Fi Europe has announced that it will include four new categories in its annual Innovation Awards at the event, which will cover innovations in dairy alternatives, food manufacturing, pet food, and future food technology.

At the industry event in Frankfurt, Germany, teams and organizations will be honored for breaking new ground and driving positive change in the food and beverage industries. The awards will be judged by a panel of industry professionals, led by professor Colin Dennis, chair of the board of trustees at IFIS and the British Nutrition Foundation.

Awards are open to companies and organizations exhibiting at Fi Europe 2024, except for the Diversity and Inclusion Award, which is open to any organization. Submissions are now live and will be accepted until Sept. 9, after which finalists will be notified.

The program will culminate with a ceremony on the night of Nov. 19, at Fi Europe in Frankfurt, when winners will be announced. Entry to the Fi Europe Innovation Awards will be included in the VIP pass.

The nine categories are:

• Dairy Alternative Innovation Award
• Diversity and Inclusion Award
• Food Manufacturing Award
• Future Foodtech Innovation Award
• Health Innovation Award
• Pet Food Innovation Award
• Sensory Innovation Award
• Sustainability Innovation Award

“We felt it was time to expand our award categories to keep pace with the evolution of the industry as a whole,” said Yannick Verry, brand director of Food Ingredients Europe and Americas. “The category changes recognize the exciting avdvancements that are being made in dairy alternative ingredients and the growing role that tech is playing in solutions development. The introduction of a food manufacturing award reflects the food and beverage industry’s heightened focus on efficiency, food safety, and waste reduction, whilst the new pet food innovation accolade signals an exciting expansion into a dynamic sector. I cannot wait to see what innovations will be showcased through this year’s program and urge any organization that is thinking about entering to go for it.”