ProFood World will recognize outstanding food and beverage plant construction projects via the ninth annual Manufacturing Innovation Awards competition.
Types of projects eligible for the award:
- Major plant expansion
- Major plant renovation
- Greenfield facility
- Brownfield facility
- Major line expansion incorporating ground-breaking technology
- Major plant automation upgrades
- Major plant food safety upgrades
- Major plant sustainability upgrades
- Overall plant efficiency upgrades
Projects completed between June 2023 and December 2024Â are eligible to compete. Entries must be based on a single plant location. Company-wide programs/projects are not eligible for this award.
Judging criteria:
- High level of technology advancement in processing and packaging machinery
- Level of automation, software and controls
- New-to-the-industry use of technology
- Major efficiency and cost savings
- Major line changeover, flexible manufacturing, food safety, sustainability and maintenance improvement achievements
- Exceptional worker recruitment and engagement programs; employee welfare programs
- Outstanding use of tools/methods such as OEE, lean manufacturing etc.
Submitting entries:
Deadline for Entry: January 31, 2025
Entries may be submitted by food and beverage manufacturing companies or major suppliers to the plant. If you are submitting an entry on behalf of your processor customer, please be sure the plant agrees to a plant visit from ProFood World's editorial team if it is named a finalist.
All entries must be exclusive to ProFood World, so should not be submitted to any other food industry publications or awards programs. We also ask that you not allow entry to the plant by other food industry publications until ProFood World's story about the plant has been published.Â
Details describing the plant based on the judging criteria above should be included in the written entry, in less than 12 pages.
Please note: All finalists must be available for editorial plant tours in early/mid 2025. Finished food or beverage plants, including pet food facilities, are eligible for the award. The plant must process and/or package food or beverage products. (Please note that nutraceutical or ingredient plant projects are not eligible for these awards.)
Photos and Videos:
- Include plant floor and schematics photos to support the entry. These images can be in addition to the written entry.
- Include plant floor videos, if available
- Include high resolution photos (1MB in size minimum) of finished foods products, brand logos and company logos
- Download the submission form here.
Your entry form and supporting documents and images should be formatted in one low-res PDF and emailed to Derrick Teal, Editor-in-Chief of ProFood World.
Please note: The winner will be featured on the cover story of the June, 2025 issue. Finalists will be featured in Q4 ProFood World 2025 issues.
Manufacturing Innovation Awards Past Finalists:
2024
Riverbend Meats, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Taylor Farms, Salinas, Calif.
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Tonganoxie, Kan.
2023
MyForest Foods, Green Island, N.Y.
SunOpta, Midlothian, Texas
Prestage Foods of South Carolina, Camden, S.C.
2022
Mark Anthony Brewing
Sugarlands Distilling
United AIrlines Catering Kitchen Operations
2020
The J.M. Smucker Company
Hermes Boissons
Lotus BakeriesÂ
2019
Royal Cup Coffee and Tea
HP Hood
Just BornÂ
2018
Dairy Farmers of America
Clemens Food Group
Farmer Brothers
2017
Caito Foods
Castellini Group
Morada Nut Company
For more information, please contact:
Derrick Teal, Editor-in-Chief of ProFood World
[email protected]