(Washington, D.C. – July 30, 2013) The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has announced that the IDFA Innovations Awards will return to the International Dairy Show this November. Created to recognize excellence in product and service innovation and technology, the Innovations Awards are open to all companies in the dairy industry, and winners will be announced at the 2013 International Dairy Show, November 3-6, at McCormick Place in Chicago.
The awards have been extended from the initial launch at the 2011 International Dairy Show and will be co-sponsored by Dairy Foods Magazine. Readers of the magazine will view and vote for their favorite innovations.
"We are delighted to be working with Dairy Foods Magazine as co-sponsor of the awards this year," said Robin Cornelison, IDFA trade show director. "The awards ceremony during the show and follow-up coverage by Dairy Foods in print and online will give companies even more recognition from peers and potential customers for their innovative products and services."
Award winners will be selected in each of the following categories:
• Food Safety
• Ingredient/Flavoring/Seasoning/Additive
• Packaging
• Processing
• Sustainability
• Attendee Choice Award
Winning entries will exemplify one or more of the following qualities:
• Substantial achievement in price or performance;
• Significant advancement in a technology or its application; or
• Innovative design.
To qualify, the submissions must be products or services that have been or will be introduced to the market between September 21, 2011, and November 3, 2013. The online submission deadline is Friday, August 30, 2013.
Posters featuring submissions will be on display near the Innovations Showcase Pavilion in the International Dairy Show exhibit hall. IDFA staff members, industry professionals and Dairy Foods readers will judge the submissions. IDFA will notify finalists on or before September 20, 2013.
Voting for the Attendee Choice Award will take place during the International Dairy Show and will end Tuesday, November 5, at 5:00 p.m. All award winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 6, at the iDairyShow Theater in the South Hall of McCormick Place.
In addition, award winners will be featured in a future edition of Dairy Foods Magazine.
The online submission form is available at: http://www.dairyshow.com/information-center/innovationawards
The International Dairy Show, co-located with Food Processing Suppliers Association’s PROCESS EXPO, brings together 800 exhibitors, 300,000 square feet of exhibit space and 15,000 industry professionals for even bigger, better and broader business opportunities. The Dairy Show will feature the newest innovations in technology, packaging, ingredients and services for the dairy foods industry. Educational sessions will offer solutions that span the entire manufacturing process, and attendees will have the opportunity to visit exhibits displaying everything dairy companies need to run more efficiently, create new products and improve profitability.
For more information, visit http://www.dairyshow.com/information-center/innovationawards or contact Cornelison at rcornelison@idfa.org.
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The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of 550 companies representing a $125-billion a year industry. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), the National Cheese Institute (NCI) and the International Ice Cream Association (IICA). IDFA's 220 dairy processing members run more than 600 plant operations, and range from large multi-national organizations to single-plant companies. Together they represent more than 85% of the milk, cultured products, cheese and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States. IDFA can be found online at www.idfa.org.
Contact: Marti Pupillo
mpupillo@idfa.org
202-220-3535