Our judging panel of seasoned industry experts will carefully review each submission against the judging criteria. After much deliberation, they choose their top five in each category. Scores are collated to reveal the winners and finalists in each category!
Our awards are based on innovation, therefore all entries will be judged based on the concept of their product as opposed to taste. All judges will be basing their scores against the entrants 200-word description they upload alongside their supporting imagery and documentation. This is to ensure that all judging is fair and that all judging is based on exactly what the entrant has supplied.
We will update on what our judges will be looking for from entrants in due course.
The judging will take place 2 weeks after the entry deadline. Due to the sheer amount of entries, we will only be notifying entrants that have been shortlisted and will contact them no later than August 2022. If you do not hear from us by this time then, unfortunately, it means you have not been shortlisted.
Emma Letessier Freelance vegan business and technology writer
Emma Letessier is a freelance vegan business and technology writer, specialising in plant-based innovation, food technology and sustainability. She helps industry thought leaders and CEOs position themselves as authorities in their field and businesses bring their products to market with writing that’s engaging and creative.
With a background in journalism and PR, Emma has worked for and with world-leading technology brands such as Bosch, Eaton, National Instruments, which means that she knows how to translate highly technical product information and concepts into language that’s easy for the layperson to understand.
Emma’s been writing about the vegan/plant-based and sustainable technology sectors for over six years now and keeps her finger on-the-pulse on all the latest business news and technological developments relating to these fields. So if you want a writer that can also lend intelligent insight into the various business players and trends, look no further.
Click here to view their LinkedIn profile
Cale Drouin Co-founder, Cale and Daughters
Cale Drouin has over 10 years of proven entrepreneurial success in Australia’s plant-based food industry. Over the last decade, Cale has launched well-known vegan restaurants and speciality stores and has been instrumental in bringing some of the world’s best plant-based products to his country.
Cale currently works closely with Australia’s major grocery retailers, to ensure that everyday shoppers have easy and affordable access to the tastiest vegan products available. He believes that product accessibility will be the most powerful force in changing Australia’s eating habits – and this means that price is key.
When it comes to producing successful plant-based brands to market, Cale believes the best products will anticipate market needs and push the boundaries for innovation, taste and mainstream appeal. Cale believes the most effective way to support competitive plant-based products entering the Australian market is through a direct relationship between manufacturers and major retailers.
Erica Gibson Vendor Relations Manager, DPI Specialty Foods
Born into a family of foodies Erica grew up with a love of ingredients and innovation. Starting work in an independent grocery store and working all departments provided her with valuable knowledge of retail, customer desires, and products.
Starting at DPI as part of the Inside Sales team allowed for further product discovery and a working knowledge of distribution. Now working as the Vendor Relations Manager for DPI Intermountain West Erica looks for new trends and products in the market that would work well for the retailers.
She also acts as a conduit between the vendor community and the sales team for her division while helping people navigate the waters of distribution.
Florence Dusseaux Founder, VEGG2FOOD
Florence Dusseaux is founder of VEGG2FOOD, consulting agency for food transition, and a vegan expert. She has been a vegan herself for 5 years now and seeks to change the world ‘one meal at a time’.
Dusseaux works with companies all around the world, helping them find opportunities within the plant-based market, especially in Europe. She is based in agricultural land in France, hence the significant interest in the origins of food from the field to the plates. She sees herself as a big foodie!
Robert Hoffman Partner and Consultant, Homera
Robert Hoffman is a partner and consultant at Homera sales brokerage and consulting company. Homera creates sales strategies and services for leading US natural, organic, and plant-based brands throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Robert has over 30 years of experience in the food industry, having worked in distribution, marketing, sales, and brokerage. Robert has a strong background working the natural, conventional, and club channels, which provide multiple platforms for the brands that Homera works with.
Developing plant-based categories in Latin America and the Caribbean has become a priority for Homera over the past two years. The company now works with brands including GreenLeaf Foods, Alpha Foods, Elmhurst1925, and Ocean Hugger foods. The focus has been on identifying the most opportune markets and distribution vehicles for these brands in order for them to have long-term success.
