BOOM awards categories
Thank you to everyone who entered one or more of the below categories in the BOOM awards 2023!
Entries for the BOOM Awards 2023 have now closed.
Get to the information you need:
Completing your entry on our online entry platform
Have a look at the categories below and click to find out about sub-categories within them. Decide which categories to enter and check you meet the eligibility criteria.
- Make sure you have the following things to hand:
- Information about your product and/or initiative
- Your Soil Association licence number (if certified by Soil Association Certification)
- Organic certificate/s if applicable
- 2 x Photos of your product, brand and/or business (please supply product photos on a transparent background i.e. a .png file)
- Your small business discount code if you are eligible (note eligibility status will be checked as part of the judging process.)
- Payment details (businesses certified by Soil Association Certification with organic sales under £250K are eligible for 2 x free entries. Any false claim will lead to disqualification.)
- If you registered for the 2020/21 BOOM Awards you can continue to use this user profile and password, alternatively go to the BOOMs online entry platform (to open this link in a new tab, hold 'ctrl' key before clicking on link) and register as a new user.
- Once you have registered and verified your account, use the blue 'Start/ add an entry' button to get going! You can enter the same product/ initiative into more than one category and save time by using the ‘copy’ feature and changing the category as required. You can save and complete your entry later, but you must complete before 1st December 2022 at 11:59pm UK time.
Pricing
- *FREE ENTRY for smaller businesses that are certified by Soil Association Certification (organic sales turnover under £250K and limited to 2 x free entries per business. Please apply the discount code below at checkout.)
- *£65 per entry for Soil Association Certification Licensees with a turnover of more than £250k and for smaller businesses that want to do more than 2 x entries.
- £130 per entry for organic businesses certified by another accredited certification body
- Multiple product entries are welcome and promotional pricing is offered (4th and 5th entries get a 25% discount/ 6thentries and any thereafter get a 50% discount).
*make sure you select the Soil Association Certification Licensee button on the payment page of the entry platform.
Free entry code:
To secure your two free entries use the discount code "smallbusiness" upon checkout.
NOTE: Only Soil Association-certified licensees are eligible for the free entry code offer. Licence numbers required at registration. Licences will be checked and any false application of the discount code will lead to immediate disqualification.
Organic food and drink product awards
Our organic food & drink product awards will showcase the absolute best of what’s possible to offer the UK public from the world of organic, specifically relating to taste and quality.
Criteria
Entries will be judged on quality and taste and not organic story. All products will be blind tasted by an independent panel of three judges and marked out of 10 for each of the following criteria:
- Overall appeal (colour, freshness, aroma)
- Texture (for Alcoholic Drinks category, this will be ‘Mouth’)
- Taste
- For Meat & Poultry entries only, the following additional criteria will apply: Tenderness
- For Alcohol entries only, the following additional criteria will apply: After-taste
Where appropriate, food products will be presented for judging in both their raw and cooked state. A basic description of what the product is will be provided to judges in order to provide some context. Our Best of Organic Product Awards will go to a producer whose entry scores the highest in the above criteria for their category.
Where there are sub-categories, champions from each will be pitted head to head to find the overall category winner. Formal acknowledgements will also go to the champions of each sub-category.
In addition:
- All entries must be certified organic at time of entry and at time of awards by Soil Association Certification or by another official and accredited certification body.
- The product must also have been available for purchase in the UK for at least 3 months during 2022/23.
The Executive Judging Committee will oversee the judging process. Supporting information included with each entry will be used to inform their final decision based on rewarding the entry which most supports the Awards’ aspirations to recognise and reward outstanding performance in organic.
