InnoBev Awards 2021

Events
InnoBev Awards 2021

11th Jan-2nd Apr

Entry closure 2nd April 2021

In its fifth year, Zenith Global's annual InnoBev Awards are open to entrepreneurs as well as established brands from around the globe. Designed to celebrate and highlight excellence, categories cover innovation, marketing, technology and packaging across all sectors in the soft drinks industry. The award entries open on 11 January and run until 2 April 2021. The winners will be announced at an online awards ceremony on 11 May at the 2021 UK Soft Drinks Conference.

Details

Our guide below should provide you with all the information you need about the InnoBev Awards 2021. You can also download the InnoBev Awards 2021 guidelines here.

Please note, entries must be received by Friday 2 April 2021.

If you have any queries, please contact us on t +44(0)1225 327900 e awards@zenithglobal.com

What are the categories?

Best Low/No Sugar Drink
Best Functional Drink
Best Premium Drink
Best CBD/Hemp Drink
Best in Can
Best in Carton
Best in Glass
Best in PET
Best Packaging/Label Design
Best Marketing/Social Media Campaign
Best Technology Innovation sponsored by Salomons & Partners
Best New Brand
Best Brand Extension
Best New Drink Concept

Products can be entered into multiple categories.

Why should I enter?

Benefit from leading industry media
Enjoy year-round exposure
Dedicated announcement of your success on our social media platforms
Attract validation for present and potential future investors
Comprehensive communications kit complete with press release; logos to use on packaging, website or email signatures; certificate; and trophy for winners!
Presentation of your shortlisted product at an online awards ceremony on 11 May at Zenith Global's virtual UK Soft Drinks Conference 2021, and live through YouTube Premiere.

How much does it cost to enter?

Early bird entry (enter before Friday 26 February) costs £195 + VAT per category.

Each standard entry costs £225 + VAT per category.

If you enter 3 categories, the 4th entry is free.

All entries must be received before close of business on Friday, 2 April.

How do I enter?

There are two stages to the entry process.

1. Simply click 'Enter Now', and select the categories and products you wish to enter and then fill out your personal details.

2. Once we have received your application and payment, a member of the awards team will be in touch to support you on your submission for the awards.

What is required?

A 200-word description of why your product deserves to win
Two high-resolution product images

*For the category 'Best Marketing/Social Media Campaign' you are invited to send an additional 1-page document to include any video content or imagery relating to the entry.

When will the finalists be announced?

Once all judges have submitted their feedback and scores, all points will be counted and verified.

A press release will be released announcing the finalists. All entrants and finalists will be notified by the end of April.

When will the winners be announced?

The winners will be announced in an online awards ceremony on Tuesday, 11 May 2021 during Zenith Global's UK Soft Drinks Conference, as well as being live-streamed.

How do I contact you?

If you have a query about the awards, please get in touch!

t +44 (0)1225 327900 e awards@zenithglobal.com

Entry criteria

All products entered must have been launched/ created/ rebranded from January 2019 onwards. If you have a product that is not yet in the market, it can still be entered as long as they are in their prototype/packaging stage by the closing date of this awards scheme.

To download the full awards guideline document, click here

For any questions or queries around the awards, please contact awards@zenithglobal.com

For each category entry, you are required to submit the following only:

a 200-word description of why your product deserves to win in its category
two high-resolution product images (JPEG and PNG files only)

For the category ‘Best Marketing or Social Media Campaign’ you are invited to send an additional 1-page document to include any video content or imagery relating to the entry.

Below are some ideas and recommendations for what you may wish to include in your 200-word description. For all categories, you may wish to consider including the following:

What: Vision and mission of your product

How: Market gap analysis/product differentiation

Where: Your product is sold, developed, sourced from and why

Why: Your product is the most innovative/exciting product in this category and what makes it stand out

Best Low/No Sugar Drink, Best Functional Drink, Best CBD/ Hemp Drink

We are looking for a clear message about why your product is the most innovative/exciting product in this category and what makes it stand out. We’d love to hear about flavor combinations, points of differentiation, added value, and market impact.

