World Plant-Based Awards 2022: What are the judges looking for? (Part Two)

The World Plant-Based Awards 2022, in association with Plant Based World Expo North America, is a celebration of innovation and excellence across the global plant-based industry. We asked the second half of our judging panel what they are hoping to see from this year’s entrants.

There are 17 trophies to be won in total, and being shortlisted provides a hallmark of success that will prevail long after the awards draw to a close.

These judges’ criteria points will hopefully offer inspiration and help in crafting the winning entry.

The deadline for entries is Friday 22 July.

Marina Carli de Moraes

Innovation Director and Co-founder, Solucionaria

I am honoured to join the judging panel for the World Plant-Based Awards 2022. Over the last couple of years food and beverage consumption has changed dramatically mainly because of COVID-19 and a greater consumer’s awareness. The companies have to be always updated to follow these quick changes and to highlight in a market that is becoming more and more competitive. Here is what I am looking for:

• Innovation: The concept of the product must include innovation in all areas: ingredients, process, packaging, communication, sustainability and supply chain. 
• Nutrition: They want not only delicious food but also with all the benefits that food can provide. Consumers aim for nutrition-balanced products and also want some functionality, especially when it comes to digestion/immunity and mental/focus/relaxation. 
• Sustainability: The product must consider all the four pillars of sustainability: human, social, economic and environmental. Using processes and resources that are non-polluting, renewable and natural; are economically efficient; are safe for workers, communities and consumers.
• Purpose: does the company follow their mission, values and vision when creating its products? 
• Experience: the consumers are looking for something different, besides the taste, they want convenience, a packaging design, clear communication, on-hand information (QR Code, for example). They want the whole experience.

Chris Nemchek

General Manager – Plant Based World North America

The plant-based movement is growing fast. New products are finding their way onto store shelves and menus every week. There are many factors that one can point to for the success of their products. I will be judging products based on the criteria below. I find these factors to be most important but not in any particular order.

• Creativity and Innovation: Is your product new and different? Does it stand out among others in its category? Did you use a creative process in developing your product? I am interested to know your product’s key points of differentiation and how it delivers what other products in its category do not.
• Environmental Sustainability: is an important factor driving the plant-based movement. Is your company committed to reducing its environmental impact through production and packaging? What makes your offering environmentally friendly?
• Your Story: What is your company’s and your brand’s story? What is the inspiration behind your offerings. What are you trying to accomplish? I am interested in to know your company and brand mission and values.
• Health/Nutrition: Many in the plant-based movement are looking for a healthier and more nutritious diet and lifestyle. How does your product help consumers with their health and nutrition goals?
• Taste: Great taste, texture and appearance are important to the success of most plant-based products. Please share feedback you’ve received that describe your product’s taste and texture.

Florence Dusseaux

Vegan Expert, Vegg2Food

I’m so happy to be part of the judging panel and I’m looking forward to see amazing products & innovation from all around the world. Regarding nowaday issues on health, environment and our place on this planet, I will check on the following five criteria :

• Composition: Since the covid-19 sanitary crisis, people want healthy products with few ingredients and no more transformation. This is why I will look closely on composition. Organic & vegan labels can be interesting too. The product, by its ingredient, need to be sustainable (eg. less coconut and more peas, potato or oat derived products).
• Packaging: can be very problematic to plastic everywhere. Companies need to find the balance between hygiene issues, laws, packaging and marketing.
• Innovation: even if we need to reduce the part of transformed food from our plate. I will look at innovation closely. If the innovation are derived from trends like fermentation, fungi products, etc.
• Mission: I’m always happy to learn about the mission of the company. What is the vision? What is their place in the world? What are the goals of the company? Do they share money with charity? How they treat their employees. The world need more company with mission and need those company to communicate about it.
• Consumer relationship: at what stage of development is the product at? Does it answer customer needs? Is it an inclusive product? Will it stand out in the future?

Antonia Garrett Peel

Editor of The Plant Base, FoodBev Media

As someone who spends a great deal of time immersed in the plant-based industry, my interest will be in products that are breaking new ground. These will demonstrate potential to support a wider uptake of plant-based eating – either by providing realistic alternatives to animal-based offerings, or by using vegan-friendly ingredients to introduce something new to consumers.

I will be looking for:

• Ingredient innovation: From leveraging largely untapped proteins to taking a novel approach to taste or texture creation, innovative use of ingredients will stand out for me.
• Nutrition: Perceptions of plant-based foods as good for you draw many consumers to the category. Products that deliver balanced nutrition and support healthy as well as environmentally friendly habits will catch my attention.
• ESG credentials: Consumers want to make purchasing decisions that they can feel good about, in the plant-based category especially so. I will look out for brands that deliver measurable ethical and environmental benefits.
• Voice: In a relatively young industry, companies are competing to create distinctive voices that resonate with consumers. How brands communicate and convey their personality and story will be a key consideration for me.
• Forward thinkers: Trend-setting products will take the spotlight – is your entry adding value to the market with a new approach or setting a precedent for future innovation?

Francesco Benazzi

Head of Regional Sales and Global Development, OraSi

I’m definitely proud of being part of the judging panel for the World Plant-Based Awards 2022. I will base my evaluation on five key points:

• Sustainability: I’ll love to know about the overall impact of your product on the environment. Sourcing, ingredients, packaging materials, production process, company policies, and communication messages will be the drivers to understanding how you will improve our future.
• Innovation: Which issues is your product solving? and using which tools/technologies? I will look for your answers.
• Nutrition: I think that a healthy product is taking good care of myself offering a balanced nutritional profile. No tricks.
• Product design: I’m curious to see how you will build the WOW effect on your pack: creative and original design is the best way to stand out from the crowd and send a bold message to all the community.
• Taste: Good balance, unique flavour, and great texture. If your products will have all of them, the final customers will definitely love it.

Jenna McGuinness

Senior Buyer, The Vegan Kind

I’m so excited to learn all about the entries in this year’s World Plant-Based Awards! Here are some key factors that I’ll be looking out for:

• Sustainability: This is something really important to us here at TVK, we like when products are sustainable and environmentally friendly from the ingredients, to the production, to the final packaging.
• A much-needed and desired vegan alternative – is your product an alternative to a non-vegan product, that everyone has been waiting for? This is super important for the vegan movement, and will help your product create a buzz online if it’s something people are desperate to get their hands on.
• Revolutionary: Innovation is key, I’m looking for products to be exciting, something where’s there’s nothing else like it out there yet.
• Delicious: one of the most important factors to me, how does the product taste? If you create a vegan meat alternative the texture and flavour has to be just right, or if you’re developing a vegan chocolate, smoothness and creaminess is something I always look for.

Are you a plant-based industry innovator worthy of our judges attention?Enter the World Plant-Based Awards 2022 now!