- Best of Organic Dairy
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Best of Organic Fresh Produce
Sub-categories:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Salad
Sponsored by CH&CO
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- Best of Organic Bakery
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Best of Organic Snacks
Sub-categories:
- Savoury
- Sweet
Sponsored by English Tea Shop Organic
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- Best of Organic Chocolate
- Best of Organic Chilled & Frozen - Savoury
- Best of Organic Chilled & Frozen - Sweet
- Best of Organic Meat & Poultry
- Best of Organic Store Cupboard
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Best of Organic Alcoholic Drinks
Sub-categories:
- Beers
- Ciders
- Wines
- Spirits
Sponsored by Huboo
- Best of Organic Non-Alcoholic Drinks
- Best of Organic Vegan Products
- Best of Organic Free-From Products
- Best of Organic Baby and Children's Food & Drink Products
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Best of New Organic Food & Drink Products
We are looking for exciting and innovative new products in organic, that offer something new and different to the organic market. Products are judged on concept, market need, ingredients, consumer insight and packaging alongside taste.
All evidence will be explored, researched and reviewed by a panel of 4 to 5 judges and marked out of 10 for evidence of each of the following:
- Concept: we are looking for interesting new concepts, something that either hasn’t been done before or that you have done differently (150 words)
- How it fulfils a need or gap in the market and differentiates from competitors (150 words)
- Ingredients: are the ingredients unique or unusual? Have new or different processes been used or perhaps new combinations of flavours? (150 words)
- Consumer insight: how has its development been informed by consumer need or research? (150 words)
- Packaging: what makes your packaging stand out? Have you used innovative design, production processes, materials or copy? (150 words)
- Tell us how much it costs and why it’s good value for money? (150 words)
- Anything else you feel relevant (150 words)
All entries will also be judged on quality and taste as per all other food and drink categories.
They will be marked out of 10 for each of the following criteria:
- Overall appeal (colour, freshness, aroma)
- Texture (for Alcoholic Drinks, this will be ‘Mouth’)
- Taste
- For Meat & Poultry entries only, the following additional criteria will apply: Tenderness
Where appropriate, food products will be presented for judging in both their raw and cooked state.
At the discretion of the judge leader and where relevant, additional information may be requested to identify the best entry.
Our Best of New Organic Food & Drinks Products award will go to the entry which scores the highest in the above criteria.
In addition: All entries must be certified organic at time of entry and at time of awards by Soil Association Certification or by another official and accredited certification body.
The Executive Judging Committee will oversee the judging process. Supporting information included with each entry will be used to inform their final decision based on rewarding the entry which most supports the Awards’ aspirations to recognise and reward outstanding performance in organic.
Sponsored by Yarrah
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Winner of Winners (WOW) Award
The ‘Winner of Winners’ is chosen from the winners of the above food & drink product awards.
Entrants will be given the option to answer some additional questions for those that want to enter this award (free of charge) when they complete their product entry, if yes then additional questions will appear.
You will be asked about:
- Which customer you had in mind when your product was developed
- The point of difference your product offers the customer
- How you decided your Recommended Retail Price
- What makes your product a WOW Winner
- How winning the award would give you a commercial advantage
Sponsored by Huboo
Best of organic beauty and wellbeing products
Our beauty and wellbeing awards have been designed to recognise products that are certified organic (COSMOS and/or Soil Association Organic) and that feature creative and innovative use of ingredients and design as well as communicating the benefits of organic. All finalists will be required to send product samples for testing.
- Best of Organic Hair Care Products
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Best of Organic Skin Care (+Make-Up) Products
Products that are certified organic (COSMOS and/or Soil Association Organic) and that feature creative and innovative use of ingredients and design as well as communicating the benefits of organic. All Finalists will be required to send product samples for testing.
Criteria:
Entries will be judged according to evidence submitted online at point of entry.
An award for the best organic skin care product (including make-up). All evidence will be explored, researched and reviewed by a panel of three to four judges and marked out of 10. We are looking for brands that best meet the following criteria:
- Sustainability in supply chain for the product including circular economy practices (150 words)
- Product marketing – communicating the benefits of organic (150 words)
- Accessibility – how is the product as accessible as possible? (150 words)
- Where are your products available for purchase?