Best Premium Drink

As well as delivering on taste and refreshment, we are looking for premium drinks that feature top quality ingredients and craftsmanship. In your entry, you may wish to consider how your product offers added value, differentiation and sophistication, as well as market impact and brand appeal relevant to the target audience.

Best in Can, Best in Carton, Best in Glass and Best in PET:

We are looking for products that stand out in appearance in their respective packaging and provide an excellent example of the chosen format. In your entry, you may wish to consider how your product differentiates itself from other products in the same format, as well as the benefits of choosing to package your product in this format. We are looking for innovation of concept as well as commercial/market impact.

Best Packaging/Label Design

We are looking for packaging designs and innovations that measurably improve consumer convenience, usability and reduction of waste material, offer added value for brand owners and create differentiation through excellence and original design/appearance. The packaging/label design needs to effectively communicate the ingredients and benefits of what’s inside.

Best Marketing/Social Media Campaign

In this category, we are seeking marketing campaigns, activations, promotions, print, digital, or point-of-sale campaigns that entertain, raise awareness or educate, demonstrate originality and promote or provide education around specific themes. You are welcome to send a one-page document of additional video content and imagery to help illustrate your marketing message.

Best Technology Innovation

We are looking for innovative technologies in processing, manufacturing, packaging, distribution or vending. This includes innovations that offer new technologies that save time or money in beverage manufacturing, change the way in which consumers access and consume beverages, improve packaging line efficiency and safety, improve tracking through smart technology, or improve environmental sustainability criteria.

Best New Brand

We are looking for newcomer brands that clearly communicate benefits – from nutrition, health, functionality, or superior refreshment - and have delivered a unique proposition either through innovative ingredients or packaging, environmental sustainability, clean label, or ethical behaviour.

Best Brand Extension

We are looking for brand extensions that clearly communicate benefits – from nutrition, health, functionality, or superior refreshment - and have delivered a unique proposition either through innovative ingredients or packaging, environmental sustainability, clean label, or ethical behaviour.

Best New Drink Concept

We are looking for new beverages that demonstrate innovative concept(s) and product differentiation. This includes drinks that have the potential to develop a new product category or extend consumer choice.

Judges

Claire Nuttall

Managing Director of The Brand Incubator

With over 20 years experience working in high calibre, demanding agency world with many successes working with big blue chip brands, businesses and entrepreneurial start ups.

Claire has a highly sought after mix of instinct, skills and down to earth approaches to innovation. Inspiring, fresh and challenging in her thinking, she adds that bit of a difference when you need it most or you have hit a block that seems impossible to break through. Her approach is entrepreneurial, identifying insights that will make a difference is a speciality, diagnosing where barriers or opportunities lie is another, then identifying, prescribing and implementing effective innovation, commercial strategies and creative/marketing solutions which help clients to accelerate growth and profitability of their business. From identifying the gap and solution for GSK's now £100m brand Sensodyne Pronamel or partnering the creation of a £19m food brand year 1 Claire delivers growth. Claire writes a monthly Talking Shop for the Food & Drink industry magazine The Grocer and feeds trend insights into LS :N bi-monthly from 2014. She regularly speaks at industry seminars giving talks about innovation, NPD, future trends and the ever changing health agenda. She also co-founded the much talked of Thrive Talk Executive business club who meet bi-monthly to discuss edgy industry issues and challenges involving entrepreneurs, retailers, venture capital and big blue chip marketers and directors.

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Dr Marnie Millard OBE

President of the British Soft Drinks Association and Former Chief Executive of Nichols Plc

Marnie is the President of the Board of Management at the BSDA (British Soft Drinks Association). She chairs the Board at UA92 and is a non-executive Director for Finsbury Foods.

