Free From Food Awards

Today is all about Breakfast & Morning Goods, sponsored by Natural Products Expo and here is judge Catherine Rose-Bloom: 🌟 What stood out for you during last year’s judging? "My standout product from last year was the Granola form the The Gluten Free Bakery. I love how innovatively they used sourdough starter to create a really crunchy, crisp granola with heaps of flavour. I wanted to snack on it all day!" Catherine is an award-winning chef, sensory expert, and product developer with strong skills in the free-from, dairy, luxury, fresh, confectionary & health food market. Advocate for Mental Health support in the workplace. Currently Product Development Manager for Dairy at Tesco 😊 https://lnkd.in/e-SVDaJ6 We have 30 categories into which your products can be entered - and we are always happy to address any questions you may have.

Today is all about Sides & Light Meals, sponsored by What Allergy? and here is another of our judges with reflections on the category so you can get a unique insight from a judge's perspective: Introducing Nicole Gardner: 🌟 What stood out for you during last year’s judging? "I would say the winner for me was the Marks and Spencer toastie - I love anything with cheese!" 🌟 What would you like to see for the Sides & Light Meals category in 2025? "I would love to see some more pastries and bakery type entries - there’s definitely a gap in the market for some good ones!" Nicole is the co-founder of Love Free From, alongside her sister Gabriella, where they curate and deliver monthly gluten-free discovery boxes. Their mission is to make living gluten-free easier and more exciting by bringing new and delicious GF products straight to your door. Whether you're newly diagnosed or a long-time gluten-free foodie, Love Free From helps you discover the best products to support your lifestyle and keep you living your best GF life! Don't make free from Sides & Light Meals? https://lnkd.in/e-SVDaJ6 We have 29 other categories into which your products can be entered - and we are always happy to address any questions you may have.

Today is all about Grocery, and we've got an experienced food and drinks developer sharing her hopes for the category. Find out more about her and get her unique judge's insight: Introducing Olivia (aka Lilly) Abrahmsohn: 🌟 What would you like to see for the Grocery category in 2025? "I’d love to see cleaner-label, artisan-style products in grocery stores, especially in Retailer Own Brand—things with fewer, better-quality ingredients and fewer additives that really let the taste and craft shine through. I think there’s an opportunity to bring these kinds of authentic, high-quality options into the mainstream!" Olivia is a food innovation consultant and the founder of Tastebud Tickler where she helps challenger brands create delicious, award-winning products that customers love. With over 13 years of experience working for well known businesses such as Innocent Drinks, Rebel Kitchen and Joe & The Juice, she's passionate about working with brands to craft healthier, high-quality recipes that stand out. She has been judging with us for more than a decade, and she absolutely loves being part of a panel that champions creativity and excellence in the industry. Connect with Olivia if you’re looking for a consultant! Your Grocery staples are the backbone of the kitchen store cupboard! So enter them here: https://lnkd.in/espDJrRe But we do have 29 other categories into which your products can be entered - and we are always happy to address any questions you may have. We look forward to welcoming you to the Awards. #FFFA25 #freefrom #storecupboardstaples

Last chance to enter the Easter Award 2025 - closing midnight tonight! https://lnkd.in/eZtsHBjE Within the 2025 Awards cycle, the Easter Award has its own identity. We will judge the Easter category on the 12th February, and announced medallists on 18th February allowing entrants to share their medal success in the run-up to Easter 2025. A new addition to our Easter Awards for 2025 is Speciality. This sub-category puts independent producers, who may only be producing for and selling via farmers markets or small independents, in the spotlight: availability may be limited but that is no reason for us not to celebrate free from greatness. This year we have 5 sub-categories: Easter: Eggs Easter: Confectionery & Gifting Easter: Hot Cross Buns Easter: Cakes & Bakes Easter: Speciality As with Christmas, Easter is a time when consumers often look for something special or a little bit different, so this category presents a great opportunity for smaller, independent producers as well as the larger brands and retailers. 🌟 Introducing judge Paul Degnan: Paul has been a judge with us for the last decade, and is a particular connoisseur of Easter and all things chocolate! 🌟 He says: "It is always a pleasure to try, taste and savour new products and new innovations in this competitive market. I have a very sweet tooth and thoroughly enjoy the Confectionery sessions, and more recently the Easter Award! Over the years I have had the privilege to contribute to Tea Time, Gifting, Grocery and Prepared Meals judging sessions, but I always end up back with the chocolates and sweets!” 🌟 You may have the joy of meeting him if you ever fly British Airways!! We look forward to welcoming you to the Awards. #FFFA25 #freefrom #Easter25

