Barcelona, 16 April 2025 - With just over one month to go until Vitafoods Europe in Barcelona, Informa Markets has announced the finalists for the inaugural Vitafoods Europe Innovation Awards. Recognising excellence across ingredients, finished products, partnerships, and initiatives in the nutraceutical sector, the awards - supported by Vitafoods Europe Innovation Awards Sponsor Eladiet - celebrate the groundbreaking work shaping the future of nutrition and health.
From ingredient innovations to consumer-ready products, hundreds of forward-looking companies entered across seven diverse awards categories - with the judging process extended to accommodate the high volume of submissions. The result of this process has been a shortlist of 23 entries, representing the very best of the growing nutraceutical sector. Many of the innovations selected for the final stage leveraged natural ingredients in their innovation approach, and judges also observed a common theme of supporting holistic health - trends that reflect both the demand for clean label products and growing consumer awareness of the role of nutrition in overall wellbeing.
Speaking on the list of finalists, Prof. Colin Dennis, Chair Board of Trustees at International Food Information Service and Chair of the Vitafoods Europe Innovation Awards 2025, said: "We have been delighted by the diversity of entries to this year's Vitafoods Europe Innovation Awards, showcasing the creativity and innovative developments shaping our sector. The high number of entries made our job of shortlisting difficult, but the result is a list of incredible innovation highlights which are advancing not only our industry, but the health of consumers and our planet. We'd like to thank all who entered, and we are looking forward to hearing more from the finalists in-person at the show and celebrating together at the awards ceremony."
Finalists of the awards will have an exclusive opportunity to pitch their innovations live to the esteemed panel of judges. Chaired by Prof. Colin Dennis, the panel will hear pitches on Monday, 19 May, the day before Vitafoods Europe opens its doors. Winners will then be announced at a highly anticipated awards ceremony taking place at Fira Barcelona, Gran Via after the conclusion of day 1 of the show, on Tuesday, 20 May, which promises to be an evening of celebration and inspiration, as well as an opportunity for exhibitors and invited guests to network and discover cutting-edge innovations.
The Vitafoods Europe Innovation Awards are supported by Sponsor Eladiet, as well as Official Digital Marketing Services Sponsor Smartcore.
Finalists
Sports nutrition and active lifestyle ingredient
1) RhodioZen© - Pharmanager Ingredients
2) Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10® - SYNBIO TECH INC.
3) Okravive™ - Arjuna Natural Pvt. Ltd
Immune and gut health ingredient
1) Benicaros® - NutriLeads B.V.
2) Heat-treated ES1 postbiotic - ADM
3) 360GUT - Finzelberg GmbH & Co. KG
Cognitive and emotional health ingredient
1) B. breve MCC1274 - Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.
2) RelaxPLX® - Monteloeder by Suannutra
3) Vanizem® - Nektium Pharma
4) Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 - ADM
Healthy ageing ingredient
1) N-utra - Nutriearth
2) MindRevive® - Monteloeder by Suannutra
3) Lifenol™ - Givaudan
Most innovative consumer-ready nutraceutical finished product
1) Crispact® CAPSULES - PharmExtracta S.p.A.
2) Probiotic Baby Oil - Ourvita
3) Retico® - AronPharma
Most innovative industry partnership (open to non-exhibitors)
1) OmeGo®-OptiGel® DR - Hofseth BioCare ASA
2) icesupp - Icesupp Ltd.,
3) FZZR™ Technology - TSI Group x Bulk
Sustainability
1) Zooca® Calanus Oil - Zooca - The Calanus Company
2) GUARABEST - Guarana Agronomy Project - Givaudan Nederland BV
3) inavea™ - Nexira
4) TULSINITY® Bio - Laboratoires Expanscience