KENYA – Calibre Foods, Squishy Drinks and Bio Foods Ltd were the winners of the most sought after most innovative packaging application in a new product at the just concluded Africa Food Industry Excellence Awards.
The category, which was introduced at this year’s Awards, saw the three companies walk away with the packaging award for their outstanding entries for their exemplary application of packaging in their new products.
Aunty Betty’s Ready Meal Rice, a product from Calibre Foods, won the most innovative packaging award for its laminated cellulose biodegradable pack, which captures the sustainability concept as compared to other plastic packaging products in the category.
The free-standing package, with a transparent bottom and perforated opening, makes it possible to heat the food in a sufuria or pan, as well as microwaving while the rice is still in the package.
The product also won in the Chilled and Fresh product of the year award, for its unique value proposition and convenience to the user, who is faced with time constraints these days.
Squishy juice drink, made by Squishy Drinks, was came in at number two in the most innovative packaging category, as it stood out for its flexible and convenient stand-up pouches.
The pouches, made from layers of aluminium and plastic, make it possible to enhance quality and safety of the drinks as they can stand up in a shelf, can be hooked or pegged with a mini straw, with its target being young kids.
Bio Foods Ltd took number three in this category with its Bio Fruit Yoghurt on the Bottom, for its unique application of transparent packaging of the 150ml cup that appeals to the target consumers as they can to see the product, enhancing transparency in the dairy category.
The products also won in the dairy category as the first dairy product in the region that infuses real fruit into the yoghurt, with fruit at the bottom, carefully topped with yoghurt.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives sent its Acting Director of Agroprocessing, Mr. Simon Atebe, who was the Chief Guest, and the Acting Managing Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Mr. Benard Nguyo, also made an appearance as one of the main guests.
Other notable attendees included the Barclays Kenya CEO, Mr. Jeremy Awori, several Managing Directors and CEOs from the industry, government agencies, supplier companies and other stakeholders.
About the Awards
The Africa Food Industry Excellence Awards are Africa’s most prestigious food industry awards,
The Awards celebrate some of the most outstanding people, new products and company initiatives in the food, beverage and milling industry in Africa.
Now in its second year, the Awards ceremony attracted the who-is-who in the food manufacturing, retail and foodservice industry in the region, with over 400 people attending the event, which took place from 14.00 hours till late.
This year’s Awards had a larger and expanded category profile, with new categories (new plants, new products, sustainability and training initiatives) added on top of the individual award categories from the 2017 edition of the Awards.
The next edition of the Africa Food Industry Excellence Awards ceremony will be held on July 12, 2019 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Individuals and companies are encouraged to enter their applications for next year’s Awards process, which open on November 1, 2018.
More information about the Awards can be found on www.awards.foodbusinessafrica.com
