But for one of the past winners, the Awards are more than a reward for their hard work and dedication to the cause as Nexira – Winners of the 2019 Healthy Ageing Ingredient of the Year category, tells NutraIngredients.
“Winning this award had a good impact on our visibility,” says the firm’s marketing manager Julie Impérato. “This award helped us to promote our ingredient by being in the spotlight for its performance.
“As the judges were from the industry or scientific persons, it was a good way to enhance our scientific results.
“For finished products, it can also be a way to prove the safety and efficacy to the consumer by adding the award on the packaging.”
Standing to attention
The ingredient in question is EnoSTIM, a blend of active ingredients such as apple and grape polyphenols as well as saffron that presents a solution for male performance, specifically in the field of sexual function and erection.
The product’s formulation is said to boost healthy blood flow properties with studies showing 74% of men reporting a better Erectile Hardness Score (EHS) and 72% reporting a better IIEF-5 score (International Index of Erectile Function) after four weeks of intake.
While the product serves a niche demographic, it was perhaps the approach and the confidence Nexira demonstrated in its application that made EnoSTIM stand out amongst the judges, culminating in its win.
“In 2019, we have conducted a trial on human and results were really impressive,” explains Impérato. “We had a very good response from the market and from our customers / prospects.”
“Our ingredient was positioned on a specific market category, where there is still not so many competitors, and we had good results and strong scientific support. We thought it was the perfect timing to gain more visibility in the industry.”
Award ceremony contacts
Impérato goes on to describe EnoSTIM’s recognition from the judges as a catalyst for the opportunities that opened up after the Awards night, which takes place during May’s Vitafoods Europe, in Geneva.
“We already had strong scientific support for our ingredient and Nexira is already recognized for its high level of expertise,” she says. “However, promoting our ingredient and its awards is a great way to differentiate.
“It’s a very positive approach when you can say to a customer that your ingredient has been awarded by an independent and recognised panel. We had many contacts following the award ceremony.”
As NutraIngredients once again prepares for the 2020 NutraIngredients Awards, scheduled for the 13th May, Impérato has a few words of wisdom to those, who are thinking of entering this year.
“The selection process is very rigorous,” she says of the submission process, which this year has been extended until Friday 7 February due to high demand.
“You have to present your ingredient: its scientific background (proprietary studies, bibliography), how it answers to the market and consumers’ needs, and what are its differentiation points.”
Need to know more?
With the deadline for applications to the NutraIngredients Awards extended to Friday 7th February 2020, it's vital that you get your applications in soon.
But which award should you apply for, what are the key criteria for the categories, and what do the judges look for in a great entry? Our helpful video guide to the awards, and our top tips from the judges will ensure you know exactly what to enter for, and how to make your entry stand out!
Check out our video guide to make sure you know all of the categories and criteria.
While these top tips and hints from the judges will certainly help to improve your application.
Please see the NutraIngredients Awards website for further details.