15 Jun 2025 Inaugural Vitafoods Europe Innovation Awards winners
Vitafoods Europe, the global nutraceutical expo, was recently held in Barcelona – here’s news of the winners of its inaugural Innovation Awards…
After 26 years in Geneva, the new awards coincided with the expo’s move to Barcelona, starting this year.
Recognising excellence across ingredients, finished products, partnerships, and initiatives in the nutraceutical sector, they celebrate the companies and organisations shaping the future of nutrition and health.
From ingredient innovations to consumer-ready products, there were hundreds of forward-looking entries across seven categories – with the judging process extended to accommodate the high volume of submissions.
After many hours of deliberation, the judges chose a winner in each category, announcing the results at a highly anticipated ceremony during Vitafoods Europe at Fira Barcelona, Gran Via.
Sports Nutrition and Active Lifestyle Ingredient
Scooping first place in the category was Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10, made by Synbio Tech of Taiwan.
TWK10 was selected for its dual function as both a probiotics and a postbiotics, and for its novel mechanism of action targeting the gut-muscle axis. Originally isolated from traditional Taiwanese fermented cabbages, TWK10 has demonstrated the ability to influence physical performance indicators by modulating gut microbiota and host metabolism.
The ingredient has undergone extensive scientific validation, including multiple double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials, showing benefits in exercise performance, endurance, and physical recovery. In 2023,
TWK10 was further developed into a heat-killed postbiotic format, offering greater formulation stability and compatibility with high-temperature applications such as functional beverages and protein supplements.
Immune and Gut Health Ingredient
ADM won this category for its heat-treated ES1 postbiotic (Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347), and which is backed with documented results, addressing key consumer drivers of gut health and its impact on overall wellbeing.
New research continues to emerge, demonstrating the positive impact that can come from postbiotics. From supporting metabolic and digestive health to benefits for mood, sleep, and cognitive function, they have been gaining interest for their effectiveness in addressing a wide range of consumer wants and needs.
Highly commended was NutriLeads BV’s Benicaros.
Cognitive and Emotional Health Ingredient
Taking top spot in this category was Morinaga Milk Industry Co’s B breve MCC1274.
The Japanese company describes it as the first Bifidobacterium breve strain in the world patented for cognitive health, supported by extensive scientific data including seven clinical trials on the gut-brain axis, showing memory maintaining function with a single strain.
Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305, from ADM, and RelaxPLX, from Monteloeder by Suannutra, were highly commended.
Healthy Ageing Ingredient
Offering scientifically-substantiated benefits for menopause, Givaudan’s Lifenol took first prize in this category,
Powered by a patented hops extract and awarded health claims, Lifenol is a natural, low-dose solution delivering effective phytoestrogen and prenylnaringenin (8-PN). It has been proven in gold-standard clinical trials to relieve uncomfortable menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, while also supporting total bone-mineral density.
Most Innovative Consumer-Ready Nutraceutical Finished Product
Ourvita’s Probiotic Baby Oil won this category. The Italian company says its oil-based probiotic drops, a supplement often used for infants in order to strengthen their immune system, promote the well-being of their intestinal flora and relieve gut discomfort.
It claims an innovative production system that reduces the typical sedimentation of probiotics on the bottom through the use of natural oils which, unlike the chemical preservatives often used, provide an excellent clean-label alternative and greater product functionality.
Most Innovative Industry Partnership
This award recognises organisations and/or companies that have collaborated or co-created, either through cross-industry partnerships or by contract manufacturing, to produce and launch an innovative nutraceutical ingredient, consumer finished product, or delivery format.
The category winner was Icesupp, along with the University of Reading, and three National Healthcare Trusts and Care UK, for their partnership to develop, produce, and launch a product meeting a clear patient/consumer need and the first nutritional supplement to be taken up by NHS.
Icesupp frozen food supplements contain fruit, protein, fibre, key vitamins and minerals. Each pouch is 100% plant based, 100% tasty, vegan friendly and allergen free. They are particularly soothing and nourishing for the likes of people suffering throat cancers, and any swallowing issues.
Sustainability
The Sustainability award recognises an organisation for a measurable supply chain system that demonstrates environmentally, economic, and/or socially sustainable practices in the production of nutraceutical ingredients or finished products.
Nexira scooped top spot in the for inavea, its acacia programme in Chad, and the first carbon-neutral acacia range. The brand offers organic-certified ingredients and achieves a carbon-neutral footprint, enabling customers to reach zero-emission targets.
Zooca – The Calanus Company was highly commended for its Zooca Calanus Oil.
Source: Ingredients Network, Vitafoods Europe