General
Questions, questions, questions…
We love questions, we ask lots and we encourage you to do the same. Information is key to making informed decisions and informed decisions make for a better experience.
We’ve collated some of your most frequently asked questions which we hope will help and if not then ask us.
What is the cost to enter?
- Micro – turnover £0-£300,000 = £105+VAT per entry
- Small – turnover £301,000- £3,000,000 = £150+VAT per entry
- Large – turnover <£3,000,001 = £185+VAT per entry
Are there any extra (hidden) costs to pay after paying the entry fee?
No. The only extra costs you will need to consider are getting your samples to us for the judging sessions, and if you win a Gold medal we may ask you to supply packaging to display at shows. If you wish to add a winning logo to your packaging you will also have to cover this cost. But use of the logo itself is free (see logo guidelines below).
Why should I consider entering the Free From Awards?
- Unique – we are the only UK awards dedicated to free from food and drink, and as such we are a ‘go to’ for the food hypersensitive consumer.
- Value – every entry gets its time in the spotlight with our panels of expert judges.
- Standout – our logo resonates with consumers, it helps them identify safe, quality products and outstrips other mainstream awards as a trusted certification
- Feedback – receive valuable insights on your entry, plus observations and insights on the wider category in which the product was entered.
- Communication – we support entrants across our social platforms which have a combined following of over 20K.
- Community – join other like-minded and energetic free from professionals.
- Confidence – entering our awards displays a belief in a product which increases consumer confidence and trust in your brand.
What are the criteria for entering the Free From Awards?
- Entries must be free from at least one of the top 14 UK-listed major allergens with no precautionary allergen labelling for the allergen/s specified in the free from claim*
- Entries must be commercially available nationwide by 21st June 2026, meaning sold through independent retailers, online or a multiple retailer (except International Recognition, Easter, Speciality and Food Service products which have individual availability criteria).
- Entries must be available to buy from a valid UK website (except for nationwide in-store only retailers and International Recognition, Easter, Speciality and Food Service products which have individual availability criteria).
*e.g. product cannot claim to be gluten free and have a ‘may contain’ warning for gluten.
The full Terms and Conditions of entry into the Free From Awards can be found here; by submitting an entry you are agreeing to our Ts & Cs.
I’m confused, can you explain the bit about being free from in more detail?
Of course. It can be very confusing. We follow the Food Standards Agency guidance on precautionary allergen labelling (which can be found in full here).
To qualify for entry into the Free From Awards products must be free from at least one of the top 14 UK-listed major allergens with no precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) for the allergen/s specified in the free from claim, e.g. product cannot claim to be gluten free and have a ‘may contain’ warning for gluten.
Where a product makes a vegan claim, we would disqualify any product that also carries PAL for milk, egg, fish, molluscs or crustaceans.
If there is a risk of a food product being affected by allergen cross-contamination, the label should include one of the following statements:
‘may contain X’
‘not suitable for someone with X allergy’
PAL should only be used after a thorough risk assessment, if the threat of allergen cross-contamination is real and cannot be removed.
If the product does not carry any PAL, we assume that a full risk assessment has been carried out and that comprehensive allergen management protocols are in place so that even if one of the top 14 UK-listed major allergens is handled by the same factory there will be no risk to the allergic consumer.
PAL stating that the product is: ‘manufactured in a factory/kitchen which also handles/uses X allergen’ will be considered equivalent to a ‘may contain X allergen’ warning, and managed accordingly.
Any further questions? Contact us for a chat by email or on 07790869706
How do I enter the Free From Awards?
The Free From Awards can only be entered online. Entry details can be found on every Awards page.
Are there any discounts?
There is a 10% discount applied to main category entries submitted by a specified date for each cycle.
We want to showcase to the free from consumer the best our industry has to offer but we recognise it’s a challenging time for many. We don’t want cost to be a barrier so if you are struggling with the entry price we will try to assist on a case by case basis.
Do I have to pay on submission or can I request an invoice?
You will have three options at checkout, two to ‘Pay Now’ (via Stripe or PayPal) and one to request an ‘Invoice’. If you choose Stripe or PayPal you will need to pay via credit or debit card. If you click ‘Invoice’ this will complete the checkout process and you will be sent an invoice which will require payment within 30 days. Failure to make this payment will result in your product/s being removed from entry.
Can I save entries and return to complete and make payment at a later date?
Yes just click ‘Save’ or ‘Save for later’. By doing this you will be able to return to the ‘Saved’ area of your account and complete your entry at a later stage.