Homera is also a member of the GlassWall Syndicate, a group of like-minded investors that are focused on supporting products and services that make a positive difference in the lives of people, animals, and the planet.
Tabitha Sewell Senior Category Manager, KeHE Distributors
Tabitha Sewell, Senior Category Manager at KeHE Distributors, oversees Dairy and Refrigerated Beverage categories. She is responsible for maintaining an on-trend assortment of items for KeHE’s retail customers across the US. Tabitha’s career began in grocery retailers from retail operations to corporate buying and strategic category planning. She has grown her career and knowledge of the food industry with over 20 years’ experience; serving in varying capacities over the last 13 years at KeHE Distributors.
Tabitha enjoys following market trends and assisting brands in finding their path to success at retail. Her passion is searching out brands that have a mission for healthy living and develop products with sustainable practices. Her strengths include category management, analytics, and supply chain. In her spare time, Tabitha enjoys outdoor adventures with her husband and son. Tabitha is active in serving communities locally and abroad through the KeHE Cares Foundation.
Chase Worthen Co-founder, Whole Food Plant Based CPG
As a college freshman in 2007 Chase was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal disease. Eventually, he found healing in fruits and vegetables. This led to a passion for nutrition. Which later helped him get a job as a Buyer at Walmart over the Premium Beverage and Vegan categories. During this time he worked with Robin Jeep (Chef & Nutrition Expert) and Mark Adams (Food Processing & Sourcing Specialist) to create a line of whole fruit and veggie smoothies under the Suja brand.
Now he’s decided to partner with Robin & Mark to start Enliven Foods, a platform for plant-based products and education. Their mission is to make the transition to eating plants more pleasurable by providing indulgent packaged foods that are whole food plant-based. Along with digital educational services in the areas of nutrition science, cooking, shopping, eating out, and more. Their first product, Manna Muffins is available now at enlivenfoods.com.
Emma Upshall News Reporter, FoodBev Media
Emma Upshall is a news reporter at FoodBev Media, publisher of industry-leading publications FoodBev and Refreshment. Since her time at FoodBev, Emma has witnessed a surge in the market for plant-based alternatives with a rise in significant investments, research, collaborations and product developments as an increasing number of companies shift their focus.
In her role, she is constantly interpreting and analysing the latest trends and innovations across the global food and beverage industry as the plant-based sector is entering a growing number of categories. Emma will be looking for plant-based products that push the boundaries while meeting consumer demand for taste, texture and clean labels.
Albrecht Wolfmeyer International and National Head, ProVeg Incubator
Albrecht Wolfmeyer heads the ProVeg Incubator. ProVeg Incubator is the first incubator in the world to exclusively support startups that are replacing animal-based foods. The incubator has worked with over 30 startups from more than 16 countries, helping them to raise over €8 million and launch more than 40 products.
Albrecht has extensive professional experience in international profit and non-profit organizations and is an expert in NPO management, marketing and communications, strategy and project lead. Albrecht was the co-founder and managing director of an online fundraising startup. He studied in Berlin, Toronto, Paris and Fribourg.
Jenna McGuinness Head Buyer, TheVeganKind Supermarket and Subscription Boxes
As Head Buyer at TheVeganKind, Jenna sources and tries the latest and best vegan products for both TheVeganKind Supermarket, and TheVeganKind Subscription box service. Working at this family run business for the past 5 years has given Jenna the opportunity to see veganism boom and the vegan product industry surge like no other, the innovation over the last 2 years in particular has been incredible.
TheVeganKind are the UK’s most popular monthly subscription box service, sending a box of new and exciting vegan goodies straight to your door every month. TheVeganKind Supermarket is the leading online retailer for vegan products in the UK, stocking more than 4000 vegan products from all over the world. TVK are a small Scottish business with strong values and a vision to inspire the world to Be Kind, and Go Vegan and to make veganism accessible for all.
A keen foodie, you’ll find Jenna at one of Glasgow’s many amazing vegan restaurants or vegan festivals!
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World Beverage Innovation Awards – NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES!
The awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the global beverage industry. Don’t miss out on having your innovations recognised on a global scale.
Deadline for entries 23 July – enter now!
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