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Dutch snack brand BitesWeLove won Best Snack Product at the World Food Innovation Awards 2026, in association with IFE – International Food & Drink Event.

The winners were unveiled during a live ceremony at IFE Manufacturing's Trends & Innovation Platform – as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week 2026.

The company's aim is to 'create snacks worth craving about, combining great taste with real nourishment,' and is continuing its expansion in the UK following its launch in mid-2025.

FoodBev Media talked with Marleen Basart, founder of BitesWeLove, at IFE 2026 following the brand's achievement.

The winning product

BitesWeLove Caramel Fudge Protein Bar is a plant-based protein bar that delivers a light, crispy bite in a category dominated by dense, chewy textures. Rich caramel fudge notes and buttery sweetness run through the bar, finished with a dark chocolate flavour topping.

The innovation sits in the structure. Instead of baking the bar into a heavy mass, the ingredients are bound using a fibre-based syrup made from chicory root fibre and tapioca fibre. This syrup replaces the traditional sugar binder typically used in protein bars. It holds together soy and pea protein crispies and seeds while maintaining an airy, crunchy texture. At the same time, the binder contributes fibre instead of added sugar, upgrading both texture and nutrition in one move.

Caramel Fudge offers 15g plant-based protein and 13g fibre per 50g bar, with just 3.1g sugar. It achieves a rare combination of high protein and high fibre while remaining lower in sugar than many conventional bars, without artificial sweeteners. The protein and fibre pairing supports satiety and aligns with growing consumer interest in GLP-1-related appetite awareness and blood sugar balance.

Caramel Fudge is vegan, HFSS-compliant and free from gluten, peanuts, nuts, lactose and sesame, widening accessibility without compromising on taste. Production is BRC certified, ensuring consistent quality at scale. Packaging supports responsible growth, with a recyclable plastic wrapper.

FoodBev Media's awards have been running for more than 20 years and are now recognised among the most credible and respected awards schemes to influence the international food and beverage industry.

For more information about our selection of awards programmes, please visit foodbevawards.com or email awards@foodbev.com.