UA92 is a new University Academy based in Trafford, Greater Manchester and is a joint venture between Lancaster University and the Class of 92. The aim of UA92 is to make higher education accessible to all and work in partnership with business to ensure our students are fully equipped to make a difference in the career they choose. Until December 2020 Marnie was Group Chief Executive for Nichols PLC, the home of Vimto. She joined the company in 2012 as Managing Director of the UK Soft Drinks Division and was appointed as CEO in May 2013. Marnie previously held senior roles at Refresco and Macaw Soft Drinks. Marnie also held the Chair for the CBI in the North West for 3 years as well as being an Advisor to the Board of International Trade. Marnie was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2018 in recognition of her contributions to International Trade business in the North West.

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Vanessa Walker

President of NEW YOU Brands

Vanessa Walker is currently President, NEW YOU Brands, a division of direct-to-consumer wellness company, Great HealthWorks (GHW), where she will utilize her expertise in turnarounds and scaling brands to increase valuation.

She also advises several beverage brands today including 100 Coconuts and United Sodas of America, and formerly served on the board of publicly traded, Jones Soda Co. Prior to joining client (GHW) full time, she Founded Millennial Brands Consulting, a beverage focused firm specializing in the strategy and commercialization of early stage beverages. Recently as EVP Marketing & Sales, CELSIUS (NASDAQ: CELH), (January 2016 - October 2018), she worked to turnaround brand’s position, building the foundation for the tremendous success and growth it has achieved for the past few years. In her role, she broadened the appeal from former calorie burning supplement by rebranding and repositioning CELSIUS creating today’s global C brand mark and tagline “Live Fit”. She and team dubbed the phrase "Performance Energy", now recognized by Nielsen and used throughout the industry to denote a highly caffeinated, fitness or pre-workout, sub-segment of the Energy Drink category. Line extensions and packaging strategies included powder, natural and increased caffeine in 16oz were designed to expand brand franchise and revenue streams. Prior, she reimagined a new future for then regional brand, La Croix Sparkling Water (NASDAQ: FIZZ). Through her category knowledge and leadership as EVP Sales/Marketing (2008-2016), she lead the brand to become the #1 national sparkling water total US. La Croix’s success revolutionized the sparkling water category to a become a mainstream alternative to artificial diet sodas as it grew from $620+m in ’08 to over $3.5B in 2019. Throughout her career, she drew on her former experiences as Regional Beverage / Snack buyer at Target Stores, and as store executive, to forge new futures for the consumable brands she managed. She also served as Director of Marketing for soda brand, Big Red, and the VP National Accounts for kid's beverage startup, IN ZONE Brands, (now Good to Grow), winning early on with Kid's Zone merchandising concepts in C-stores and the Mass Channel. She resides in South FL today.

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Geoff Parker

Executive Director - Asia Pacific Regional Group - International Council of Beverage Associations

Geoff Parker is one of the world’s leading beverage association executives.

In 2009 following almost two decades of senior management positions in member-based organisations, government departments and private companies, Geoff took over as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Beverages Council. Since then he has successfully managed two mergers, significantly raised the Council’s profile with key stakeholders and firmly positioned the organisation as the respected voice of authority for the entire non-alcoholic beverage industry in Australia representing CSDs, bottled water and fruit juice. In 2010 he was elected President of the International Council of Beverages Associations (ICBA) and in 2012 was elected for a consecutive two-year term. During his tenure he was responsible for step-changing the ICBA to position it as the pre-imminent global beverage trade association.Geoff also serves on the Board of the International Council of Bottled Water Associations, and in 2017 was elected as its Vice President. Geoff has been on the Board since 2009. In 2015, Geoff was instrumental in setting up the ICBA’s Asia Pacific Regional Group – the inaugural regional arm of the ICBA and which now serves as the model for other regional beverage groups. Geoff is currently Executive Director of the APAC Group, representing the diverse non-alcoholic beverage industry in the region. Geoff is a Fellow of both the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He holds qualifications from the University of Queensland and Cambridge University.

