Over 100 recently launched brands have entered the Best New Product Awards at Fine Food Australia.
The awards recognise the strongest products to have launched in the food industry in the last 12 months, from an on-trend Acai bowl mix to a slow-release system designed to control airborne bacteria, mould, and pathogens.
Some of the entries include a vegan beetroot latte blend made with pure beetroot extract; a gluten-free vegan 'mac n cheese'; a RTD cocktail complete with ice cubes and fresh fruit; and naturally occurring Omega 3 yoghurt from Tasmania.
Event director Minnie Constan said the awards reflected trends such as health, sustainability, and technology – including robotics.
Fine Food Australia runs from 10-13 September at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre and will also feature such events as a Lion's Den session, which provides aspiring businesses an opportunity to gain immediate and direct feedback on their emerging business or concept from the industry.
Four emerging businesses have been chosen to pitch their ideas to the panel.
The first is a dining experience specialist which photographs, measures and captures data on the amount of food presented and eaten as automatically as possible for residents in aged care facilities.
Another company, LeanPath, provides a suite of smart trackers that are installed in commercial kitchens across Australia to monitor pre and post consumer food waste to identify prevention opportunities.
Lard Ass is a Victoria-based artisan butter maker with a passion for making great tasting dairy products by hand, and From Granny has gluten-free and fermented cabbage dumplings it will present to the experts.
