The Global Beverage Innovation Awards are to be held at drinktec in 2009.

Beverage Innovation magazine, in partnership with the Union of European Beverages Associations, has announced that the 2009 beverage innovation awards will be a feature event at drinktec in Munich in September 2009.

The local partner for the event is WAFG – the German Alcohol-Free Drinks Association.

Drinktec, held every four years at Neue Messe München, is the world’s largest beverage and liquid food technology trade fair, with a predicted 70,000 plus visitors in 2009.

Categories and a call for entries will be announced on 1st September 2008, providing the event’s sponsors with the opportunity for a full 12 month promotional programme. The judging panel will include brand, nutrition and environment experts. There will be awards for best new juice, functional, energy, adult and dairy drinks; best newcomer brand or business; best new ingredient; best marketing campaign; best environmental, ethical, sustainability and health initiatives; as well as a wide range of packaging awards.

“Drinktec represents a unique opportunity for the whole non-alcoholic beverages industry to come together and celebrate innovation in product development,” said Beverage Innovation editor Claire Phoenix commented. “The Best Overall Concept winner at this year’s event in Moscow was a product which was completely on trend with a simple and natural offering, while other winners demonstrated the increasing importance of health and wellness ingredients, marketing, education, and environmental and ethical agendas. Major players and entrepreneurs all benefit from this acclaim.”