Bickford and Sons Sparkling Range by Bickfords Australia was named the Best New Retail Product at a function in Melbourne this week.
The Best New Product Awards is an annual event that recognises the most outstanding products to have launched in the food industry in the past 12 months. Held as part of the country’s largest food trade show, Fine Food Australia, it’s about celebrating the innovations that have resulted in sophisticated products and solutions for the industry.
This year saw a large number of entries in each of its four categories: Retail, Hospitality Equipment, Bakery and Foodservice. From hospitality ticket systems, handcrafted chai and gold truffle mustard to tahini wasabi, golden turmeric elixir and doughnut fryers, there was certainly a vast and varied list of products to choose from, with entrants from all over the world.
Event Director Minnie Constan said 2016 was an exciting year for the food industry.
“There’s been many interesting trends, interest in foods and industry innovations that have seen so much evolve,” she said. “As an industry, we constantly need to keep up with consumer demands. The Best New Product Awards have demonstrated that we aren’t just keeping up, but we’re doing it exceptionally well with businesses creating some incredibly innovative products. These awards are both for recognition and for celebrating everything that’s great about the business we are in.”
Bickford and Sons Sparkling Range by Bickfords Australia was named Best New Retail Product, ahead of finalists Casalare Gluten Free Range by Spiral Foods and Gelista Premium Ice-cream and Gelati 570ml tub by Eurostore.
Other awards presented include Best New Foodservice Product (awarded to Handcrafted Chai by Tea & Spice), Best New Bakery Product (O-tentic Durum by Puratos Australia-New Zealand) and Best New Hospitality Equipment Product (UC Excellence-i by Winterhalter).