2021 Sponsorship
Raising the profile of freefrom foods within the industry and with the consumer
Becoming a sponsor of the 2021 FreeFrom Food Awards brings the opportunity for you to
Take the lead in a rapidly growing sector of the food industry
Raise the profile of your company with the people who really matter
Sponsorship benefits
Join us at the Presentation
Complimentary tickets to the Awards, joining over 300 freefrom industry players in celebrating along with the winners as they are revealed as part of the now legendary Winners Buffet.
Opportunity to present the award for the sponsored category and be photographed with the winners. Photographs/videos will then be available for your use.
Social Media
- Regular mentions in our active social media streams with over 12,000 combined followers.
- Opportunities to become involved in our regular social media campaigns.
Your company logo to be displayed:
On the awards website and associated communications.
- At the presentation event.
- At all consumer or trade events attended during the awards year.
Opportunity to be involved in the awards’ Zoominar programme
- An opportunity to reach a larger audience through the FreeFrom Food Awards’ upcoming programme of online networking and workshops.
Sponsorship to suit all budgets
- Wide selection of sponsorship packages.
- Simple 3 part payment plan to accommodate all cash flows.
2021 Sponsorship
· Winner’s Buffet 2021·
The Awards’ legendary Winner’s Buffet made up of all of that year’s winning products – the high point of the evening when guests get to taste THE best in freefrom
Sponsorship: £2000
Special Awards
· Retailer of the Year ·
Sponsored for 2021 by Oakland International
An exciting category designed to recognise the significant role that the supermarkets play in the freefrom sector.
This category requires a minimum entry of 25 products into full price categories of which the top scoring 20 will be considered for this award.
· FreeFrom Hero Award·
Sponsored for 2021 by Natasha’s Allergy Research Foundation
We are seeking someone who has made a major contribution to freefrom, in no matter how humble a role. An excellent caring freefrom school cook, a cafe owner who really caters freefrom – all suggestions welcome
· Best Independent Brand of the Year ·
Sponsored for 2021 by Nutraceuticals Group Europe
A new category designed to celebrate the role of independent brands in the development of the freefrom sector. There will be awards for both the Best Small Brand (with 3 or fewer employees) and the Best Big Brand. To qualify for this award, entrants will need to have entered a minimum of 3 products into the awards for a ‘Small Brand’, and 6 for a ‘Big Brand’.
· Best Labelling for a Freefrom Product ·
Sponsored for 2021 by RSSL
The labelling of freefrom 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 FF consumer identify safe food.
· Best Packaging for a Freefrom Product ·
The judges will be looking for the most innovative, exciting and sustainable packaging format for a freefrom food, which could be in terms of production method, design and/or materials.
Sponsorship: £1750
· Foods Manufactured for Food Service ·
The return of our category devoted to foods manufactured for food service – so crucial as the sector tries to recover from the COVID pandemic.
Sponsorship: £2000
· Best Digital Presence for a FreeFrom Brand ·
Sponsored for 2021 by DigitalJen
For any freefrom brand a strong digital presence (website, social media) is essential – even more so in COVID times when selling direct to the customer has become crucial. Creating that presence requires a huge amount of work – on top of actually developing, preparing and selling your products.
This award will celebrate a really strong online presence including a positive digital user experience: a website and social media to which a freefrom consumer is drawn, that they feel they can trust and that they can use to access information and/or safe products.
Our judges will be looking to see how the freefrom consumer is engaged, how easy it is for a customer to buy freefrom products (either directly or from a third party) and how the digital presence informs and educates them in all things freefrom.
Main Awards
1. Innovation Award
Sponsored for 2021 by Nairns Oatcakes
No matter how large or small you are you can have great ideas. New concepts, innovative use of ingredients or manufacturing techniques, unusual recipes, new ways to deliver health or flavour. We want to know about them.
- For companies with a turnover of less than £100,000
- For companies with a turnover of more than £100,000
2. Almost Totally FreeFrom
To accommodate people with allergies to some of the ingredients outside the list of EU-recognised top 14 allergens (such as pea – now widely used as an alternative) we have added peas/chickpeas to our list of allergens. Entries must still be free of 14 allergens, but entrants can choose which 14 they exclude. For instance a peanut puff, which excludes 14 of our 15 listed allergens will now be eligible for this category.
Sponsorship: £2500
3. Best Product from a Start-Up
Sponsored for 2021 by Tesco
This category is only open to products manufactured by entrants who have been in business for less than two years (eg they must have started trading no earlier than 21st September 2018). The award will be made based on the quality of the product and not on any other aspect of the company’s business. We are delighted Tesco will be offering mentoring to the winner.