- Product design & innovation - how is the product on-trend, ground-breaking and sustainable? (Aesthetics, concept, materials, packaging, ingredients, or production processes) (150 words)
- Commitment to organic industry (collaborations, supply chain development, pioneering new ways of working, participation in events etc.) (150 words)
- Anything else you feel relevant (150 words)
After the first round of scoring against the above criteria the top three finalists only will be asked to send retail ready products (x 4) for our expert panel of judges to test.Product testing criteria will be as follows:
- Sensory experience (e.g., smell, texture, visual appeal)
- Ease of use
- End result
Our Best of Organic Skin Care Products Award will go to the entry which scores the highest in the above criteria.At the discretion of the judge leader and where relevant, additional information or a visit to a shortlist of companies may be employed to identify the best entry.
In addition: All entrants must be certified as organic at time of entry and at time of awards by Soil Association Certification or to the COSMOS Organic standard.
The Executive Judging Committee will oversee the judging process. Supporting information included with each entry will be used to inform their final decision based on rewarding the entry which most supports the Awards’ aspirations to recognise and reward outstanding performance in organic.
Sponsored by Huboo
- Best of Organic Pregnancy & Baby Products
- Best of Organic Health & Personal Care Products
Best of organic fashion and textiles and home products
Our fashion and textiles awards have been designed to recognise products that are GOTS certified organic and feature creative and innovative use of materials and design as well as communicating the benefits of organic. Whilst our home products can be products certified under GOTS and/or COSMOS and/or Soil Association Organic. All finalists will be required to send product samples.
Best of organic business awards
Our business awards are designed to recognise and celebrate a wide range of organic brands, businesses and initiatives working hard to produce, sell and serve organic. They are judged remotely by a small team of experts based on information provided on entry (rather than product tasting).
- Best of Organic Eating Out
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Best of Organic Independent Retailers
Businesses demonstrating commitment to the marketing and promotion of organic food and drink, showing evidence of success in driving growth in the organic market.
Entries will be judged according to evidence submitted online at point of entry.
This award celebrates Independent Retailers demonstrating commitment to the marketing and promotion of organic food and drink, showing evidence of success in driving growth in the organic market.
All evidence will be explored, researched and reviewed by a panel of three to four judges and marked out of 10 for evidence of each of the following:
- Clear objectives for organic products within the business; including trends in sales and number of lines available to customers. It is important that organic accounts for a significant proportion of sales (150 words)
- Innovative ideas and concepts used to aid success of the organic part of the business, as well as future plans for innovation (150 words)
- Effectiveness in communicating about ‘organic’, both externally and with internal staff engagement (150 words)
- Customer experience and digital marketing effectiveness will also be reviewed via URL’s and any online ordering process.
- Where are your stores?
- Anything else you feel relevant (150 words)
Our Best of Organic Independent Retailer Award will go to the entry which scores the highest in the above criteria.At the discretion of the judge leader and where relevant, additional information or a visit to a shortlist of outlets may be employed to identify the entry offering the best customer experience.
In addition: All entries must be serving or selling an organic range of products certified as organic at time of entry and at time of awards by Soil Association Certification or by another official and accredited certification body.
Organic must be a key driver within the business, with evidence to show that it constitutes a significant part of sales.
If you process or sell any unpackaged organic products i.e. fresh produce / dry goods refills you will need to provide organic certificates to cover this as part of your entry.Where retailers offer a range of both organic and non-organic products, the submission should be based on the organic range only, rather than the business as a whole.
The Executive Judging Committee will oversee the judging process. Supporting information included with each entry will be used to inform their final decision based on rewarding the entry which most supports the Awards’ aspirations to recognise and reward outstanding performance in organic.
Sponsored by Rachel's Organic
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Best of Organic Online Retailing
Online retailers demonstrating commitment to the marketing and promotion of organic food and drink, showing evidence of success in driving growth in the organic market.
Entries will be judged according to evidence submitted online at point of entry.
This award celebrates the best organic online retail for demonstrating commitment to the marketing and promotion of organic food and drink, showing evidence of success in driving growth in the organic market.