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Alexandre Jobim

Former President of the Brazilian Association of Soft Drinks and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (ABIR)

From 2015 to 2021 Alexandre Kruel Jobim has chaired ABIR - Brazilian Association of Soft Drink and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Industries.

He was a Vice President of ALAIAB - Latin American Alliance of Food and Beverage Industry, and was also a President of ICBA - International Council of Beverage Associations. Alexandre always worked in associations. He was a legal advisor and member of the Board of ABERT, the Brazilian Association of Radio and Television; he was a legal advisor and coordinator of the Legal Committee of ANJ - National Association of Newspapers. He was chairman of the legal committee, chairman of the copyright committee, and also president of AIR - International Broadcasting Association. He was the Vice President of Legal and Government Relations of the RBS Group and former Member of the National Congress Communication Council. Alexandre is a Master of Laws from the University of Texas and Bachelor of Laws from Uniceub in Brazil.

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Tim Brett

President of the European Soft Drinks Association

Tim Brett is the President of the European Soft Drinks Association and President of The Coca-Cola Company's Western Europe business unit.

He was previously responsible for The Coca-Cola Company’s operations throughout Japan. Brett joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1997 in the marketing function in Romania. In 1999, he joined one of Coca-Cola’s largest bottlers -- Coca-Cola Hellenic – in the Czech Republic with responsibility for commercial strategy. Tim was appointed General Manager of The Coca-Cola Company in the Czech Republic in 2001. He moved to Warsaw, Poland in 2003 to lead the company’s business in Poland and the Baltic States. In 2006, he moved to Vienna and was named President of the Alpine business unit which included Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia. This business unit was later expanded to include Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, FYROM and Montenegro. Brett moved to Coca-Cola Japan in March 2011 as Executive Vice President with responsibility for franchise operations and commercial leadership. Before joining The Coca-Cola Company, Brett held marketing positions in the UK for United Distillers, The Guinness Group and Walkers Snack Foods, Frito-Lay. Brett holds an M.A. degree in History from The University of St. Andrews in the UnitedKingdom.

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2021 Finalists

The finalists for the 2021 InnoBev Awards have been published. Winners will be announced on Tuesday 11 May in a virtual awards ceremony during the 2021 UK Soft Drinks Conference.

The fifth annual awards are organised by the food and drink experts Zenith Global, with category sponsorship from Salomons & Partners. Celebrating the best in innovation across the global soft drinks industry, this year’s awards attracted a record 180 entries worldwide across 13 award categories.

The finalists and winners have been selected by an eminent panel of independent judges representing all corners of the global industry. The finalists are:

Best Low/No Sugar Drink

Chicago Beverage LLC - Ésse Water

Get More Vits - Get More Vits

The GUTsy Captain Company – The GUTsy Captain Kombucha Zero

Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc - B1U Enhanced Flavored Water Beverages

Vitalize Labs LLC dba EBOOST - SUPER FUEL

Best Functional Drink

Ascent Protein - Ascent Recovery Water

Biotiful Dairy - Biotiful Kefir Shots

InnoBev Ltd - BioLift

Tera Food and Beverage Co Ltd - QminC

The Fungtional Brew Company - Fungtn: Adaptogenic, alcohol free craft beer

Best Premium Drink

Caleño - Caleño Dark & Spicy Tropical Non-Alcoholic Spirit

Fulfill Food & Beverage dba Karuna Beverages - Karuna Beverages

GEMELLii Drinks GmbH - GEMELLii Drinks

Nestlé - NESCAFE NATIV Cascara

Sea Arch Drinks Ltd - Sea Arch Drinks

Lyre's Non-Alcoholic Spirits - Lyre's portfolio

Best CBD/Hemp Drink

AVER - Boost CBD Drink (25mg)

