About the International Awards

Key Dates

• International Awards – entry now open
• International Awards entry close – 30th April 2026
• Judging – May 2026  (date TBC)
• Awards Presentation Party – June 2026

Criteria

To qualify for entry into the International Awards, all entries

1. 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*
2. must not be commercially available in the UK
3. must have been available in their respective market for a minimum of 6 months as of 1st March 2026

*e.g. product cannot claim to be gluten free and have a ‘may contain’ warning for gluten.

By submitting an entry you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions.

Entry Fees & Discount Codes

We do not want cost to be a barrier to entry, and have not increased entry fees since 2020.

We have tiered pricing based on company turnover:

• Micro = company turnover £0-£300,000 = £105+VAT per entry (use code at check out microcFFA2026)
• Small = company turnover £301,000- £3,000,000 = £150+VAT per entry (use code at check out smallcFFA2026)
• Large = company turnover <£3,000,001 = £185+VAT per entry

10% discount on entries made before 23rd January 2026 (applied automatically)

The fee covers the cost of entry, medal logos (supplied in a digital format), use of the applicable logo and feedback.

NB. Please note that entrants will also be liable for any import duty.

How to Enter

If you need any help with your entry, please email us or phone 07790 869706. There is a real person at the end of this line, so if there is no answer please leave a message or send a text, and you will get a reply.

1. Getting started

Head over to Account Login and either:

• Create a new account with all your contact details. Please double check that your email address is correct.
• Or log in to your existing account and check all details are up to date.

Then you’ll arrive in your account.

2. Submitting product information

From within your account – select Transactions>Basket, then select an International Awards entry form from the drop down menu. Then click ‘Add Selected’ and then scroll down to find your entry form to fill out.

Each product requires a separate entry form, with mandatory fields to fill in. There are also optional fields to give the judges a fuller understanding of your product.

You can save the form as you go: click ‘Save for later’ at the bottom of the entry form, and come back to edit it later – the entry forms can be found in your account in ‘Transactions>Saved items’ on the lefthand side.

Once your form is complete, submit the entry form by accepting the Ts & Cs and clicking the green CONTINUE button.

Enter your details for invoicing, and on the next page, SUMMARY, the cost for entry will be calculated with the early entry discount automatically applied.

Add in the discount code at this point, as per your company’s size (these can be found above).

3. Making payment

Please make payment via debit card or credit card. You will receive a VAT invoice by email once payment has been made.

If you wish to pay another way, please select ‘Invoice’, and make sure to pay within 30 days.

You’re now entered into the Food Awards

You can see all your entries in your account. Simply log in, and click on ‘Complete’ on the lefthand side where you will see all your completed and paid for entries.

Judging

This category award will recognise both innovation and quality, therefore all entries will be judged on the concept of their product as well the quality.
A specially selected panel including product developers, retail buyers and allergy advocates, all with an understanding of international markets, will judge this category.

Each entry will be assessed for its suitability and relevance for the UK market. This will form part of the feedback pack that will be issued to all entrants.

• • • Product Visual: how does the product look both straight from pack and when served? How does this align to expectation?

• • • Taste: does the product taste great & how does the taste experience align to expectation?

• • • Flavour: does the product deliver on the flavours it promises?

• • • Texture: how is the mouthfeel of the product?

• • • Aroma: how does the product smell, is it inviting and representative of the appropriate flavours?

• • • Free From Credentials: are the free from claims clear? Has the product eliminated unnecessary allergens without detriment to the product?

• • • Ingredients List: ingredients will be considered (in some this will be more relevant than others) e.g. how clean is it? Does it deliver on its claims e.g. health benefits, nutritional profile?

• • • Inclusivity: to what extent does the product aid inclusivity? Does it address a genuine occasion need?

• • • Price Point/Value for Money: does the product represent good value for money? Expensive is OK assuming this is justified.

