CPG Awards Expands to Include Frozen Foods Category
Food & Beverage Magazine's packaged-goods competition opens entries to frozen brands seeking retail buyer exposure.
The CPG Awards by Food & Beverage Magazine has expanded its scope to include frozen foods for the first time, opening registration to packaged-food brands seeking direct access to retail CPG buyers and industry decision-makers.
The program, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, traditionally focused on shelf-stable products in formats including cans, pouches, bags, boxes, bottles, and wrappers. The addition of a dedicated frozen category reflects market demand for innovation in the freezer aisle, where consumers increasingly seek restaurant-inspired flavors, cleaner ingredient statements, and convenient meal solutions.
Eligible frozen entries encompass a wide range of products: frozen meals and meal components, appetizers, breakfast items, vegetables and sides, desserts, pizza and pasta concepts, plant-based offerings, and internationally inspired dishes. The program welcomes brands across multiple shelf-stable categories as well, including snacks, sauces, condiments, beverages, cereals, baking products, confectionery, preserved foods, meal kits, gourmet products, functional foods, baby food, pet food, and supplements.
The awards program functions as a marketplace connecting packaged-food innovators with retail buyers. For emerging brands, participation offers an opportunity to build awareness and establish credibility with retail decision-makers. Established companies use the platform to expand buyer reach, spotlight product innovation, and reinforce category leadership.
Retail environments increasingly demand products that are memorable, practical, and differentiated. The frozen category, in particular, continues to offer consumers variety and value, with the freezer aisle remaining a significant venue for product innovation and retail shelf space expansion. Brands with retail-ready products can register through the program's website.
The competitive landscape for packaged-food shelf space remains intense, making industry award programs and buyer-facing events critical for brand visibility and distribution expansion.