The 2025 edition of the annual awards saw UK-based sports nutrition brand ESN take home the ‘Product of the Year: Sport Nutrition’ trophy for its Perfect Base all-in-one endurance daily formula.
Mike O’Leary, the company’s head of product, said the team found the win so impactful, it has entered two further categories this year.
“Winning the NutraIngredients Award was a tremendous honor for ESN,” he said. “It represented more than recognition for a single product, it validated the care, science and precision our teams bring to every stage of development.”
He added that being recognized on a European industry level boosted morale across departments, but it also boosted trust externally.
“Within the endurance community, the award firmly positioned ESN as a serious and credible performance nutrition brand,” he said. “We’ve integrated the recognition across our communication with athletes, retailers, event partners and new customers, using it as an independent endorsement of our expertise.”
At last year’s ceremony, Belgian biotech firm The Akkermansia Company took home the award for ‘Product of the Year: Microbiome modulation’, with judges praising the scientific credibility and market potential of its Weight Management with Glucose Control product.
“Winning the NutriIngredients Award for Best Microbiome Product was a remarkable achievement for The Akkermansia Company,” said Andrew Scorey, head of EMEEA at the company. “This recognition not only showcased our commitment to innovation and quality but also inspired our commercial team to reach new heights. Our customers benefited from this positive publicity, reinforcing their trust in our products.”
Making a mark with its win in the ‘Marketing Initiative of the Year’ category, health and wellness startup Valerie was recognized for its creative apprach to challenging societal norms, breaking taboos and encouraging more open discussions about menopause.
Wizz Selvey, the brand’s co-founder said: “Winning the NI Award was incredible, especially as a startup brand in our very first year… To receive that level of recognition from such a respected industry body felt like powerful validation that we were on the right path."
“From a business perspective, the award has been invaluable. We’ve used it extensively to support our growth— featuring it across our communications, with retail buyers and in our investment deck," she added.
“The credibility it provided helped strengthen conversations with partners and played an important role in us successfully pitching for investment and securing new retail stockists. Since winning, we’ve gone on to launch with major retailers including Liberty, Holland & Barrett and Revital.”
The awards ceremony saw French foodtech firm Activ’Inside walk away with first prize for ‘Ingredient of the Year: Beauty from Within’ after judges deemed its Belight3 a highly thoughtful innovation aligning sustainability, science and market relevance.
Ines Chee, the firm’s communications officer, said the award win was a “landmark moment for the team, recognizing their dedication, innovation and scientific expertise”.
“The award win significantly boosted internal morale, particularly as it recognized a newly launched ingredient,” she said. “Team members felt proud of the achievement and celebrated the success together, strengthening motivation, confidence and a shared sense of accomplishment across the company.”
The company actively leveraged the win across industry showcases as well as across social media platforms.
“Following Vitafoods Europe, the company has prominently featured Belight3 as an award-winning solution at major international trade shows such as Vitafoods Asia, SupplySide Global and other beauty-focused events. This visibility has helped attract new global customers and strategic partners, supporting commercial growth beyond Europe.”
Akay Bioactives took home the ‘Ingredient of the Year: Botanical’ prize with its FenuSmart ingredient, selected for its strong research foundation and focus on supporting hormonal balance through the stages of menopause.
“The win felt like genuine validation of the work we are doing to bring more science and credibility to botanical solutions in women’s health,” said Liz Clarke, global marketing manager at Akay Bioactives, adding that the win energized the team.
“It has helped spark deeper conversations with brand partners and supported our broader storytelling around science, sourcing and purpose. This added credibility has had a meaningful impact on how both the ingredient and our wider portfolio are perceived in the marketplace.”
Recognized within two categories, Italian probiotic innovator Pharmextracta took home the award for ‘Product of the Year: Botanical’ as well as successfully nominating Prof. Francesco Di Pierro for the coveted NutraChampion 2025 award.
Elena Fava, the firm’s international product manager said: “These awards represent a strong validation of our scientific vision and long-term commitment to research-driven innovation. Seeing both a product and a leading scientific figure within our company recognized at such a respected industry event reinforced our confidence in the direction we are taking and the values we stand for.”
She added that the impact on the team was “extremely positive” as the wins “generated enthusiasm, motivation and a strong sense of shared accomplishment across departments”.
The firm has actively leveraged the recognition through targeted communication initiatives, marketing materials and more.
”We truly value the NutraIngredients Awards and look forward to continuing our mission to advance innovation and scientific excellence in the nutraceutical space," Fava added.
Discussing his team’s receipt of the ‘Ingredient of the Year: Sports Nutrition’ award, Cape Deng, of Wecare Probiotics, said the win validated years of research and reinforced team confidence.
“We have integrated the recognition into exhibitions, technical presentations, customer communications, and digital marketing across regions,” said the marketing specialist, adding that the win accelerated discussions with international partners, “supported new product development projects, and further positioned Wecare Probiotics as a credible, science-led ingredient supplier for high-performance nutrition applications”.
The NutraIngredients Europe Awards honor the best and brightest in ingredients, finished products, companies, individuals and initiatives in Europe, with 17 categories to enter this year!
Entries close on Jan. 26, with winners announced and celebrated at the industry’s party of the year in Barcelona on May 6, 2026.
To be in with a chance of winning, visit the NI Awards website here.
