Gluten-Free Beers & Cider

A favourite since the awards first started, gluten-free beer can now match any beer in style and quality. Gluten-free beers entered can be made from barley or any other grains. Cider is always a popular choice for those looking for safe gluten-free or vegan drinks.

• Gluten-free beer made from barley or other grains
• Cider

Low & No Alcohol

Low-and-No is the fastest growing area in Drinks and full of tremendous innovation. Our category covers all types of alcohol-free and low-alcohol products under 1.2% ABV.

• Spirits
• Beers
• Cider
• Mocktails
• Sparkling wines and elixirs
• Cordials and syrups

Breakfast and Morning Goods

Some would argue the most important meal of the day, setting you up for the day ahead.  Whether actual breakfast, mid morning snacks or elevenses, this hotly contested category covers anything that you would fancy eating between 6am and midday!

Grocery

Any store cupboard item, ambient, dried, or frozen, excluding pasta and pizza bases but including bread and cake mixes. 

A very large and absolutely crucial category in the free from sector – offers a sponsor a large number of points of engagement because we frequently have two or more gold winners within sub-sections of this category.

Milk Product Alternatives

Sponsored for 2022 by

A catch-all category for lactose-free/low-lactose animal milks and plant-based milk-alternatives; a massively growing area thanks to the explosion in plant based and vegan foods.

Breads

Sponsored for 2022 by

The most staple of the staple products. Whole loaves and sliced breads, rolls, buns….This is the category that few households can be without. Be it breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner, bread can form part of every meal. Thanks to innovation in this area everyone can enjoy a tasty bite.

We sub-categorise all bread entries by type and product methods: eg supermarket sliced and artisan breads and everything in between.

Cheeses and Cheese Alternatives

NEW for 2022!

This category has been given its own identity following the huge number of entries and evolution of the sector.  Whether artisan cashew nut camembert or mainstream soya sandwich slices or a coconut cheddar grating block, it is sure to be another hotly contested category. 

One of our largest categories in 2021 and still growing fast.

Meal Components

NEW for 2022!

A fast growing area in both the main aisles and in free from aisles.  Can include individual portions, sides and centre of plate items such as a vegetable mash (side) or a chicken kiev (centre).

Pasta and Pizza

Always a very popular category in free from, and a vital part of modern eating habits! Slinging a pizza in the oven, or cooking up bowls of pasta and adding a jar of sauce fills stomachs in a quick and satisfying way.  An easy fix for young and old and a convenient quick meal, an all round favourite! 

Prepared Meals

Ranging from everyday to gourmet meals; specific cultural cuisine to organic and vegetarian options. All of those meals which only require popping in the microwave (or oven)  to be ready for the latest box set, TV drama, or packing for holidays!

Savoury Snacks

Always a very successful category, including crisps, snacks and nuts – or anything else that judges might fancy as a savoury snack. Single bags, multipacks and sharing/large bags. 

Soup and Bowl Meals

Sponsored for 2022 by

A cross between a snack and a full meal, filling soups and bowl meals are a rapidly growing category both in mainstream and in free from. Whether for convenience, price or nutrition, this is a category expected to grow and grow.

Confectionery

Sponsored for 2022 by

Innovation in free from confectionery means that so many people, old and young, can enjoy these tasty treats.  

A childhood memory created or moment shared with friends and family, confectionery brings a smile.

Dessert and Puddings

The perfect way to end a meal is with an indulgent treat.  Every kind of free from dessert from Roly Poly and Sticky Toffee pudding to Tiramisu and exotic ice creams – each richer and more luscious than the last!  Every year sees new and exciting flavours and treats emerge – another very popular category with  entrants, judges and consumers.

Sweet Snacks

Sponsored for 2022 by

The evolution of snacking and grazing eating habits has given rise to a massive market. So large is the category today that we have now opened the category to include not only snack bars but all other sweet snack products, to give these delights their own platform to shine.

Tea Time Treats

Whether a post school treat, afternoon tea, family gathering or cheeky indulgence, Tea Time Treats is a longstanding and popular category with entrants, judges and consumers. 

Almost Totally Free From

Best Product in Food Service

Sponsored for 2022 by

Do you want your products to be used, or are they already used in catering, care homes, cafes, restaurants, hotels, hospitals or schools? This category is for your products that are free from at least one of the top 14 allergens, and either are already available in or could be suitable for the hospitality and catering industry. 

If you can produce enough, we want to see your product entered here!

This category will raise the profile of free from in the hospitality sector, and encourage more companies to innovate and develop products for food service. This is an opportunity for small independent companies to showcase their products alongside the large catering companies in the hospitality arena and bring free from to mainstream in food service.

The gold medallist/s from this category will be eligible for the Product of the Year prize.

Child and Teen-Friendly Food

Sponsored for 2022 by

Such an important category for manufacturers looking to secure future loyal customers!

We look for entries that will appeal to free from age groups from post toddler to late teens.   This award is unique in being judged by the market it serves – children and teens, allowing for genuine and honest feedback direct from the target market. This category will not be judged blind, in order to track changing tastes and trends, and to get feedback on clear and safe packaging design and labelling. All products entered into this category will be purchased and judged in their own homes by families with allergy reactor children and teenagers across all age groups.

Easter

With egg hunts, sweet treats and family time together, children and adults alike are often as excited for Easter as they are Christmas.

