FOOD ENGINEERING's Plant of the Year Award Nominations
Do you have what it takes to be PLANT of the YEAR?
Submission deadline is December 29, 2023
FOOD ENGINEERING honors the most innovative new food or beverage plant built in North America each year. The automation strategy, processing and packaging line design, and supply chain management plan of each plant project submitted are reviewed.
Eligibility
Any new food/beverage plant, major retrofit, or pilot/test plant that became fully operational in calendar year 2023. Note: Plants submitted should produce processed food/beverage products (not simply value-added commodities) designed for human or pet consumption.
Major renovations/expansions of existing facilities are eligible. Renovations will be judged on an equal footing with greenfield plants. Projects must have been completed in calendar year 2023.
There will be four tiers to submissions based on overall financial investment (including plant and equipment).
Questions? Please contact Editor-in-Chief Derrick Teal at teald@bnpmedia.com.
IMPORTANT DATES
Entries due: December 29, 2023
Final selection of winner: January 2024
Plant visit: February 2024
Winner featured on the cover of FOOD ENGINEERING: April 2024, along with accompanying cover story.
Award presentation at Food Automation & Manufacturing (FA&M) Symposium 2024 in April.
Plant of the Year Tiers
Based on overall financial investment and pilot projects — total includes plant and equipment.
- The plant’s contribution (actual/projected) to the company’s long-term business plans/strategies.
- The level of innovation in processing and packaging line design (creative new technology or creatively used existing technology). This can include post-production materials handling.
- Building and site innovations.
- Productive integration of workers into overall plan.
| Plant of the Year | Overall Plant Cost |
|---|---|
| Grand Award Winner | Open to All 3 Division Winners |
| Division 1 | $350M+ |
| Division 2 | $150M - $349M |
| Division 3 | $50M - $149M |
| Pilot/Test Plants | Under $50M |
Who may submit entries
Food companies, A/E/C firms, suppliers or any others qualified to provide a detailed rationale for a particular plant. All entrants will be considered for Plant of the Year and Sustainable Plant of the Year awards, as well as future consideration as a Fabulous Food Plant cover story in FOOD ENGINEERING.
Your entry is exclusive to FOOD ENGINEERING’s Plant of the Year award
When you submit your entry and accompanying materials, you are agreeing to participate exclusively in FOOD ENGINEERING’s Plant of the Year award and Sustainable Plant of the Year award, and not submit your materials to other related food industry trade publications/contests. We also kindly request that you do not allow any other food industry trade publications access to the plant until after the visit by FOOD ENGINEERING in February.