Today is all about Child & Teen, and we've got allergy mum Karina Montagni sharing her reflections on the category. Find out more about her and get her unique judge's insight: 🌟 What stood out for you during last year’s judging? "My stand out product from last year's Child & Teen judging was VOAKES FREE FROM LIMITED Cheese, Onion & Potato Pasty - I remember my son enjoying this warm, buttery pasty so much he didn't want to share it with me! I was so impressed with Kinnerton Confectionery NOMO Crispy Mo. Free from the top 14 allergens, a perfect and delicious snack size for kids and ideal for an allergy mum to pop into her handbag for days out - this product deserved to win Gold!" 🌟 And what would you like to see for Child & Teen in 2025? "I'd love to see more allergy-friendly savoury snacks and meals for days out as well as free from edible gifts for special occasions.” Karina has been managing food allergies in her family for over 11 years. Her son is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish and shellfish. Karina is passionate about supporting the allergy and free from community to eat out and travel with her role at Equal Eats. She also raises awareness of allergy life through her personal instagram account @ourallergystory. Kids often have sophisticated tastes, but if your products are more geared to adults, we have 29 other categories into which your products can be entered - and we are always happy to address any questions you may have. https://lnkd.in/eq_mFzFX We look forward to welcoming you to the Awards.

Show us your best milk free cheese! Jason is hungry.... Enter #FFFA25 Cheese Alts here: https://lnkd.in/dRtNh92V

Today is all about Almost Totally Free From, and we've got Julianne Ponan MBE of Creative Nature Superfoods sharing her reflections on the category. Find out more about her and get her unique judge's insight: 🌟 Julianne, what stood out for you during last year’s judging? "Last year, my standout product had to be the Classic Bagel from The Gluten Free Bakery. The texture and chew were exceptional—you’d never guess it was free from all 14 allergens. Bagels are particularly hard to find these days, especially as many come with sesame warnings." 🌟 And what would you like to see for Almost Totally Free From in 2025? "This year, I’d love to see more innovation in the category, particularly with Asian-inspired flavours and products that can be made top 14 allergen-free. As someone with severe sesame, peanut, and tree nut allergies, it would be amazing to have more safe and inclusive options available.” Julianne is a pioneer in the free from world. Diagnosed with severe anaphylaxis at two years old, she has multiple allergies to all peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, chickpeas and more. She is the founder and CEO of Creative Nature, a top 14 allergen free brand at the forefront of free from innovation, driving change for free from food in the aviation industry, launching products on board Virgin Atlantic, Iberia, KLM and more. In recognition of her contributions to business, exports and aiding individuals with allergies, Julianne was honoured with an MBE in the New Year's King's Honours. Julianne also serves as a Non-Executive Director for GS1 UK and holds the position of Export Policy Champion for the FSB. More than one allergen in your products? We have 29 other categories into which your products can be entered - and we are always happy to address any questions you may have. https://lnkd.in/dwNfFawH We look forward to welcoming you to the Awards.

