The Spirit of Innovation (SOI) Awards are a unique opportunity to acknowledge outstanding product development teams and the innovation used to design and launch successful new products—all while providing new products and companies with priceless worldwide exposure.

Co-sponsored by Prepared Foods and Ventura Foods, the SOI Awards recognize innovative new products introduced nationally (commercially) during 2012-2013, as well as the inspirational teamwork and creativity that made these products possible. The SOI Awards are steeped in a deep history of recognizing landmark food and beverage product launches, while rewarding true excellence in innovation, which Prepared Foods began over nine years ago.

The Awards will be presented in two categories: Retail and Foodservice. The winners will receive their awards during the SOI Awards Ceremony at Prepared Foods’ New Products Conference. There, 1st place winners will also offer a presentation on the strategies involved in creating the winning product and the challenges the product development team had to overcome. This visual presentation will highlight the teams’ major accomplishments and innovative aspects of the product.

The SOI Awards ceremony will precede the awards reception on Monday, September 16, 2013, at Loews Coronado, in San Diego, Calif.

All 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive crystal awards in recognition of the honor. The six winners are encouraged to provide samples of the products, so attendees of the New Products Conference will have the opportunity to taste the award-winning new food innovations.

Winners also will be recognized with a feature article in Prepared Foods, appearing in the October 2013 issue.

The Spirit of Innovation Award nomination is not intended to divulge any proprietary or confidential company or product information. The information provided is only intended to allow the judges enough description to differentiate between many innovative product development teams and their exciting new products.

To submit a nomination for the 2013 Spirit of Innovation Awards, and for information on past award winners, just visit www.preparedfoods.com/innovation.

Nominations in the appropriate category (Retail or Foodservice) must include a summary of the product; its innovative qualities; and the product development team and the challenges they had to overcome in formulating the product. More than one nomination per company is allowed; however, only one product may be submitted per ballot.

The deadline for entering an SOI Award nomination is June 10, 2013. Winners will be notified in July 2013.