All evidence will be explored, researched and reviewed by a panel of three to four judges and marked out of 10 for evidence of each of the following:
- Clear objectives for organic products within the business; including trends in sales and number of lines available to customers. It is important that organic accounts for a significant proportion of sales (150 words)
- Innovative ideas and concepts used to aid success of the organic part of the business, as well as future plans for innovation (150 words)
- Effectiveness in communicating about ‘organic’, both externally and with internal staff engagement (150 words)
- Customer experience and digital marketing effectiveness will also be reviewed via URL’s and any online ordering process.
- Anything else you feel relevant (150 words)
Our Best of Organic Online Retail Award will go to the entry which scores the highest in the above criteria.At the discretion of the judge leader and where relevant, additional information or a visit to a shortlist of outlets may be employed to identify the entry offering the best customer experience.
In addition: All entries must be serving or selling an organic range of products certified as organic at time of entry and at time of awards by Soil Association Certification or by another official and accredited certification body.
Organic must be a key driver within the business, with evidence to show that it constitutes a significant part of sales.
Where retailers offer a range of both organic and non-organic products, the submission should be based on the organic range only, rather than the business as a whole.
The Executive Judging Committee will oversee the judging process. Supporting information included with each entry will be used to inform their final decision based on rewarding the entry which most supports the Awards’ aspirations to recognise and reward outstanding performance in organic.
Sponsored by Huboo
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Best of Organic Supermarkets
This award celebrates Supermarkets demonstrating commitment to the marketing and promotion of organic food and drink, showing evidence of success in driving growth in the organic market.
Entries will be judged according to evidence submitted online at point of entry.
All evidence will be explored, researched and reviewed by a panel of three to four judges and marked out of 10 for evidence of each of the following:
- Clear objectives for organic products within the business; including trends in sales and number of lines available to customers. It is important that organic accounts for a significant proportion of sales (150 words)
- Innovative ideas and concepts used to aid success of the organic part of the business, as well as future plans for innovation (150 words)
- Effectiveness in communicating about ‘organic’, both externally and with internal staff engagement (150 words)
- Customer experience and digital marketing effectiveness will also be reviewed. Please provide URL’s and social media handles.
- Anything else you feel relevant (150 words)
Our Best of Organic Supermarket Award will go to the entry which scores the highest in the above criteria.At the discretion of the judge leader and where relevant, additional information or a visit to a shortlist of outlets may be employed to identify the entry offering the best customer experience.
In addition: All entries must be serving or selling an organic range of products certified as organic at time of entry and at time of awards by Soil Association Certification or by another official and accredited certification body.
Organic must be a key driver within the business, with evidence to show that it constitutes a significant part of sales.
Where retailers offer a range of both organic and non-organic products, the submission should be based on the organic range only, rather than the business as a whole.
The Executive Judging Committee will oversee the judging process. Supporting information included with each entry will be used to inform their final decision based on rewarding the entry which most supports the Awards’ aspirations to recognise and reward outstanding performance in organic.
Sponsored by RB Organic
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Best of Organic Box Schemes
Organic fruit, vegetable, meat or recipe box scheme offering the best range, value for money and customer experience.
Entries will be judged according to evidence submitted online at point of entry.
Entrants into the Best of Organic Box Schemes award may consist of box schemes offering organic fruit, vegetables, meat or recipe boxes.
This award is to celebrate the business offering the box scheme with the best range, value for money, customer experience and commitment to the marketing of organic.
All evidence will be explored, researched and reviewed by a panel of three to four judges and marked out of 10 for evidence of each of the following:
- Variety and range of boxes on offer (150 words)
- Value for money (150 words)
- Innovative ideas and concepts used to aid success of the business, as well as future plans for innovation (150 words)
- Effectiveness in communicating about ‘organic’, both externally and with internal staff engagement (150 words)
- Customer experience and digital marketing effectiveness including any online ordering process.
- Anything else you feel relevant (150 words)
Our Best of Organic Box Schemes award will go to the entry which scores the highest in the above criteria.In addition: All entrants must be certified organic at time of entry and at time of awards by Soil Association Certification or by another official and accredited certification body.
