The FreeFrom food sector is set to hit a half billion pound turnover by 2017, according to research by Mintel.
Last year nearly 500 entries, from individual operators to multi-national food companies, fought it out for the coveted Best FreeFrom Food Product award.
Entry for the 2016 awards open on 16th September, a shortlist of entries will be published in mid-February 2016 and the awards presentation will take place on 26th April 2016.
New categories for the 2016 awards include the small producer award, raw foods award and superfoods, sports supplements and drinks award.
Categories introduced at the 2015 awards, including meaty and fishy ready meals award, veggie ready meals award and the Tea Time award, proved popular and will be open for entries in 2016 too.
Whilst, well-established categories such as the breakfast award, food-to-go and vending machines award, innovation award and children’s food award will continue into 2016.
Michelle Berriedale-Johnson, director of the awards, said: “As freefrom spreads into every sector of our eating experience, so the awards grow and grow - no fewer than 19 categories this year!
“These include a new, dedicated health-aware raw foods category and a superfood and sports drinks category. And, to encourage more of those vibrant mini start ups, we have a new Small Producer Award whose winner will receive mentoring from sponsors’ Tesco’s technical and marketing experts.”
The FreeFrom Food Awards are run by the FreeFrom Matters team, who also run the FreeFrom Eating Out Awards and the Foodsmatter wesbites.