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Spotlight for success: 5 industry leaders on how industry awards can elevate a brand
In today’s competitive business landscape, brand recognition and credibility are vital to stand out from the crowd.
An effective way to build this authority is through entering industry awards. Whether a start-up venture or a well-established brand, winning reputable awards can elevate a company’s profile, offering third-party validation that customers will trust.
Submitting a product for an award demonstrates commitment, opens doors to valuable networking opportunities and serves as a powerful marketing tool that can improve company morale, provide access to unbiased feedback and differentiate a brand from its competitors.
So, if you are considering entering the NutraIngredients Awards 2025, you can be sure to benefit from the opportunity to showcase your innovative brand or ingredient. We asked five previous winners to reflect on how their experiences positively impacted their business.
"Awards put you in the spotlight for success"
Fitoplancton Marino S.L. won the Ingredient of the Year: Sports Nutrition Award in 2024. Enrique Castaño, Sales and Business Development Director, Fitoplancton Marino S.L. explains:
“Winning the award has significantly helped unlock new avenues of scientific research and R&D opportunities. Submitting TetraSOD® for the NutraIngredients Awards was a way of obtaining recognition from a reputable opinion leader.
“The process for submitting the entry was very simple, entirely based on the achievements of the ingredients, alongside corresponding scientific support of published papers.
“Since winning the award, we have achieved a significant direct response to our communications. It has also improved our website traffic, with requests that have turned into new business opportunities.
“The exposure gained from winning this award has definitely raised TetraSOD to a higher level, generating awareness and interest from companies which would have been complicated to achieve otherwise.” Enrique Castaño, Sales and Business Development Director, Fitoplancton Marino S.L.
“We are currently negotiating potential collaborations with new clients for the nutraceutical market.
“That the award was in the niche category of sports nutrition has led us to further explore investigations in this direction. It is already known that oxidative stress and inflammation causes tissue damage in a number of different health challenges, and this award has encouraged us to broaden our research activities towards cellular health.
“If you believe that your ingredient has the scientific support to substantiate its potential in the market, these Awards will definitely put you in the spotlight for recognition and success."
“The Awards ceremony was an outstanding event”
Finzelberg won the Editors’ Award For Sustainability Initiative of the Year in 2024. Michael Braig, CEO, Finzelberg says:
“Winning the award in this category constitutes recognition of our hard work and persistence. The award makes our sustainability journey visible to a wider audience, which is particularly relevant in our industry.
“The Awards ceremony was truly an outstanding event. Beyond having the chance to network and connect with other participants, we are currently following up on projects that can be linked to this event. Cross-functional collaborations are a next-level approach to add value to our industry – events like these Awards are definitely contributing.
“Competing and participating is a truly rewarding effort. You learn about need states of different stakeholders and have the chance to benchmark your achievements and receive guidance from others.
“Winning the award has created a lot of additional customer interest in our research and development activities, particularly in the field of sustainable botanical extracts." Michael Braig, CEO, Finzelberg
“An example of this is our commitment to the cultivation of Rhodiola rosea to protect wild populations. In August 2024, a scientific publication was released based on our R&D efforts to use Rhodiola exclusively from our own sustainable cultivation in Western Europe.
“The findings reveal that our cultivation not only delivers high-quality raw materials but also supports the development of innovative, effective supplements with new aspects like muscle growing properties for a healthier ageing.
“This project perfectly illustrates how sustainable innovation and scientific research can work together to meet both market demands and ecological goals."
“A highly respected platform across the nutritional industry”
Marinova won the Editors’ Award for Sustainability Initiative of the Year in 2023. Amanda Mackinnon, Marketing & Communications Manager, Marinova Pty Ltd explains:
“The NutraIngredients Awards are highly respected across the nutritional industry. As an Australian company, we saw them as an international platform that could highlight the benefits of our bioactive seaweed ingredients to the world.
“We found the process straightforward and succinct. Unlike other award programs, the process did not require an onerous investment of time from our team.
“The NutraIngredients Awards Winner logo has generated significant interest from prospective clients across the globe, particularly when displayed at trade shows. It is viewed as a trusted mark of quality and has provided Marinova with additional peer recognition and credibility." Amanda Mackinnon, Marketing & Communications Manager, Marinova Pty Ltd
“Winning the award has provided the opportunity to examine the business from a fresh perspective, identifying strengths and refining strategies for the future.
“The NutraIngredients Awards do more than just raise the profile of your brand. They are an opportunity to recognise the accomplishments of your team, boost morale and attract additional global talent to your company. Creating a genuine culture of recognition is invaluable in the workplace."
“We signed one new study as a result of winning this award”
Vedic Lifesciences won the award for Nutrition Research Project in 2023. Kriti Chaudhary, Sales & Marketing (Global), Vedic Lifesciences says:
“The NutraIngredients Awards are well-known and credible. We knew that our study was unique, well designed and the need-of-the-hour. The submission form is user-friendly and we did not face any difficulty.
“We are a contract research organisation that does clinical trials for ingredients and finished products.
"Since winning the award we have had a lot of recognition and appreciation from industry veterans – we have also had new business opportunities due to winning the award." Kriti Chaudhary, Sales & Marketing (Global), Vedic Lifesciences
“We have signed one new study as a direct result of winning as the customer became aware of us through the award’s announcement.
“Entering the Awards provided us with the opportunity to assess our strengths and identify areas for improvement. The judges mentioned that we described the study well. We are now looking forward to getting it published."
“If you are thinking of entering the Awards, make sure your application has benefits that are relevant to today’s times and have the potential to change lives for the better. Explain in detail and answer each question precisely. Give examples wherever required with supporting data."
“Winning significantly elevated our profile within the industry”
Maolac won the Start-Up Award in 2024. Yael Averbuch, Chief Marketing Officer, Maolac says:
“By participating in the Awards, we aimed to showcase our innovative approach and gain recognition within the industry.
“The submission process was straightforward and well-organised. It provided us with an excellent opportunity to reflect on our achievements and articulate the value of our products. The clear guidelines and supportive team made the entire experience smooth and rewarding.
“Winning the award has significantly elevated our profile within the industry. It has opened doors to new partnerships, increased our visibility among potential investors and validated our innovative approach.
“This recognition has enhanced our credibility, making it easier to engage with key stakeholders and expand our market reach. This has led to several exciting collaborations. For instance, we are currently working with a leading supplement company to launch a series of products featuring our ingredient ‘Super Colostrum’.
“Winning the award has been a valuable learning experience, allowing us to benchmark our achievements against industry standards and identify areas to further innovate.
“The feedback from the judges and peers has been instrumental in refining our product offerings and improving our overall strategy.” Yael Averbuch, Chief Marketing Officer, Maolac
“I would encourage anyone considering entering the Awards to go for it. The process is a great opportunity to reflect on your achievements and articulate your vision. Winning can open many doors, so approach it with confidence and a willingness to learn."
NutraIngredients Awards 2025
The NutraIngredients Awards honour the best ingredients, finished products, companies, individuals and initiatives in the nutraceutical industry.
The 2025 Awards will be hosted in Barcelona on Wednesday, 21 May. There are 17 categories to enter across three areas: ‘Ingredients’, ‘Finished Products’ and ‘Specialist Awards’.
Entering the Awards is a strategic move that can propel your business forward. Not only providing recognition, it can boost credibility and validates success – providing a respected platform to showcase innovation.
The entry process is simple, you complete your entry online by filling out an entry form. You can also enter multiple categories.
The closing date for entries is Monday 3 February 2025. Submit your entry here. Enter before Friday 13 December 2024 and take advantage of the Early Bird Discount Rate.