Cannasa Ltd - Cannasa

CENTR Brands Corp - CENTR Sugar Free 30mg CBD Sparkling Drink

INTUNE Drinks - Fruit and botanical sparkling CBD drinks

Maria & Craigs - Maria & Craig's CBD Botanical Spirit

TRIP - CBD Infused Drinks

Best in Can

Aqua ViTea Kombucha - Aqua ViTea Kombucha

PepsiCo - Lipton Pop Art

PepsiCo - Pepsi Culture Can LTO - Mexico

San Pellegrino Essenza – Ball Beverage Packaging EMEA

Lyre's Non-Alcoholic Spirits - RTD range (Classico, G&T and Amalfi Spritz)

Best in Glass

GEMELLii Drinks GmbH - GEMELLii Drinks

Gusto Organic Ltd - Gusto Sicilian Lemon with Yuzu

Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc - B1U Enhanced Flavored Water Beverages

Waterlogic International - Purezza Premium Water "Petalosa" Re-usable

Zuddha Water Limited - Zuddha Alkaline Water

Best in PET

Angel Revive Ltd - Angel Revive Positive Health wtr

Fulfill Food & Beverage dba Karuna Beverages - Karuna Beverages

Nirvana Water Sciences Corp - Nirvana HMB

PepsiCo - LIFEWTR S1 Arte Sin Fronteras - Mexico

PepsiCo - PepsiCo 2L PET Bottle Redesign

Best Packaging / Label Design

Alzamora Group - LatCub Premium

Angel Revive Ltd - Angel Revive Positive Health wtr

Crown Packaging - Efes Natakhtari

Rockman 140 LLC - Mirth Sparkling Water

San Pellegrino Essenza – Ball Beverage Packaging EMEA

Best Marketing/Social Media Campaign

Capri Sun AG - Capri-Sun Bubbles

Connelly Partners - Defiant Water

PepsiCo - Out Here It's Dew

San Pellegrino TOILETPAPER – Ball Beverage Packaging EMEA

The Naked Collective - DAP So.Beer

Best Technology Innovation sponsored by Salomons & Partners

impacX (formerly Water.io) - Water.io Reusable Bottle

Tera Food and Beverage Co Ltd - QminC

The Greater Good Fresh Brewing Co - The Pinter

PepsiCo - SodaStream Professional

Waterlogic International - Purezza Premium Water – Classe Water Dispenser

Best New Brand

GEMELLii Drinks GmbH - GEMELLii Drinks

InnoBev Ltd - BioLift

Skinny Drinks Group – Skinny Tonic

The Naked Collective - Mude

Vitalize Labs LLC dba EBOOST - SUPER FUEL

Best Brand Extension

Capri Sun AG - Capri-Sun Bubbles

Nestlé - NESCAFE NATIV Cascara

San Pellegrino Essenza – Ball Beverage Packaging EMEA

Skinny Drinks Group – Emoji DRNK

The Coca-Cola Company - Simply Almond

Best New Drink Concept

Maria & Craigs - Maria & Craig's CBD Botanical Spirit

Nestlé - NESCAFE NATIV Cascara

Reed's Inc - Reed’s® Zero Sugar Classic Mule

Shine Drink - Shine+ Nootropic Drink 330ml Range

Tera Food and Beverage Co Ltd - QminC

2020 Finalists

The finalists for the InnoBev Awards 2020 were announced on 9 June 2020.