4. Artisan Foods
Sponsored for 2021 by Seedful
Artisan is a term used to describe food produced by non-industrialised methods – no matter where it is sold. Artisan food makers should have mastered the craft of their particular production and show a historical, experiential, intuitive and scientific understanding of the process. They should also be sensitive to the impact of their production on people and the environment.
5. Breakfast Foods
Sponsored for 2021 by Dr Schär
Always a very well-populated category, Breakfast Foods includes all of those delicious products which set you up for the day.
- Breakfast cereals
- Breakfast baked goods
This is one of our ‘multiple product’ categories and offers the sponsor significantly more exposure and coverage than the single product awards.
6. Milk Product Alternatives
Sponsored for 2021 by Nature’s Path
This category includes milk alternatives, spreads/butters, cheeses and yoghurt.
- Lactose-reduced cow’s milk, goat, sheep, buffalo & camel products
- Plant based products
7. Breads
The most ‘staple’ of the staple products. Whole loaves, sliced breads, rolls, speciality breads, pitta breads, naans, sandwich thins etc.
Sponsorship: £1500
8. Store Cupboard
Any store cupboard item whether ambient, dried or frozen, excluding pasta and pizza bases but including bread and cake mixes. A very large and absolutely crucial category in freefrom. Offers the sponsor more exposure and coverage than the single product awards. Depending on entries we may subdivide this category and award individual or joint gold winners, silver and bronze awards.
Sponsorship: £2000
9. Pasta and Pizza
Sponsored for 2021 by Bute Island Foods
- Fresh and dried pasta
- Filled pasta
- Pizza bases and complete pizza
10. Snack Bars
Sponsored for 2021 by Romer Labs
An essential item in every school lunch box, briefcase, handbag and sports bag these days!
Cereal bars, fruit bars, energy bars, nut bars, protein bars, grain free bars, raw bars, superfood bars and many more.
11. Savoury Snacks and Crackers
Crisps and other snacks to accompany a drink, and crackers, to eat on their own or with cheese and dips.
Sponsorship: £2000
12. Drinks
Sponsored for 2021 by Asda
Any alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks that are found in a pub/bar/party.
- A Shot of Class – for liqueurs, whiskeys, gins, vodkas, proseccos, cocktail mixes, wines
- Gluten Free Beer & Cider – a category for all types of GF beer and cider. Beer must be GF and can be made with or without barley/wheat/rye/oats. Products are judged according to type, and can be AF or low alcohol.
- Mixing it Up – for soft drinks and mixers
13. Meat, Fish and Vegetarian Ready Meals
Any meal that you can take out of the freezer, the fridge or the store cupboard – then heat up and enjoy in front of the telly! Includes sausages & burgers, fishcakes, and any vegetarian equivalent as well.
Sponsorship: £1500
14. Vegan Snacks and Meal Ideas
Sponsored for 2021 by Planted
Anything from a vegan crisp or sausage roll – to a full meal. Products entered into this category must qualify as vegan and freefrom – and be free of at least one of the 14 major allergens.
15. Child and Teen Friendly Food
Sponsored for 2021 by Genius Gluten Free
From an early age, freefrom children are very food aware, nutritionally conscious and have surprisingly sophisticated tastes.
We are looking for entries that will appeal to age groups from post toddler to late teens.
16. Tea Time
Sponsored for 2021 by FREEE by Doves Farm
A popular category with a generous entry of delicious scones, crumpets, biscuits, cookies, brownies, cake bars, cakes, celebration cakes, and seasonal products (such as Simnel cakes, mince pies). Judges assess artisanal/handmade and factory made entries separately and on their own merits; they are not directly compared.
17. Dessert and Puddings
Every kind of hot and cold dessert and pudding from sticky toffee pudding to ice cream, including seasonal desserts such as Christmas puddings.
Sponsorship: £2000
18. Confectionery – Chocolate and Sweets
Sponsored for 2021 by Unismack
We are looking for everything from everyday chocolate, sweets and candy bars to seasonal confectionery (Christmas and Easter), low sugar/sugar free confectionery and any other sort of confectionery!
19. The Gift Category
Exciting, elegant, indulgent and thoughtful sweet or savoury products that you’d be proud to buy as presents for friends and relatives!
Sponsorship: £1500
For more on sponsoring an award, please talk to Kara on 07734 948481 or email kara@freefromfoodawards.co.uk
