Skip to main content
12th-13th November 2025, ExCeL London

Press Releases

New Awards Raise the Bar for Plant-Based Products

July 4, 2024

Global plant-based trade show Plant Based World Expo launches the Plant-Based Excellence Awards to celebrate the best of the industry.

Decision makers responsible for purchasing plant-based products are hungry to discover their next best-selling product. With so many companies providing plant-based items, it’s more important than ever to source the right product for customers: great tasting, appealing presentations, sustainable packaging and attractive margins. The Plant-Based Excellence Awards are a new comprehensive awards programme, launched by Plant Based World Expo, judging against these credentials that will champion the excellence coming from this industry.

Unlike other awards, the combination of judging the taste, presentation and business viability will provide a holistic view of the product’s potential for commercial success. Creative marketing without competitive margins won’t lead to listings, just as the most delicious product that is presented poorly won’t grab and hold the attention of customers. The Plant-Based Excellence Awards will score individual entries and only award coveted bronze, silver, gold and platinum shields to products that demonstrate all-round excellence.

With 17 categories spanning sweet, savoury, meat-mimics, ready-meals and everything in-between, the products will be judged and scored by panels of buyers and industry advisors including some of the hosted buyers at Plant Based World Expo Europe 2024. The categories for the awards are:

  • Meat Alternatives
  • Fish and Seafood Alternatives
  • Wholefoods
  • Ready Meals
  • Deli Products
  • Dairy Alternatives
  • Dairy Alternatives Cheese
  • Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts
  • Egg Replacements
  • Baked Goods
  • Savoury Snacking
  • Sweet Snacking
  • Cold Beverages
  • Hot Beverages
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Condiments, Preserves and Ferments
  • Innovative Ingredients

Now open for entries, the Plant-Based Excellence Awards invite all businesses offering plant-based products to submit their ranges. The definition for a plant-based product is as follows: formulated without the use of animal ingredients or by-products, as an intentional ingredient or used during the manufacturing process.

The cost to enter is only £100+VAT per product per category. Exhibitors at Plant Based World Expo can take advantage of one free product entry and a subsequent lower entry cost of £75+VAT per product per category.

Abigail Stevens, Marketing Director at Plant Based World Expo commented: “It was important to us that these awards were accessible to all businesses from a cost perspective. As a result, our fees are very affordable, and we hope it allows smaller companies and start-ups to enter their ranges. Many of whom have brilliant products that deserve to be recognised, and it may help them get the attention they need to scale and thrive.”

Entries have opened this month and will be open for five weeks, closing on 9th August 2024. Judging will commence in September, with winners being told in October ahead of Plant Based World Expo Europe. Every entry has two chances to win – all products will be scored against the criteria and based on their score, awarded a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Plant-Based Excellence Award. At Plant Based World Expo on the 13th of November at ExCeL London there will be a live awards ceremony, giving entrants the opportunity to be crowned overall category winner for scoring the highest in their category. This will be presented in front of an audience of buyers, media and members of the food and beverage industry who are eager to discover the best plant-based has to offer.

Abigail Stevens concluded: “The plant-based food sector is a highly competitive market. From its rapid growth phase in the last few years, which saw an abundance of new brands and products being launched, to the corrective phase witnessed in the past year with brands fighting to secure and keep listings. Standing out from the crowd is essential for all brands and their products. The Plant-Based Excellence Awards was created with this in mind – to help distinguish superior products available in the marketplace and reward the companies who are succeeding.”

Entries are now open to all. If you would like to enter a product, visit: https://plantbasedworldeurope.com/awards/

-ENDS-

Accompanying hi-res imagery can be downloaded here.

For more information, comment, or images please contact [email protected]

About Plant Based World Expo Europe

Plant Based World Expo is the biggest 100% plant-based trade event in Europe, designed exclusively for food service professionals, retailers, distributors, buyer, wholesalers and investors. Plant Based World connects and empowers businesses within the global supply chain to successfully develop, source and distribute plant-based products. The event takes place at ExCeL London on 13th-14th November 2024. Online registration is available at: https://plantbasedworldeurope.com/register/

LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share
Instagram