To submit an application for the Equipment Innovation Awards please click here. Note entries close Thursday 20th August 2026.
The winner will be announced at Fine Food Australia at FCSI Networking Function, 4pm on Talking Trends stage.
Award Criteria & Submission Guidelines:
Purpose
To recognise the most genuinely innovative product in the Catering & Hospitality Equipment category — one that helps operators run smarter, faster, safer or more sustainably. This award exists to spotlight real commercial impact, not novelty for its own sake, and to give winning exhibitors a credible, buyer-facing badge of distinction during the show.
Eligibility
- Open to any exhibitor at Fine Food Australia 2026 showcasing a product within the Catering & Hospitality Equipment segment (commercial cooking, refrigeration, cleaning systems, bar/beverage equipment, front-of-house fit out, smallware’s).
- Product must be newly launched (within 18 months of the show).
- Product must be physically demonstrable or displayed on the exhibitor’s stand for judge and visitor viewing.
- Maximum 2 entries per exhibitor or per brand – Exhibitors displaying multiple brands on one stand can enter multiple times but limited to 2 entries per brand.
- Multi-product ranges should nominate a single hero product.
Timeline
August 12th– Launch of Awards to Fine Food Exhibitors
August 20th – Submissions close
August 21st -August 27th – Judging submissions and scoring
August 28th– Shortlist provided to Fine Food Australia*
August 31st – Judges view the Shortlisted companies on Day 1 of Fine Food
September 1st – Winner Announced at FCSI Networking Function, 4pm on Talking Trends stage.
Judging Criteria
Judging Criteria supplied by FCSI.
Submission Requirements
- 200-word product summary outlining the innovation and its commercial application
- High-resolution product image(s)
- Optional: technical spec sheet or short demonstration video
- Nominations open via submission form and promoted via email and social media by Fine Food
Recognition
- Winner announced and presented on Tuesday September 1st at the FCSI Networking function n the Talking Trends Stage.
- Winner’s logo and product featured across FFA26 digital channels and post-show reporting
- “Innovation Award Winner” signage provided for the exhibitor’s stand for the remainder of the show