The Executive Judging Committee will oversee the judging process. Supporting information included with each entry will be used to inform their final decision based on rewarding the entry which most supports the Awards’ aspirations to recognise and reward outstanding performance in organic.
Sponsored by Clearspring
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Best of Organic Innovations
Entries will be judged according to evidence submitted online at point of entry.
An award for those organic businesses doing things differently. This could be pioneering production processes or leading social change through your business and product innovation. This is not a new product award, it’s all about the things that make organic the innovative and inspiring movement it is, at the forefront of issues from zero waste to food poverty.
Our Best of Organic Innovation Award will go to an organic business at the forefront of influencing change through innovation and leadership in the organic arena.
All evidence will be explored, researched and reviewed by a panel of three to four judges and marked out of 10 for evidence of each of the following:
- Your organic innovation and how and why it is pioneering? (150 words)
- The change it has brought about and why this matters? (150 words)
- The measurable results and how it benefits the organic market? (150 words)
- Anything else you feel relevant (150 words)
Our Best of Organic Innovation award will go to the entry which scores the highest in the above criteria.At the discretion of the judge leader and where relevant, additional information or a visit to a shortlist of companies may be employed to identify the best entry.
In addition: All entries must be for a business certified as organic at time of entry and at time of awards by Soil Association Certification or by another official and accredited certification body.
The Executive Judging Committee will oversee the judging process. Supporting information included with each entry will be used to inform their final decision based on rewarding the entry which most supports the Awards’ aspirations to recognise and reward outstanding performance in organic.
Sponsored by Natracare
- Best of Organic Sustainable Packaging
- Best of Organic Marketing Campaign
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Best of Organic Food & Drink Start-Ups (Food & Drink Businesses only)
We are looking for exciting and innovative new businesses in organic that offer something new and different to the organic market.
Entries will be judged according to evidence submitted online at point of entry. In order to enter you must meet the following criteria:- Less than 5 employees
- Been operating (i.e. registered with Companies House) as a business for 3 years or less
- Independently owned
- UK based
- An organic food or drink processor or brand-holder licence
- Be signed up to the Soil Association Certification Start-Up Support Package
All evidence will be explored, researched and reviewed by a panel of three to four judges and marked out of 10 for evidence of each of the following:- Concept: we are looking for interesting new food & drink business concepts, something that either hasn’t been done before or that you have done differently (150 words)
- How your business fulfils a gap in the market and differentiates from competitors – how is the concept scalable to meet the need (150 words)
- How you interact and engage with relevant communities, develop brand loyalty and build your customer base?
- Why is it important that your business/ product range is organic? (150 words)
- Anything else you feel relevant (150 words)
Our Best of Organic Start-Ups Award will go to the entry which scores the highest in the above criteria.In addition: All entries must be selling an organic range of products certified as organic by Soil Association Certification before final judging in May 2023. Members of the start-up package (including applicants) can enter, but you must have had your licence issued before final judging in May 2023.
Organic must be a key driver within the business, with evidence to show that it constitutes a significant part of sales.
The Executive Judging Committee will oversee the judging process. Supporting information included with each entry will be used to inform their final decision based on rewarding the entry which most supports the Awards’ aspirations to recognise and reward outstanding performance in organic.
Sponsored by Norlo
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Best of Organic Farms (+10 hectares)
Farms which follow creative and innovative production practices leading to improved farm efficiencies as well as positive environmental and ethical outcomes.
Entries are welcome for all types of organic enterprises (horticulture, livestock, arable, dairy, pigs, poultry, mixed) and will be judged according to evidence submitted online at point of entry.
Organic farms are unique businesses which require the use of innovative farming practices, creative mindsets and an engaged and committed workforce to meet the rigorous standards required for organic certification.