And the free from and allergic consumer, whatever their age, has every reason to celebrate given the range now available, recognising the importance of Easter celebrations.

Last year more Easter products than ever before entered the awards: so here is the place to enter Easter Eggs and Hunt Boxes, cookies and baking kits – anything that is specifically designed for Easter

On your marks, get set, GO !!!

Gifting

Sponsored for 2022 by

Presentation counts when gifting so in this category we will be recognising both quality and free from credentials as well as the visual appeal of both the product and the packaging.  From tins of biscuits, gift packs of beer and pork scratchings and selection boxes of confections to artisan cheese and hampers. There are no hard or fast rules, all products in your range that you envisage will be given as gifts, are ideal entries for this category. 

The judging process for this category will be slightly different in that once all entries have been tasted blind, scored and discussed the process will be repeated but this time with the packaging. 

Innovation Award

Sponsored for 2022 by

No matter how large or small you are, you can have great ideas. Innovation can be the lifeblood of an organisation, the driver of long-term growth, bringing in new more consumers and providing more choice. New concepts, innovative use of ingredients or manufacturing techniques, unusual recipes, new ways to deliver health or flavour. We want to know about them – as do our media partners!

We make two awards – one each for companies with a turnover of under or over £100,000 per annum.

Nut and Peanut Free Product of the Year

Sponsored for 2022 by

Nut and peanut allergic consumers are desperate for safe products yet manufacturers are reluctant to make nut and peanut free claims. This category is for companies manufacturing foods with no may contain statements for nuts and peanuts.

The Free From Food Awards will celebrate the extra precautions taken by manufacturers to produce safe nut and peanut free foods, and those that inspire confidence in nut and peanut allergy reactors. 

Speciality Foods

NEW for 2022!

For those making speciality foods of all types, whether for a smaller market & delicatessens, or wider audiences via the speciality sections of larger shops, retailers and online markets.

This category is for anything considered a ‘speciality food’ – e.g. gourmet foods, artisan products, ethnic items, and those which have protected designation of origin status.

Open to all producers of speciality goods.

We make two awards – one each for companies with a turnover of under or over £100,000 per annum.

Best Labelling for a Free From Product

Sponsored for 2022 by

The labelling of free from food – what to include, what to leave out, whether or not to use PAL/may contain warnings – is a minefield. This award is given to a product whose label is not only clear and compliant, but benchmarks excellence in helping the free from consumer identify safe food.  In line with Natashas’ Law coming into force, this category is sure to generate more debate.

Best Packaging for a Free From Product

Sponsored for 2022 by

Sustainable packaging is no longer a ‘want’, it is a ‘must have’ – but is not always easy to achieve for food products which may contain liquids, may need to be heated in-pack, and must be safe from cross-contamination with other foods.

We celebrate the most innovative, exciting and sustainable freefrom packaging – in terms of production method, design and / or materials.

Digital Presence

Sponsored for 2022 by

A new category in 2021 given special prominence by the requirements of living under lockdown, and subsequent efforts by companies to develop their online presence.

For any free from brand, marketplace or organisation, a strong digital presence (website, social media) is essential. This award will celebrate an engaging online presence and a vibrant, intuitive and positive user experience. 

Our judges will be looking to see how the free from consumer is engaged, how easy it is for a customer to buy free from products (either directly or from a third party), find out information or resources, and how the cross platform digital presence works together to inform, inspire and educate them in all things free from. 

Start Up of the Year

Sponsored for 2022 by

Open to young companies, this category is designed to encourage and make a real difference to a start up food manufacturer poised to accelerate their free from growth ambition.

This category is entered as a company and entrants will be asked to supply details of up to two products that best showcase their brand.

2022 Sponsors Tesco offer a year’s mentoring to the winner of this category. The category is only open to companies who started trading within two years of the opening date of this year’s awards: not before 20th September 2019.

Free From Hero Award

Sponsored for 2022 by

Now in its sixth year, this is a hugely popular award with free from bloggers and consumers, garnering excellent coverage in the media/on social media.

As always, we seek to recognise and celebrate someone who has made a major contribution to free from, no matter how grand or humble their role. 

Free From Independent Brand of the Year

A category designed to celebrate the role of independent brands in the development of the free from sector. A really exciting and inclusive category that embraces all, from the smallest to the largest companies with awards for companies with a turnover of under and over £100,000 per annum.

Free From Product of the Year

Sponsored for 2022 by

The Free From Food Awards culminates with the announcement of the Product of the Year – the Best of the Best –  Winners of each category go head to head to be crowned with this prestigious title.  

It is the award that everyone wants to win and inevitably receives the most amount of coverage and promotion during and after the event.

Free From Retailer of the Year

Sponsored for 2022 by

Our well established award recognising the crucial role that the supermarkets play in the free from sector. 

Apart from the Product of the Year this is our highest profile award receiving maximum coverage on the awards night, in our publicity after the event and hugely promoted by the winning retailers. We will be making two awards this year:

Large Retailer of the Year (for big shop mission retailers)
Convenience Retailer of the Year (for limited range retailers)

Large ROTY requires a minimum entry of 40 products into full price categories, of which the top scoring 30 will be considered for this award.
Convenience ROTY requires a minimum entry of 20 products into full price categories, of which the top scoring 15 will be considered for this award.