Introducing judge and baker Caroline Aherne with her dreams for Tea Time - Cakes & Bakes sponsored by Allergy & Free From Show! 🌟 What would you like to see for Cakes & Bakes in 2025? "More artisan bakeries and the use of other grains e.g sorghum, teff, tiger nut flour, flax - these add a different dimension (texture, flavour, contrast) instead of the usual corn, rice and mainstream gluten free flours.  I realise this adds to costs, which sadly are rising so much, but the 'big names' should be able to do/afford this, and changing/adapting a recipe can take many months for them. Plus less sugar decoration - why use sugar nibs when there's sugar in the bake?” Having come from an Irish family where baking with Mum on Saturdays was an enjoyable event, Caroline found herself several years later with a change in her corporate work life. She established the THE FREE FROM BAKEHOUSE LTD in 2009 from her home, having discovered the range of gluten free offerings back then was limited. Within a couple of years, the business had developed enough to move to its bakery location in Battersea, Southwest London where further expansion and growth followed, along with many awards from The Free From Food Awards and Great Taste Awards. https://lnkd.in/e-SVDaJ6 #FFFA25 Annie Bennett

This evening we shall be worshipping Healthier Snacking, sponsored by Bread & Jam Introducing Sally Dorling, with her unique insight from a judge's perspective: 🌟 What stood out for you during last year’s judging? "Judging for the Free From Awards has been an eye opener in terms of the span of innovation from breakfast and snacking, to ready meal solutions and drinks. My favourite product from last year was Foodhak’s Seeded Omega & Millet Crackers in terms of taste and delivery, and Forest Feast Dried Mango Slices in terms of branding." 🌟 What would you like to see for Healthier Snacking in 2025? "What I would like to see more of from this category are products that not only address ‘free from’ but also address HFSS and UPF trends.” Sally founded Marketing Foods in 2008 with the express aim of helping artisan and small producers of quality food products with their sales, brand, digital, NPD and marketing strategy. Her years of experience in food and FMCG, plus a qualification in nutrition, have given her a deep understanding of consumer needs and shopper habits from the front of pack branding and messaging to the quality and delivery of the product inside. Healthier Snacking not your thing? We have 29 other categories into which your products can be entered - and we are always happy to address any questions you may have. https://lnkd.in/dwNfFawH We look forward to welcoming you to the Awards. Kestrel Foods || Forest Feast & Acti-Snack & Just Live a Little Sarah Morrissey

Today is all about Tree Nut and Peanut Free, sponsored by Kitt Medical Introducing long term FFFA judge Alexa Baracaia - sharing her reflections on the category: 🌟 What stood out for you during last year’s judging? "My favourite find from last year's Tree Nut and Peanut Free category was probably the Big Fat Slab raspberry rocky road. I'd never come across this company before and it was a joy to find something that really filled a gap in the market. It's a large slab tray bar perfect for slicing up and catering to large numbers of people at kids' parties and other special occasions - it's super-inclusive, being not only nut and peanut free but also free from almost all of the top 14 allergens (aside from gluten free oats). Lovely to come across a treat that everyone can enjoy, regardless of allergies." 🌟 What would you like to see for Tree Nut and Peanut Free in 2025? "This year I'd be thrilled to find anything new that isn't already out there - I think we still have some big gaps in the market when it comes to finding tree nut and peanut free pastries, bakes and cakes; I'd also love to come across a completely tree nut/peanut/sesame free seed butter or seed bar that isn't also packed with sugar. Health bars and butters tend to be tree nut, peanut or sesame based and so this would be a winner - not least when it comes to the kids lunchboxes and post-sports snacks.” Alexa is a journalist and editor by profession and an allergy advocate and author on the side. Her teenaged son was diagnosed with multiple food allergies at five months old. Keen to find others in the same boat, Alexa forged a close-knit community of fellow allergy families and experts. She ran the popular Twitter forum @allergyhour for more than a decade, has campaigned on high profile issues including blanket 'may contain' labelling, worked closely with companies including food chain Leon to improve their allergy comms, been a guest speaker at food industry events and is a long-standing Free From Food Awards judge. Her book 'My Family and Food Allergies gives wide-ranging support and expert advice to parents of children with food allergies. She was named a Free From Hero by the Free From Food Awards in 2022. We have 29 other categories into which your products can be entered - and we are always happy to address any questions you may have https://lnkd.in/dwNfFawH We look forward to welcoming you to the Awards. #FFFA25 #nutfree #peanutfree #treenutfree #freefrom Zak Marks