Judges

Our judges are chosen for their understanding and appreciation of global trends across food and drink, plus knowledge of the UK free from market. They include:

Mary Allen – Natural Brand Works

Mary is the Founder & President of Natural Brand Works LLC. Mary works closely with Diversified Communications UK as the U.S. and Canadian Sales Agent for two of the largest European trade events – the Natural & Organic Products Expo in London, the Nordic Organic & Good Food Fair, the Natural Beauty & Health Expo in Stockholm, and Australia, the Naturally Good Expo in Sydney. In this role, she assists brand owners to exhibit and navigate the International trade show experience. As a Consultant, she supports companies with international and export assistance.

Mary was a judge for the Free From Food Awards in 2024, has been appointed as a member of the District Export Council (DEC) by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and is a member of the Organization of Women in International Trade. Mary works closely with U.S. and Canadian export assistance organizations that support exporters and International business and trade events. Mary is a former Vice President of Merchandising for a division of a U.S. department store chain and has traveled internationally for sourcing and product development. This set the foundation to start her brand, Savvy Green LLC,  and consulting services, Natural Brand Works, specializing in supporting North American businesses with their brand building and leveraging resources at home and globally.

Jane Milton – Jane Milton Ltd

Jane Milton is one of the UK’s leading food industry experts with 38 years of commercial experience, which began in a PLC in Scotland, where her business values, ethics and people-centred focus were shaped. Over the last 25 years, Jane’s experience, harnessed predominantly in SME growth in the food and drink sector in the UK and overseas, has given her a unique perspective and a strong global network.

Jane has a passion for helping food & drink businesses at their growth or expansion stage. Over the years, Jane and her team of food industry experts and business growth strategy consultants have helped thousands of food and drinks businesses become established and successful brands. She is able to embed growth through building connections and curating teams of industry specialists to support and fast-track business success.

As a business growth strategy consultant, Jane works with clients on a project basis or as a retained adviser. Once she’s scoped the work, she carefully curates a team of food industry specialists, many of whom are recognised leaders in their sphere, to develop and implement exactly the right strategy for that business.

Catherine Rose-Bloom

Award-winning chef, sensory expert, and product developer with strong skills in the free-from, dairy, luxury, fresh, confectionary & health food market. Advocate for Mental Health support in the workplace. Currently Product Development Manager for Dairy at Tesco.

To read more about how we judge products, please head over to FAQs.

International Recognition 2025

WINNER

ULU Foods – Chia & Sea Salt Bread Fruit Bites 

With a natural, clean ingredients list, high in vitamin C, fibre and minerals with a delicious, mildly salty flavour, our judges want to know “what else can be made with bread fruit, and how can this locally harvested ingredient be sustainably brought to the UK!?”
 

RUNNERS UP

ZestElement – Lemon Powder

Hi Barlee – Hazelnut Flavored Highland Barley Drink 

International Recognition 2024

International Recognition 2023

GOLD

Unismack – The Mediterranean Snack Collection / Ancient Grain Snack Crackers – Sea Salt & Black Pepper

Appealing, fresh-looking packaging, the product has a good amount of seasoning on it with a nice crunch and a lot of flavour for such small snack!

“As a proud participant of the … International Recognition category …, we would highly recommend entering this award to any Free From brand outside of the UK.
Not only did our Unismack products and packaging receive expert feedback that helped us improve – but we also joined a large community of mutually supportive Free From brands. Sharing our awards involvement on social media created a journey that our customers could follow, building brand awareness and trust.”
Charlotte Dickson, Marketing Manager, Unismack

Matatie, Chocolate Brownie (Le Brownie)

Individually wrapped and clearly targeting children from the packaging. Would work as a lunchbox snack for a child. Great concept! Not a lot of 14 free allergen free products in the market.
“We are incredibly honored to have been awarded the GOLD! We are overjoyed that the jury enjoyed our Chocolate Brownie. Thank you so much for introducing us to the International category! I hope that next year we will have the opportunity to compete in the main categories as well!”
Aurélien Corveste, Directeur Général, Matatie

SILVER

Hi Barlee, Black Sesame Flavored Highland Barley Drink 

Hi Barlee, Walnut Flavored Highland Barley Drink 

Mellifera AD, MelliGEL CacaoMint 

Nanuki Boom Bar Metamorphic Brownie

Younique Foods The Barbarian, Double Choc Maca