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FNBX, a leading digital media platform for the global food and beverage sector, has officially opened entries for the highly anticipated annual World Functional Food and Beverage Awards. The international awards scheme is designed to benchmark the industry's most exceptional breakthroughs, honouring products that seamlessly bridge the gap between cutting-edge functional nutrition and outstanding consumer experience.
In an exciting development for this year’s program, brands now have the opportunity to achieve recognition across two distinct judging tracks per category: Most Innovative and Best Tasting. This dual-track approach ensures that companies can highlight their specific strengths, whether celebrating the scientific ingenuity behind a new formulation or the culinary craftsmanship of its real-world execution.
The Most Innovative Accolade: Recognises pioneering achievements in functional benefits, ingredients and the category selection, evaluated via comprehensive nutritional data and innovation statements.
The Best Tasting Accolade: Honours exceptional sensory execution, flavour profiles, and texture, judged through physical tasting by the expert industry panel.
"The functional food and beverage market is evolving at an incredible pace, with consumers demanding products that not only support their wellness goals but also taste fantastic," said Dan Bunt, founder of FNBX.
"By offering distinct awards for both Innovation and Taste within the same categories, we are giving brands the ultimate marketing assets to showcase exactly what makes their products market leaders. Winning an award or securing a finalist spot provides immediate, verified credibility that resonates with both retail buyers and health-conscious consumers."
What Are The 2026 Judges Looking For?
"I'm looking for products where the health benefit is clear, evidenced and useful to the shopper. Satiety, fibre, protein quality and women's health are the areas I'm most interested in because they sit close to where demand is starting to move". Louis Bedwell, Independent Advisor, Food System Strategy
"I think the industry needs to focus more on education and habits rather than marketing products as "performance shortcuts." Young athletes need to understand that functional products should support a strong foundation of sleep, nutrition and training consistency - not replace them". Dan Richardson, Founder & Head of Nutrition at DRN Nutrition
"The pack talk is incredibly important because understanding the benefit is what creates the first connection between the consumer and the product. If people can immediately understand what the product does, who it's for, and how it fits into their life, the emotional connection becomes much stronger. But clarity alone is not enough anymore. Trust has become just as important as understanding. I can emotionally connect with a benefit, but I also need to trust the brand behind that message. Consumers today are much more aware. They look at ingredients, sourcing, transparency, and whether the brand feels authentic and credible". Julia Varela Tarancón, Nutritionist, Food & Health Innovation, Brand Strategy Expert
Entries are open to global brands, manufacturers, and ingredient innovators across multiple functional categories. Becoming a finalist or winner grants brands exclusive access to high-impact marketing seals, press coverage across the FNBX media network, and global industry recognition.
To learn more about the categories, view the judging criteria, or submit your entry, visit the official awards platform at FNBX.
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