectors. Entrants must have a strong potential for scalability, with a framework designed for broader adoption across the relevant sector. Your entry should be supported by data and case studies, highlighting both immediate impact and the capacity to influence the wider industry landscape.

• Demonstrate a significant shift or innovation in the market, challenging established norms that aligns with your bold vision.
• Show measurable impact on industry practices or consumer behaviour.
• Provide evidence of scalability and potential for broader industry influence.
• Provide measurable results or progress achieved within the last 12 months.

Inspiring Founder

This category is for leaders who can demonstrate entrepreneurship, resilience and visionary leadership. As a leader, do you have unwavering commitment to innovation, growth and ethical business practices? Has your leadership delivered measurable positive impact, both within the business and across the wider food, drinks or health industry?

Please include examples of revenue growth, new jobs created, community initiatives or testimonials where relevant.

• Founder must have a compelling personal story of entrepreneurship, resilience and leadership and how their story inspired the business idea or the identified market opportunity.
• Evidence of positive impact on their business and/or wider community, especially at times of adversity where you have had to lead from the front.
• Commitment to innovation, growth and ethical business practices, including diversity.
• Clearly demonstrates how their leadership has led to success within their market or within their company.
• How their leadership style aligns with the business vision and goals.

Best Innovation

This category will award innovation that stands out for its novelty and originality, introducing a truly unique approach that challenges conventional practices and delivers meaningful improvements. The winner will address a problem or an opportunity with clear benefits for customers, businesses and society, whether through enhanced efficiency, access to new markets or sustainable solutions. Entrants must demonstrate strong commercial viability and provide evidence of market adoption, financial success and/or scalability that will have impact on brand growth.

The innovation can relate to unique strategies, products, services or cutting-edge technologies that set your business apart and provide a competitive advantage.

Family-Run Business Award

Family business award criteria will focus on balancing strong business performance (growth, innovation, finance) and how being a family-run business has influenced positive outcomes. Entrants must demonstrate how their unique family strengths, such as shared values, heritage or long-term vision, have impacted the day-to-day running of the business and how they’re an integral part of their brand and/or business. Please include how you work together as a family and how business and strategy decisions are made to sure they align with your values.

Best Storytelling of a Brand

The Best Storytelling of a Brand Award recognises organisations that deliver compelling and creative narratives across multiple platforms, including print, digital, podcasts and events. Entries should demonstrate how storytelling has strengthened brand credibility, built consumer loyalty, and aligned with broader business objectives.

Judges will look for originality, consistency of message across channels and innovative use of media to engage audiences. Successful submissions will showcase emotional resonance, meaningful audience connection and measurable impact through data, such as brand growth, awareness and engagement. Evidence of strategic alignment and clear KPIs will further highlight how storytelling has driven tangible results and differentiated the brand in the marketplace.

Good Health by Good Food Award

Entries will be judged on innovation and measurable impact in the health sector, leadership and resilience, and commitment to ethical business practices. Judges will look for evidence of sustainability and social responsibility, creativity in branding and communication, and effective engagement through social media. Strong storytelling that builds brand credibility and aligns with business objectives is also essential.

Best Social Voice

This category is open to SMEs that have an authentic brand voice across social platforms and can demonstrate how they are building trust and engaging content that resonates with their target audience. The entrants’ content should be meaningful, creative and driving reach and engagements in a positive way. Entries must demonstrate how they have used social to reach their business goals.

• Demonstrate a significant shift or innovation in the market, challenging established norms that aligns with your bold vision.
• Show measurable impact on industry practices or consumer behaviour.
• Provide evidence of scalability and potential for broader industry influence.
• Provide measurable results or progress achieved within the last 12 months.

Best Creative/Branding

This category is open to SMEs that are pushing boundaries in design and creative, whether that be via their product branding, packaging or marketing campaigns. We are looking for businesses with original and innovative designs that align with the strategy of their business.

• Showcase creativity and originality in packaging design, logos or social marketing.
• Show how this aligns with your core brand values and business vision.
• Demonstrate how you incorporated your target markets in the creative process.
• Evidence of sustainability and eco-friendly practices in packaging and innovation.
• Define how your design and creative is different to your competitors.

Sustainability & CSR Award

This category is open to businesses that can demonstrate a focus on measurable impact, innovation, leadership and integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and/or Corporate Social Responsibility. We will be evaluating how organisations go beyond compliance to demonstrate positive outcomes in areas like carbon reduction, resource efficiency, community impact, ethical supply chains, employee development and real-world benefits for both communities and the planet that goes beyond profits.

• Entries must focus on sustainability initiatives or corporate social responsibility and how they impact the day-to-day running of your business and how this has been integrated.
• Provide clear evidence of environmental or social impact (e.g. CO₂ reduction, community engagement).
• Outline measurable outcomes and future commitments in line with your business goals and core strategy.

Nutracheck “Most Loved Product” Award

The Nutracheck “Most Loved Product” Award recognises the SME whose product has been entered into customers’ daily diaries more times than any other over the past 12 months, according to independent data provided by Nutracheck. This award highlights genuine popularity and consistent consumer choice within the health sector.

The winning product will be selected solely on the basis of verified entry counts, reflecting its widespread use and appeal among health-conscious customers. This accolade celebrates the SME whose product has become an essential part of daily routines, demonstrating outstanding relevance and impact in supporting healthier lifestyles.

Please note: The winner for this award will be selected by the judges from entries received in the nine main categories.