The 2020 awards attracted over 120 entries worldwide. The finalists and winners were selected by an eminent panel of independent judges who represent all corners of the global industry. The finalists were:

Best Low/No Sugar Drink

Icelandic Glacial Water - Icelandic Glacial Flavored Sparkling Water

Shaka Tea - Shaka Tea

The London Essence Company - The London Essence Company Pomelo & Pink Pepper Tonic Water

The London Essence Company - The London Essence Company Rhubarb & Cardamom Crafted Soda

Virtue Drinks - Virtue Yerba Mate

Best Functional Drink

Get More Vits - Get More Vits

MODe LLC dba ATAQ - ATAQ Plant Based Recovery & Immune Booster Shot

Upbeat Drinks - Upbeat Sparkling Drinks

Virtue Drinks - Virtue Yerba Mate

WellDrinks USA Inc. - qwell Collagen Waters

Best Premium Drink

Abstract Flavour - Abstract Basil Lemonade

Caleño Drinks - Caleño ‘Juniper & Inca Berry’ Non-Alcoholic Spirit

Cannasa - Botanical Rose and Raspberry Lemonade with CBD

Double Dutch Drinks - Double Dutch Drinks

The London Essence Company - The London Essence Company Pomelo & Pink Pepper Tonic Water

The London Essence Company - The London Essence Company Rhubarb & Cardamom Crafted Soda

Best in Can

Lofoten Arctic Water AS - Lofoten Arctic Water

PepsiCo Design & Innovation - MTN DEW A Can Has No Name

PepsiCo Design & Innovation - Pepsi NFL Laces Can

Tohi Ventures LLC - Tohi

Yugen - Yugen Kombucha

Best in Glass

Caleño Drinks - Caleño ‘Juniper & Inca Berry’ Non-Alcoholic Spirit

Cedea Srl - Cedea Mineral water

Icelandic Glacial Water - Icelandic Glacial Natural Spring Water (750ml Glass Bottle)

Shaka Tea - Shaka Tea

VOSS Water - VOSS Water

Best in PET

Highland Spring Group - Highland Spring Eco Bottle

Icelandic Glacial Water - Icelandic Glacial Natural Spring Water (500ml rPET/PET Bottle) – Carbon Neutral & 100% Recyclable

Lewis Road Creamery - Lewis Road Creamery Milk

PepsiCo Design & Innovation - LIFEWTR Series 9 Art of Recycling

Best Packaging/Label Design

Dewdrop, Inc. - Dewdrop Sparkling Functional Beverages

Lofoten Arctic Water AS - Lofoten Arctic Water

PepsiCo Design & Innovation - PEPSI x MOMHANDWORKS - GCR - LTO CAN SET (China)

PepsiCo Design & Innovation - Pepsi NFL Laces Can

Shaka Tea - Shaka Tea

Best Cap/Closure

Incap Europe GmbH - Incap (Infusion Cap)

ISOline EU, Ltd. - ESCALATE responsible energy drink

Kolibri Drinks - Kolibri CBD Non-Alcoholic Cocktails

Best Marketing/Social Media Campaign

Essentia Water, LLC - Essentia Water "It Might As Well Be You"

Highland Spring Group - Highland Spring Eco Bottle launch

Lewis Road Creamery - Lewis Road Creamery S'mores Flavoured Milk

Shaka Tea - Aloha: Founders' Story

Tao Family - Tao Tips social media campaign

Best Technology Innovation

LUQEL - LUQEL Water Station Excellence

MODe LLC dba ATAQ - ATAQ Plant Based Functional Performance Shots

Wayout International AB - Wayout Micro Factories

Best New Brand/Brand Extension

Avo 88 Limited - avocadomilk

Get More Vits - Get More Vits

Lofoten Arctic Water AS - Lofoten Arctic Water

MODe LLC dba ATAQ - ATAQ Plant-Based Functional Nutrition

Yugen - Yugen Kombucha

Best New Drink Concept

Avo 88 Limited - avocadomilk

Biotiful Dairy - Biotiful Dairy Kids Kefir

Lewis Road Creamery - Lewis Road Creamery S'mores Flavoured Milk

MODe LLC dba ATAQ - ATAQ Plant-Based Functional Performance Shots

STRYYK - STRYYK NOT RUM

WellDrinks USA Inc. - qwell Collagen Waters

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