Cocoa sustainability innovation sees ofi gain Fi Europe accolade
ofi's Cocoa Compass initiative gained honours at Fie in Paris. Pic: ofi
A series of winners was announced at the Fi Europe awards, which included a Sustainability Innovation accolade for ofi’s forward-thinking Cocoa Compass initiative, writes Neill Barston.
The accolades were bestowed across the full spectrum of the food and drink sector, as the event in Paris celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Confectionery Production was on hand to report on the show, with a full report in our subsequent edition of the magazine.
Sustainability Innovation Award: ofi (Driving industry impact through Cocoa Compass)
The judges’ other chosen winners were: Dairy Alternative Innovation Award: Time Travelling Milkman (Oleocream)
Food Manufacturing Innovation Award: Tetra Pak (Air Jet Cleaning System for powder handling equipment)
Future Foodtech Innovation Award: AKA Food (Intelligence Platform for Application Development)
Health Innovation Award: ADM (Lactobacillus Gasseri CP2305 for mental health)
Plant-based Innovation Award: ICL Food Specialties (ROVITARIS® SprouTx™: A revolutionary textured soy protein)
Prof. Colin Dennis of the International Food Information Service, who chaired the Awards, commented: “The panel was extremely impressed by the quality and diversity of innovation seen in this year’s submissions. Fi Europe has always been a hub of progressive thinking and ambition, but the quality this year exceeded all our expectations. It’s wonderful to see so many businesses ploughing so much time and effort into making the changes today that the industry needs tomorrow.”
“Our annual celebration of ingenuity and excellence is always a highlight, but this edition of our Innovation Awards feels particularly special with it being part of our 30th Fi Europe,” notes Yannick Verry, Brand Director, Fi Europe.
“The awards provide a great opportunity to look both backwards and forwards: to the past achievements that have brought us where we are today and to the policies, products and people the sector will call on tomorrow for inspiration. When the first meat alternatives appeared on the show floor, no one could have predicted they would develop into the global plant-based phenomenon – but Fi Europe was among the first places to spotlight them. That’s the power of being the home of food ingredients – wherever the trends take us, we will be here to unite them with decision makers all under one roof.”
The 2025 judging panel, comprised of eleven esteemed industry professionals from around the world, was tasked with evaluating 177 total entries under Prof. Dennis’s guidance. Representing leading organisations such as Campden BRI, EAS Strategies and Giract.
