In the hat to win are all small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that are part of the agri-food ecosystem in Europe.

An SME is defined as follows:

• Employing no more than 250 people
• Generating a turnover of no more than €50m or a balance sheet total of €43m

Think of The Foodies as your platform to celebrate the game-changing sustainability steps you and your team are taking toward a better food system. Making it as a finalist puts you centre‑stage at the world’s largest food and drink exhibition, giving you unparalleled visibility with global buyers and industry leaders. You’ll gain exclusive behind‑the‑scenes access with a trip to Paris and a complimentary ticket to SIAL Paris. Finalists also receive an official Foodies badge that boosts brand recognition and showcases your sustainability achievements. Plus, your work will be featured on the European Commission’s agri‑food platform, amplifying your story to a wide and influential audience.

All submissions will be assessed once the application deadline has passed. The independent jury will meet to select the 12 finalists (three finalists for each award category of The Foodies). Once announced, you will be able to find more information about the jury on the SIAL for Change jury page.

The judging panel will select finalists from each category based on the following criteria: originality, impact, scalability, sustainability, economics, contribution around the seven objectives outlined in the EU Agri-Food Code:

1. Healthy, balanced and sustainable diets
2. Prevention and reduction of food loss and waste
3. An optimised circular and resource-efficient food chain
4. A climate neutral food chain
5. Sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work
6. Sustainable value creation in the food supply chain through partnership
7. Sustainable sourcing in food supply chains

An SME is a micro, small, or medium-sized enterprise (SME) which employs no more than 250 people and which has an annual turnover not exceeding €50m or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding €43m.

The competition, launched on 24 March 2026, will remain open until 1 July 2026 . The finalists will be decided by September 2026 and the final Awards Ceremony will take place in Paris at SIAL Paris on 18 October 2026.

Access the following application form, create your login and password, and complete the questionnaire.

Please download the slide deck on this site for more details. If you still don’t find what you’re looking for reach out to contact.sialforchange@comexposium.com