Inno d’Or – Innovation of the Year 2026 competition

Date: 2026. 04. 02. 00:00

In 2026, Trade Magazin once again announces the Inno d’Or – Innovation of the Year competition, one of the most prestigious innovation awards in the Hungarian FMCG sector. As a novelty this year, the separate Inno d’Or Free From – Free From Innovation of the Year award is also launched, recognizing pioneering developments of proven free-from products. The aim of the competition is to find and showcase fresh, creative, and market-ready solutions that respond to real consumer needs and drive forward the food, beverage, household, cosmetics, service, or technology sectors.

Objective and target audience:

The Inno d’Or – Innovation of the Year seeks companies, brands, and startups that introduced a new product or innovative solution in 2025. The Inno d’Or Free From – Free From Innovation of the Year is intended for those who have created a genuinely verified free-from innovation, offering alternatives for consumers with special dietary needs, sensitivities, or conscious lifestyles.

Jury composition:

The professional jury once again includes decision-makers, buyers, and sales professionals from commercial companies, as well as representatives of key organizations and bodies from the Hungarian food industry, trade, packaging technology, marketing, research, regulatory, and academic sectors, ensuring the professional credibility of the competition.

By product type – MAIN CATEGORY

  1. Food: includes innovations such as delicatessen products, confectionery, snacks, bakery goods, meat products, dairy products, preserved and frozen foods, sauces, spices, ready meals, dietary supplements, and pet food.
  2. Beverage: includes innovations such as mineral water, soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages.
  3. Cosmetics: includes innovations in cosmetics, beauty care, skin and hair care, and baby care products.
  4. Chemical goods: includes innovations in cleaning products, detergents, and other household or professional chemical goods.
  5. Ingredient: includes innovations focusing on ingredients, such as new raw materials or combinations of ingredients.
  6. Service: includes innovations related to services in the FMCG segment, such as new online platforms, delivery solutions, customer service systems, and beauty services.
  7. Technology: includes innovative solutions related to technologies in the FMCG segment, such as manufacturing, logistics, and IT technology.
  8. Packaging (standalone): this category welcomes innovative packaging solutions that are not tied to specific products but provide advancements specifically in the field of packaging. Examples include sustainable packaging solutions, smart or interactive packaging technologies, as well as unique materials or shapes that make packaging more efficient, attractive, or environmentally friendly. Companies specifically engaged in packaging production may apply in this category.

By brand type – Subcategory I.

  1. Manufacturer brand: entries of manufacturers’ own brands are expected in this category.
  2. Private label: entries of retail companies’ brands are expected in this category.

By target group – MARKET SEGMENT – Subcategory II.

  1. B2B: innovations in products, services, technologies, and packaging distributed for corporate, industrial, and wholesale purposes are expected.
  2. B2C: innovations in products, services, technologies, and packaging sold to consumers are expected.

By AI – AI FOCUS – Subcategory III.

  1. AI: AI technology played a key role in the development or operation of the given product, service, or process.
  2. AI not relevant: AI may have been used during development or operation, but only as a supplementary element.

Classification type:

  1. Product: for a single product.
  2. Product family: for entries covering multiple products.
  3. Service

  • Free-from Food: food innovations that are verified to comply with the relevant free-from threshold limits.
  • Free-from Beverage: proven to be free from or reduced in certain ingredients, with credible documentation verifying the free-from status.
  • Free-from Cosmetics: personal care and beauty products that are verifiably free from specific ingredients and comply with professional free-from standards.
  • Free-from Chemical Products: household or professional chemical products that are reliably verified as free from certain substances and meet documented free-from requirements.

Classification type:

  1. Product: for a single product.
  2. Product family: for entries covering multiple products.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: April 2, 2026

Participation conditions:

Any company may apply that introduced a new product/service between January 1 and December 31, 2025, completes the application form, pays the entry fee, and, in the case of Inno d’Or Free From – Free From Innovation of the Year, submits the required documentation.

Documents required for application:

  • Application form
  • 1–3 photos
  • Presentation (max. 10 slides, PDF)
  • Optional video link

In case of product entry:

  • Product data sheet
  • Product packaging (image format)
  • Nutritional label graphic (image format)
  • Preparation instructions – for sensory evaluation (for product or product family)

For Inno d’Or Free From – Free From Innovation of the Year, mandatory:

  • Application form
  • 1–3 product photos
  • Presentation (max. 10 slides, PDF)
  • Optional video link
  • Product packaging (image format)
  • Ingredient list with precise indication of free-from properties
  • Nutritional data
  • Manufacturing process description (how free-from is ensured)
  • Recent laboratory test results (to verify free-from claims)
  • Certifications (if available)
  • Free-from declaration
  • Preparation instructions – for sensory evaluation (for product or product family)

Evaluation criteria:

The jury evaluates based on innovation content, alignment with trends, market viability, unique advantages, and sensory testing. In the case of Inno d’Or Free From – Free From Innovation of the Year, special focus is placed on the credibility of documented free-from claims.

Awards and recognitions:

 

The professional jury selects entries in all categories that exceed the minimum score defined in the competition rules and awards them the “Inno d’Or – Innovation of the Year 2026” title in the form of a certificate and prize.

Based on the results, winners are announced and may use the “Inno d’Or – Innovation of the Year 2026” and “Inno d’Or – Innovation of the Year 2026 in Hungary” logos for a period of three (3) years from receiving the award.

The most outstanding free-from innovations receive the “Inno d’Or Free From – Free From Innovation of the Year 2026” award.

“Best of the Best” awards are also presented to outstanding entries.

Applicants submitting category-creating innovations may also receive the “Pioneer of the Future” special award.

Deadlines:

Submission: April 2, 2026 (Thursday) 23:59

Sample submission for sensory evaluation: April 27–28, 2026

Entry fees:

  • Single product: 1st entry HUF 99,000 + VAT / 2nd and additional entries HUF 89,000 + VAT (co-applicant fee: HUF 89,000 + VAT), including participation of 2 persons per applicant company at the conference combined with the award ceremony.
  • Product families (including variations such as flavor, scent, packaging size) and service packages: 1st entry HUF 149,000 + VAT / 2nd and additional entries HUF 129,000 + VAT (co-applicant fee: HUF 89,000 + VAT), including participation of 2 persons per applicant company at the conference combined with the award ceremony.

Innovation Day and award ceremony:

The results will be announced in a ceremonial setting on Innovation Day, featuring professional presentations, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities.

  • Award ceremony date: May 21, 2026
  • Participation fee: HUF 69,000 + VAT/person

For more information, contact us via email: ress.adrienn@trademagazin.hu

Competition rules of Inno d’Or – Innovation of the Year and Inno d’Or Free From – Free From Innovation of the Year 2026 COMPETITION RULES
Data processing information of Inno d’Or – Innovation of the Year and Inno d’Or Free From – Free From Innovation of the Year 2026 PRIVACY NOTICE

Application form

Application Form – Free From

Details of the previous competition

Organizer of the competition: