SAAFoST's New Innovative Product Competition 2025 with Food Review

SAAFoST's New Innovative Product Competition in collaboration with Food Review, showcases South Africa's food science, innovation, and technology advancements. This competition aims to provide a platform for food companies to exhibit cutting-edge products and to foster innovation and collaboration within the industry. All participants' product entries will be showcased at the SAAFoST Congress from 25 - 27 August 2025. Winners will be unveiled at the Congress Gala Dinner on 27 August.

The competition is open to all food companies operating in South Africa.

Why enter this competition?

1. Receive comprehensive feedback reports from the panel of expert judges.

2. Benefit from editorial coverage in SA Food Review, its electronic newsletters, the website www.foodreview.co.za​ and all of its social media pages. Benefit from editorial coverage on SAAFoST electronic newsletter, the website and social media pages.

3. All product entries will be showcased at the 26th Biennial SAAFoST Congress at the CSIR ICC from 25 - 27 August 2025. The winner will be announed at the prestigious Congress Gala Dinner.

4. Accolades that go with being the competition winner:

- Certificate of innovation

- To be known as a leader in innovation in the South African food and beverage industry

- New Innovative Product Winner 2025 branding on your product's packaging

Main prize to be confirmed.

Products entered must:

1. Be compliant in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972).

2. Be submitted by their brand owners/NPD or technical managers.

3. Be launched between January 2024 and June 2025.

4. Be available in the South African market.

Competition entrants agree:

1. To supply at least FIVE product samples with the submission of entries, and additional samples on request for the judging process. Product samples must be delivered to SAAFoST offices, Building 4W CSIR Campus, Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, Pretoria, during week 7 - 14 July. Additional product samples (packaging only for perishable products) should be included for showcasing at the Congress.
2. To supply suitable full-colour photographs, in electronic format, on submission of entry form, for publication in SA Food Review. Images must be high-resolution 300dpi JPEG files.
3. To supply a press release on the product on submission of the entry form.
4. Entrants should ensure that any storage and preparation instructions are clear and can be easily followed.
5. All entrants of products must provide the marketing plan/campaign.
6. Should your products be imported – 'international brand/product', the following criteria apply:

• International products must be available on shelves in the South African market for purchase and must be easily found.
• International products must have a marketing plan/campaign in place that specifically targets the South African markets.
• This marketing plan/campaign must uploaded on the registration form, along with an explanation of when it has entered the South African markets.
• International products must comply with all South African product regulations, ie packaging, labelling, etc.

SAAFoST reserves the right to refuse a product entry should it not conform to the required specifications.

SAAFoST also reserves the right to query any claims made on this entry form.

Entry Fee

• SAAFoST Member Companies: R1,000.00 excluding VAT per product entry
• Non-member Companies: R2,000.00 excluding VAT per product entry

Please note that payment must be received before 30 June 2025.

Entry Deadline: 30 June 2025

Judging Criteria

• Innovation: Novelty and originality of the product.
• Sustainability: Environmental and social impact which includes the packaging.
• Presentation: Quality of the application, product and packaging presentation and conformance to regulations.
• Target market: Products meet expectations and needs.
• Market Potential: Product successfully aligns with consumer trends, addresses unmet needs, and can reach more customers and grow sales.

Terms & Conditions

• By entering this competition, entrants are indicating their agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
• Entries are only considered for Judging when the entry fee is fully paid.
• The judges' decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
• By entering the competition, the winner agrees to participate in promotional material as SAAFoST and Food Review may require.
• The prize is not transferable or exchangeable for cash.
• The entry fee is non-refundable.
• The closing date for entry is 30 June 2024. After this date, no further entries will be accepted.
• Companies may enter more than one product, but every entry requires a separate registration.
• SAAFoST is not responsible for entries paid and required product submissions not received at the required time and place for judging for whatever reason. If products are not available for the judging process, they will not be judged. No refunds will be done.
• SAAFoST and Food review reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time.
• Winners will be announced on 27 August 2025 at the SAAFoST Biennial Congress Gala Dinner at the CSIR.
• SAAFoST will notify the winners by email or phone call.
• Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.