Beef Innovations Group Announces Award

Food manufacturers who are inspired to make beef an irresistible choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner may compete for the new Beef Innovation Award, initiated by the Denver-based Beef Innovations Group (BIG). Funded by The Beef Checkoff program, BIG works to develop imaginative beef menu items and products through partnerships with manufacturers, foodservice operators and retailers.

BIG will debut the awardwhich carries a first-place prize of $50,000 in ad supportin October through a partnership with the Research Chefs Association (RCA), Atlanta. Winners will be announced at each organizations annual convention in 2008.

The award debuts at an opportune time, when RCA is encouraging food professionals to advance the practice of Culinology®, which is the blending of culinary arts and food science, said Ellen Gibson, executive director, new product initiatives, National Cattlemens Beef Association (NCBA), Centennial, CO.

This call for creativity carries a top prize of $50,000 in media space and/or advertising support to promote the new beef product. The winning product will also be featured in print advertisements in CULINOLOGY® and Food Product Design magazines and on the BIG Website.

The first competition will feature one categoryhealthy convenienceand is open to R&D culinary professionals, marketers or others employed by a food manufacturer. Entries will be judged on relevance to the category, taste, uniqueness and creativity. For more information or entry forms, visit the BIG Website.