Bill Bruce

2009 Beverage Innovation Awards attracts more than 300 entries

Bill Bruce is group editorial director of FoodBev Media

Entries have now closed for the 2009 Beverage Innovation Awards, which will be judged at a special event in Brussels this coming weekend.

The judging panel includes experts in the fields of wellness and nutrition, branding, marketing, design and consumer insights, and retailing and the supply chain, such as:

• Interbrand Hamburg managing director, Richard Veit
• Tate & Lyle Ingredients marketing director, Caroline Sanders
• Marks & Spencer category buyer, Alan Ledsham.

The panel also includes senior representatives of the main partners:

• Unesda – the Union of European Beverages Associations
• WAFG – the German Alcohol Free Drinks Association
• The managing editor of Beverage Innovation magazine, Claire Phoenix.

The awards’ partner publications are also represented:

• PETplanet’s publisher and editor in chief, Alexander Büchler provides insight on issues and developments in the PET sector.
• Fruit Processing’s publisher and editor-in-chief, Evi Brennich, lends experience in the all-important area of juice and juice drinks.
• Providing additional expertise in the juice arena is Klaus Heithlinger, managing director of the German Fruit Juice Association – VdF.
• In dairy drinks, Dr Joop Kleibeuker, secretary general of the European Dairy Association.

Judging will take place at the historic Hotel Metropole in Brussels in July. The panel will be chaired by my good self (I’m Zenith International Publishing group editorial director).

This year, more than ever, the Beverage Innovation Awards provides the non-alcoholic drinks industry with the opportunity to celebrate its creativity and innovation in product categories ranging from juice and juice drinks through functional and energy to adult and gourmet.

This year’s competition also includes packaged water, dairy drinks and a wide range of categories designed to reward new initiatives in packaging, marketing and the increasingly important environmental and ethical arena.

The chance to present the finalists and winners with their awards at Drinktec makes this the networking opportunity of the decade. Drinktec is the Olympic Games of the industry’s trade fairs, one of its great strengths being that it’s held only every four years.

Visitors see a real step-change in the way the industry is responding to the varying demands of the marketplace, and setting new trends through innovation in packaging and ingredients. We’re convinced that the awards will reflect the most exciting developments in the industry and we aim to ensure that the gala dinner is the biggest event of its kind ever held in Europe.

A range of sponsorship opportunities are still available. For further information, please visit the Beverage Innovation Awards website.