Entries are now open for the 2025 Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards, which celebrate excellence in fine food & drink and independent retail.  

Each year the awards recognise inspirational retail businesses and new products that tick all the boxes in terms of taste, quality, value and innovation. 

Nicola Woods, Event Manager for Speciality & Fine Food Fair, comments: “The Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards shine a light on the passion, creativity and resilience that define our sector. Whether you’re an emerging producer or a speciality retailer at the heart of your community, these awards are your opportunity to be recognised by some of the leading voices in the industry. We can’t wait to see the incredible entries that come through this year.” 

Returning for this year is the Not Yet on the Shelf award, which launched to recognise products in the early stages of their journey that had not yet been listed by major retailers.  

The awards will also celebrate an individual or organisation leading the way when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion in the world of speciality food & drink, and one outstanding industry champion for 2025. 

The categories are:  

• Not Yet on the Shelf 

• New Product of the Year – UK 

• New Product of the Year – International 

• Small Independent Retailer of the Year, in partnership with BIRA 

• Large Independent Retailer of the Year, in partnership with BIRA 

• DEI Champion 

• Outstanding Regional Star, in partnership with Speciality Food Magazine 

• Outstanding Industry Champion 

Stefano Cuomo, CEO of Macknade and 2025 awards judge, comments: “I am so pleased to have been asked to judge in these fantastic awards, the Speciality & Fine Foods Fair is the event of our sector, and the awards represent everything that sets our peers, producers and operators apart from the run of the mill…I can’t wait to get stuck in!” 

The Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards are free to enter, and the winners will be announced on the first day of Speciality & Fine Food Fair, taking place on 9-10 September at Olympia. To find out more about the award categories and how to enter, visit specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk/speciality-fine-food-fair-awards-2025. Entries close at 5pm on Friday 20 June.