Our Best Organic Farm Over 10 Hectares Award will go to the farm which follows effective and innovative production practices which lead to improved farm efficiencies as well as positive environmental and ethical outcomes, pioneering change through commitment and engagement. All evidence provided by the farm will be explored, researched and reviewed by a panel of three judges and marked out of 10 for evidence in each of the following categories:
Organic production
- A successful organic farming system that uses effective and/or innovative organic production methods to drive efficiencies and environmental improvements on farm (for example; cultivation techniques, pest management, varieties, animal husbandry, agroforestry etc.) (200 words)
- The farm efficiencies or improvements that these production methods or techniques provide (e. reduced costs of production, better yields, access to new markets etc. 150 words)
- The environmental and/ or ethical benefits they have delivered (for example increased biodiversity, carbon reduction, improvements to animal welfare etc.) Please indicate how these are measured. (150 words)
Engagement- Staff engagement with organic principles and practices (for example: provision of staff training) to build interest in and commitment to organic farming (150 words)
- Industry or customer engagement with organic principles and practices (including engagement with public, retail / wholesale customers or other farmers) to build interest in and appreciation of organic farming (for example; provision of information on organic farming systems, and why it is beneficial , opportunities for educational or learning trips to the farm, use of social media or marketing.) (10 points in total for engagement)
Our Best Organic Farm Over 10 Hectares Award will go to the entry which scores the highest across all criteria.At the discretion of the head judge and where relevant, additional information or a visit to a shortlist of farms may be employed (if possible).
In addition: All entries must hold a valid certificate as organic at time of entry and time of award by Soil Association Certification or by another official and accredited certification body.
The Executive Judging Committee will oversee the judging process. Supporting information included with each entry will be used to inform their final decision based on rewarding the entry which most supports the Awards’ aspirations to recognise and reward outstanding performance in organic.
Sponsored by Robin Appel Ltd.
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Best of Organic Smallholdings and Market Gardens (-10 hectares)
Smallholdings and Market Gardens which follow creative and innovative production practices leading to improved farm efficiencies as well as positive environmental and ethical outcomes.
Entries are welcome for all types of organic enterprises (horticulture, livestock, arable, dairy, pigs, poultry, mixed) and will be judged according to evidence submitted online at point of entry.
Organic farms are unique businesses which require the use of innovative farming practices, creative mindsets and an engaged and committed workforce to meet the rigorous standards required for organic certification.
Our Best Organic Smallholdings and Market Gardens Under 10 Hectares Award will go to the smallholding or market garden which follows effective and innovative production practices which lead to improved farm efficiencies as well as positive environmental and ethical outcomes, pioneering change through commitment and engagement. All evidence provided by the farm will be explored, researched and reviewed by a panel of three judges and marked out of 10 for evidence in each of the following categories:
Organic production
- A successful organic farming system that uses effective and/or innovative organic production methods to drive efficiencies and environmental improvements on farm (for example; cultivation techniques, pest management, varieties, animal husbandry, agroforestry etc.) (200 words)
- The farm efficiencies or improvements that these production methods or techniques provide (e. reduced costs of production, better yields, access to new markets etc. 150 words)
- The environmental and/ or ethical benefits they have delivered (for example increased biodiversity, carbon reduction, improvements to animal welfare etc.) Please indicate how these are measured. (150 words)
Engagement- Staff engagement with organic principles and practices (for example: provision of staff training) to build interest in and commitment to organic farming (150 words)
- Industry or customer engagement with organic principles and practices (including engagement with public, retail / wholesale customers or other farmers) to build interest in and appreciation of organic farming (for example; provision of information on organic farming systems, and why it is beneficial , opportunities for educational or learning trips to the farm, use of social media or marketing.) (10 points in total for engagement)
Our Best Organic Smallholdings and Market Gardens Under 10 Hectares Award will go to the entry which scores the highest across all criteria. At the discretion of the head judge and where relevant, additional information or a visit to a shortlist of farms may be employed (if possible).In addition: All entries must hold a valid certificate as organic at time of entry and time of award by Soil Association Certification or by another official and accredited certification body.
The Executive Judging Committee will oversee the judging process. Supporting information included with each entry will be used to inform their final decision based on rewarding the entry which most supports the Awards’ aspirations to recognise and reward outstanding performance in organic.
Sponsored by Ooooby
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