The awards, which spotlight product innovation, scientific backing and industry initiatives, will remain open for applicants until March 27. For U.S. nutrition and dietary supplement industry stakeholders, including brands, ingredient suppliers and manufacturers weighing participation, past winners have shared the impact can extend well beyond recognition alone.
High bar for entries reflects industry expectations
The awards cover a wide cross-section of the market, from finished products and ingredients to broader industry initiatives, as well as the Start-Up and Nutrition Research Project awards.
Submissions are reviewed by an independent panel, with a focus on the strength of the science, the quality of the data and the relevance to today’s market.
“While it’s always wonderful to receive an award, being chosen for a NutraIngredients award is an especially great honor,” Suzanne Shelton, founder and CEO of Shelton Group, who received the 2020 NutraChampion Award, told NutraIngredients. “As anyone who has filled out their nomination form knows, the level of detail and evidence that must be provided for each nomination is significant.”
“The judges are so qualified and experienced that it’s a high bar, and a distinction, to even be a finalist,” she added.
Recognition seen as signal to partners and peers
For companies working in fast-moving categories, external validation can carry weight with potential partners and customers.
“Winning a NutraIngredients Award was a powerful signal of credibility within the microbiome industry,” said Cheryl Sew Hoy, founder and CEO of Tiny Health, the 2025 Start-Up Award winner. “It significantly elevated our visibility and led directly to new partnerships with leading supplement and ingredient companies shaping the future of gut health.”
“For us, the award wasn’t just recognition, it was a catalyst,” she added. “It accelerated conversations and collaborations across the microbiome ecosystem, from pre- and probiotic innovators to next-generation platforms.”
Those kinds of connections are increasingly central as companies look to differentiate in areas such as microbiome research and customized nutrition.
Final days before March 27 deadline
With three days remaining before the extended deadline, companies that have yet to complete their entries are approaching a final submission window.
Applications require supporting evidence, including scientific data and a clear explanation of market relevance, with judges weighing both technical merit and commercial potential.
“My NutraChampion award is displayed proudly in my office, and being selected for it remains one of the great honors of my career,” Shelton also shared.
For companies considering entering, the remaining days mark the last opportunity to present work to a panel of industry experts and a wider audience of peers across the supplement space.
To learn more about the awards or to begin the submission process, click here.
