The NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2025 has officially opened its call for entries, celebrating its eighth year as a premier industry recognition program. This year’s event introduces four exciting new categories that reflect emerging market trends: Ingredient of the Year: Botanical, Ingredient of the Year: Mind and Mood, Product of the Year: Beauty-from-within, and Marketing Initiative of the Year. Companies across the APAC region have until Monday, June 16, 2025, at 11:55 PM SGT to submit their entries, with winners to be announced at a special ceremony on September 17, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand. The expanded categories demonstrate the awards’ response to evolving consumer interests in plant-based solutions, mental wellness, beauty nutrition, and innovative marketing approaches.
Exciting New Categories Added for 2025
The 2025 awards program has expanded to 17 categories, reflecting the dynamic evolution of the nutraceutical industry. The addition of categories like Ingredient of the Year: Mind and Mood acknowledges the growing consumer interest in mental wellness products, which aligns with broader healthy snacking trends emerging across the food sector. Similarly, the new Beauty-from-within category recognizes the booming intersection between nutrition and cosmetic benefits.
Alongside these new additions, familiar categories continue to highlight excellence in various segments. These include Botanical ingredients, Immune Support, Microbiome Modulation, and Sports Nutrition, all of which have seen substantial innovation in recent years. The comprehensive range ensures that companies of all specialties can find relevant categories to showcase their achievements.
Gary Scattergood, Regional Director for APAC at NutraIngredients-Asia publisher William Reed, emphasized the significance of these recognitions. “The awards are a great way to get recognition for innovation, research and initiatives across the sector,” he stated. This sentiment underscores the awards’ role in spotlighting groundbreaking developments that shape the industry’s future.
The judging criteria have been carefully crafted to evaluate entries holistically. Judges will examine consumer demand relevance, strength of scientific evidence, brand success metrics, packaging design innovation, and overall ingenuity. This multi-faceted evaluation approach ensures that winners truly represent the best the industry has to offer.
Submission Process and Important Deadlines
Entering the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2025 follows a straightforward online submission process. Companies can submit their entries through the official website at nutraingredientsasia-awards.com/live/en/page/enter. The standard entry fee is US$249 per submission, though some categories may be offered free of charge to encourage broader participation.
One notable aspect of the submission guidelines is the flexibility for multiple entries. Companies can submit different products or ingredients for the same category, maximizing their chances of recognition. For the Product of the Year categories, entrants must provide four samples of their finished product for physical evaluation by the judging panel.
The deadline for all submissions is Monday, June 16, 2025, at 11:55 PM SGT. This gives companies approximately three months to prepare their materials and make a compelling case for their innovations. Technical support for the submission process is available by contacting Nutraingredientsasia-awards@wrbm.com.
The timing of the awards aligns perfectly with major innovation cycles in the industry. Companies launching products in early 2025 have the perfect opportunity to gain industry recognition just as their market presence is building. This strategic timing has contributed to the awards’ reputation as a valuable industry benchmark.
Category Breakdown and Judging Criteria
The 17 award categories span the entire nutritional products ecosystem, from raw ingredients to finished products and supporting initiatives. In the ingredients division, categories cover specialized areas like Botanical, Mind and Mood, Immune Support, Microbiome Modulation, and Sports Nutrition. Each category addresses distinct consumer needs and scientific approaches.
For finished products, the awards recognize excellence in Beauty-from-within, Cognitive Function, Digestive Health, Healthy Aging, Infant and Child Nutrition, Sports Nutrition, and Weight Management. These categories reflect the diverse nutritional approaches being developed across the Asia-Pacific region, addressing specific demographic needs and wellness goals.
Beyond products themselves, the awards also celebrate excellence in Nutrition Research, Personalized Nutrition Initiative, and the newly added Marketing Initiative of the Year. These categories acknowledge that advancement in the industry depends not only on product development but also on scientific foundation and consumer engagement.
The judging panel consists of industry experts, scientists, and market specialists who evaluate each entry based on documented evidence and demonstrated results. Particular attention is paid to scientific backing, innovative approaches, and real-world impact on consumers. This rigorous evaluation ensures that winning entries truly represent leadership in their respective domains.
Benefits of Participation for Companies
Participating in the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards offers substantial business advantages beyond the trophy itself. Winners and shortlisted companies gain valuable media exposure through NutraIngredients-Asia’s platforms, reaching industry decision-makers across the region. This visibility can translate to new business opportunities, partnership inquiries, and enhanced market positioning.
The credibility boost from industry recognition shouldn’t be underestimated. In a market where scientific validation and peer acknowledgment carry significant weight, an award win can serve as powerful third-party endorsement of a product’s quality and innovation. Many past winners have leveraged their award recognition in marketing materials and sales presentations to great effect.
Beyond external benefits, the awards process offers companies an opportunity for internal reflection and benchmarking. The submission requirements prompt teams to articulate their value proposition clearly and gather supporting evidence, which can refine messaging and identify strengths to emphasize in future product development.
Networking opportunities at the awards ceremony in Bangkok also hold significant value. The event brings together industry leaders, creating a conducive environment for forming new business relationships and exploring collaborative possibilities. Many companies report that connections made at previous awards ceremonies have led to productive partnerships.
Industry Impact and Recognition Value
The NutraIngredients-Asia Awards have established themselves as a trusted industry benchmark over their eight-year history. The program’s growth mirrors the expansion of the nutraceutical market in Asia, which continues to outpace global averages. The awards have played a role in highlighting innovation trends and setting quality standards across the region.
Previous winners have reported significant business results following their recognition. These include accelerated retail adoption, successful funding rounds, and expanded market distribution. The awards’ focus on scientific validation aligns with regulatory trends in key markets, making recognition particularly valuable for companies navigating emerging consumer preferences and compliance requirements.
Gary Scattergood’s emphasis on the awards as “a great way to get recognition for innovation, research and initiatives” speaks to their core purpose. In an industry where differentiation is increasingly challenging, the independent validation provided by the awards offers a meaningful competitive advantage. This recognition can be particularly valuable for raising the profile of novel ingredients or approaches that need increased awareness.
As the September 17, 2025, ceremony in Bangkok approaches, companies across the nutraceutical spectrum are encouraged to review the category guidelines and prepare their submissions. With the expanded category list reflecting contemporary market trends, this year’s program offers more opportunities than ever for deserving innovations to receive industry-wide acknowledgment. Companies interested in participating should visit the official awards website for complete details and submission instructions.