Why do you ask certain mandatory questions on the entry form?
All mandatory questions have been carefully considered to ensure judges have the best possible understanding of your entry allowing them to make a clear judgement. It’s important that all questions are answered as fully as possible. Missing out vital information such as price, weight or free from claims make it very hard to effectively judge your entry. Optional questions can provide useful information about your product to the judges as well, but you do not need to submit anything extra if you do not want to.
Can I edit or change my entries once submitted?
Yes you can. You simply need to log into your account, where you’ll find your completed entries to your left. You are able to edit these until entry closes.
What happens if I have to forfeit any entry?
Please contact us if circumstances mean you have to forfeit your entry.
What gives the FFAs the right to judge my products?
We are the only UK award dedicated to free from food and drink. We have an unrivalled heritage and credibility in this space, with the team having worked within the industry collectively for many years and many judges having first hand experience of living with food hypersensitivities and coeliac disease.
We recruit judges for their specific skillsets and we always ensure a diverse mix which can include chefs, manufacturers, product developers, dieticians and allergy reactors.
Most categories / products are blind tasted (except where specified) by our specialist panels and judged on taste, aroma, texture, ingredients, free from claims & compliant labelling, innovation and the consumer need/occasion they are meeting.
We offer entrants a level playing field where micro / small / large brands and supermarkets compete alongside one another for one of our coveted awards.
When will I receive my results?
All important dates will be shared on the website and by email, so please make sure our emails are landing in your inbox.
For the Main Awards (incorporating the Year Round Foods, Drinks, International Recognition) we are host our famous annual Presentation Party where we announce winners, and celebrate with a fabulous free from buffet; and for the seasonal Awards (incorporating Easter, Hallowe’en & Christmas) we inform winners in advance of announcements on Instagram & LinkedIn.
Will I receive any feedback on my entries?
Yes. We pride ourselves on the feedback we share and this is very much front of mind at each judging session. We ask questions to take best advantage of the expert knowledge of the judges so as to provide genuinely meaningful feedback to all entrants.
There is also an opportunity on the entry form for you to ask the judges to provide insights and feedback on specific aspect of your product.
What are the rules or guidelines for using any of the logos?
FFA logos are available to companies wishing to use them for promotional purposes. There is no charge for using the logo but use must be in accordance with the guidelines – full guidelines can be accessed once you have entered the awards:
Winner, commended, finalist and entrant logos can be displayed:
- on the product that entered, is a finalist, and/or won
- on the website of the company that makes, sells or advertises the product
Caveats:
- You can change the size of the logo to suit your needs, but do not alter the colour or font of the logo.
- If the packaging design or format changes you can retain the logo.
- If the product recipe/formulation changes the logo must be removed.
To view the Awards Terms and Conditions please click here
Judging
What’s the judges’ mission?
The Free From Awards recognise products that fill a gap or meet a genuine occasion need in the free from market, that display an innovative use of ingredients, that remove unnecessary allergens and have clear labelling. Our judges look at the product visual and aroma, and how this aligns with expectation, flavours and texture. And all of this is obviously considered within the context of free from: what may be a simple product to develop in main category can be infinitely more challenging in free from. And finally scale of production, what a small free from start up can achieve vs a large FMCG brand is very different yet both are welcomed by the free from and allergic consumer.
It is not a simple 1st, 2nd and 3rd type of scoring. The breadth of entries we receive can vary hugely yet many are, within their own rights, medal worthy, making it often impossible to select just one Gold winner. If an entry is medal worthy, based on the judging criteria we have in place, it will be awarded one.
It’s a complex process and one that relies heavily upon the varied experiences of our team of dedicated judges.
Who are our judges?
We have a large pool of expert judges from all across the food and drink sector. This ensures that you can trust that your entries are all being assessed and critiqued by the best placed professionals in the industry.
Judges for the Free From Awards include:
- Food & drink professionals – manufacturers, development chefs, food technicians, cookery writers, bloggers etc.
- Nutritionists, dieticians and other health professionals
- Coeliacs and allergy reactors
- Laypeople and food professionals without allergies to benchmark products against their non-free from equivalents
Because the free from sector is still relatively small, some of our judges may be professionally involved with some of our entrants. We ensure that no judge is on a judging panel for a category that one of their clients has entered by asking them to declare any interests they may have when we confirm their booking. Should it happen that a judge does end up on a panel that includes one of their clients’ products, then they are welcome to remain in the room but they may not comment on the products, nor do we count their marks for that session.
How do we choose our judges?
