Dairy Innovation Awards 2013: And the Winners Are…

Read today’s blog for a complete list of the winners and finalists in the only global dairy innovations contest. 

In early May, 16 dairy foods innovation authorities reviewed the many entries to the Dairy Innovation Awards 2013 contest sponsored by U.K.-based FoodBev Media. The judges can be viewed HERE.

There were 140 entries in 15 categories from 23 countries. 

This is the only new dairy products contest in the world that relies on a team of industry experts to choose the winners. The judges base their decision on multiple criteria; it is not a social media popularity contest. I believe my fellow judges would agree that this was an exhausting task, as the entries were all so very impressive. We took our job very seriously.

Congratulations are in order to all 140 entries. The winners and finalists were recognized at a special gala dinner at the prestigious 7th Global Dairy Congress in Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 19, 2013.

To view a video featuring all of the Dairy Innovation Awards categories, entrants, finalists and winners, click HERE.

To see a printed showcase of the same, click HERE.

And here are the highlights:

Best cheese
Finalists:
- Sartori Company – USA – Sartori Reserve Chai BellaVitano
- Meiji – Japan – Meiji Cream Cheese Slices
- Bel Brand – USA – The Laughing Cow Smooth Sensations Cream Cheese Spread
Winner:
- Arla Foods amba – Denmark – Unika Arla

Best ice cream of frozen yogurt
Finalists:
- Happy Ranch – Taiwan – Happy Soft Serve Ice Cream Mix with GOS
- Meiji – Japan – Meiji The Premium Gran
Winner:
- Simply Ice Cream – UK – Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Best yogurt
Finalists:
- Arla Foods amba – Denmark – Arla Yoggi Yogurt with Stevia
- Emmi Switzerland AG – Switzerland – Emmi good day
Winner:
- Powerful Yogurt – USA – Powerful Yogurt

Best butter or dairy spread
Finalists:
- Irish Dairy Board – Ireland – Kerrygold Softer Block Butter
- Nanyang Polytechnic – Singapore – Cheesy Spreado
Winner:
- Arla Foods amba – Denmark – Arla Kaergarden Varieties

Best dairy dessert
Finalists:
- Chobani – USA – Chobani Bite
- Tideford Organic Foods – UK – Chocolate Rice Pudding
Winner:
- Belle Chevre – USA – Goat Cheese Cheesecake

Best dairy drink
Finalist:
- McGrain – Taiwan – Drinkable Oatmeal Breakfast Latte
Winner:
- Bio-tiful – UK – Bio-tiful

Best functional dairy product
Finalists:
- Lacka Foods Ltd – UK – Be Fast
- Fair Oak Brands LLC – USA – Core Power
- Skyland Foods – USA – IBEX drinkable yogurt
Winner:
- First Milk – UK – Lake District Dairy Co – Quark

Best children’s dairy product
Finalists:
- Arla Foods amba – Denmark – Arla Baby & Me Organic
- Adams Foods – UK – MU Patz
Winner:
- PepsiCo, Wimm-Bill-Dann – Russia – Imunele for Kids

Best new brand or business
Finalists:
- Arla Foods amba – Denmark – Unika Arla
- Powerful Yogurt – USA – Powerful Yogurt
- Tine SA – Norway – E+ concept
- Ultima Foods – Canada – iögo
Winner:
- Emmi Switzerland AG – Switzerland – Emmi good day

Best dairy ingredient
Finalists:
- Chr Hansen – Denmark – SaltLite
- First Milk – UK – Lake District Dairy Co – Quark
Winner:
- Tate & Lyle – France – Tasteva Stevia Sweetener

Best dairy packaging innovation
Finalists:
- Fresh Beverages International – Ireland – Shinsen Probiotic Cap
- Meiji – Japan – Meiji Bulgaria Fruit Yogurt Drink packaging
- APPE – UK – LactoEclipse X PET bottle
Winner:
- Arla Foods UK Ltd – UK – Cravendale 50cl and 1 litre PET bottles

Best dairy packaging design
Finalists:
- Arla Foods amba – Denmark – Arla Baby & Me Organic
- Peter Gregson Studios – Serbia – Panon Dairy Products
Winner:
- Lifeway Foods Inc – USA – Helios Organic Kefir

Best manufacturing or processing innovation
Finalists:
- Fair Oak Brands LLC – USA – Core Power – patented cold filtration system
- Junction Solution (Wind Rose Communications) – USA – CLEARthru app
Winner:
- Kryoflash – The Netherlands – Kryoflash patented Smart Freezing Solution

Best environmental sustainability initiative
Finalists:
- Wyke Farms – UK – Wyke Farms Renewable Energy Project
- Three Twins Ice Cream – USA – Ice Cream for Acres
Winner:
- College of Technology and Engineering – India – Solar Concentrator for milk pasteurization

Best marketing campaign
Finalists:
- Dairy Farmers of Canada – Canada – Canadian Cheese Rolling Festival
- Kindred / The British Cheese Board – National Anthem for Cheddar
Winner:
- British Columbia Dairy Association – Canada – Music Makes More Milk

Again, congratulations to all of the companies who participated in this prestigious contest!