We invite potential judges to apply via a questionnaire. We look for specific expertise depending on the category, and are always looking to welcome new judges onto our panel. We have judges who have been coming since the beginning, and some who join us sporadically, depending on their own availability and inclination. Many judges are also, or have been, entrants into the Free From Awards.
How do I become a judge?
If you’d like to be considered for a place in one of our judging sessions, please email us.
How do you assign judges to sessions?
Once we have set the dates for judging session, we invite judges from our ever-increasing panel of professionals to join a session. It is critical that we take into account any food avoidances whether due to allergy, intolerance or preference.
Our confirmed judges receive assets and copy to share on social media platforms in the run up to the judging sessions.
Judges will be sent details in advance including location, times and dates.
We will try provide an approximate time for the duration of the specific session; they can be anywhere from 1 hour to 4 hours. Sessions can sometimes overrun due to the often very difficult decisions being made. The varied perspectives brought to the table by the judges can engender some fantastic discussions and elicit very valuable insights!
What happens in the judging sessions?
There are between 4 – 6 judges.
Each category is judged ‘blind’: this means the judges have all the details of the products (as per your entry form) – except brand / supplier details. This means they have no idea who has made the product, whether a small or large company, small or well-established, nor do they see any identifying details that could potentially create a bias. We do not show the packaging until after the judging session has been completed.
The food is all prepared according to the directions on pack*, and the chefs report back to the judges on any anomaly in the instructions / preparation of the products. This is important because the Free From Awards are consumer-facing, so the products are all prepared as if by the free from consumer in their own home, except for products entered into the Foodservice category. Our chefs are experienced enough to know how to follow potentially complicated cooking instructions, as well as being familiar with food allergy requirements, and chosen because they represent the average free from consumer for whom are awards are created.
What happens on judging day?
Judges will arrive on time at a venue in North London, close to public transport and with free car parking facilities where needed. They will be welcomed into a residential house and offered a drink of tea or coffee, and can get to know their fellow judges.
Once all judges have arrived, an introduction will be given for new judges, and to bring regular judges up to date on the latest developments in the Free From Awards and judging methods.
The prepared food and drink products are then presented to the judges. The judges are asked to first taste and consider quietly, writing down their insights and comments directly into our bespoke judging system. Once this has been done, each product is then discussed, with the scribe asking leading questions to capture the very best and most pertinent insights whilst the judges fire questions and challenges back and forth across the table. Judges are asked to make constructive comments, call out any flaws, suggest improvements and give feedback helpful to the manufacturers of each product. Every judging session is recorded.
Judges are given on average 5 -7 minutes with each product.
*Any leftover food samples are distributed to homeless shelters through City Harvest so that nothing is unnecessarily wasted.
What are the judges looking for?
The judges are looking for products that fill a gap in the free from market, that display an innovative use of ingredients, that remove unnecessary allergens, have clear labelling and display an awareness of the needs of the free from individual.
They are looking for both affordable staples for the everyday use, and premium products for special occasions, and everything in between.
The products are judged taking into account the information provided by the entrant on the entry form.
How do the judges assess a product?
Judges are asked to evaluate
- quality, based on appearance, aroma, texture, flavour, ingredients,
- usefulness – does it fulfil a really useful purpose for someone on a free from diet?
- cleverness – is it doing something which is really difficult to do in manufacturing terms?
- nutritional profile
- free from credentials – has it eliminated unnecessary allergens where possible?
- environmental credentials and sustainability of packaging
- innovation
Judges take price into account when they judge products. However, they are aware of the cost of quality ingredients and product development. If a premium product uses especially quality ingredients or is new and innovative, they will not penalise it because it is expensive. Judges assess artisanal / handmade and factory-made entries separately and on their own merits; they are not directly compared.
How do the judges score products?
In addition to writing notes about each product tasted, judges are asked to give each product a mark out of ten. This score is then used as a guide when determining whether a product has achieved a medal or is a finalist.
Once all the products have been tasted, the judges are asked to decide the Gold, Silver and Bronze medal-winners, as well as the finalists.
Once they have made their choices, and only then, judges are shown the packaging for each product so that they can assess the design and the labelling for clarity and accuracy. They may then decide to alter their decisions about medal-winners or finalists if they feel that the product’s on-pack information merits a change.
On the last judging day all the category Gold medal-winners are judged a second time to choose the Food and Drink Products of the Year.
Judges’ comments provide valuable feedback to manufacturers, however, because of the large number of entries, we only give feedback on products on request.