Penguin Pitch Awards
NFRA’s Penguin Pitch Emerging Brand Contest
Think your innovation is a game changer in the frozen and refrigerated aisles? Enter the Penguin Pitch Contest for a chance to be named Emerging Product of the Year. Products will be evaluated by a panel of industry experts on uniqueness, functionality, and excitement.
The Grand Prize winner will be honored at the NFRA Convention Awards Ceremony in October 2027 and featured in the Winner’s Booth, providing the opportunity to showcase the product to nearly 2,000 attendees, including over 150 retailers.
Entry window: December 1, 2026 – February 12, 2027
Congratulations 2026 Finalists!
Entry Requirements
- Company must be a member of NFRA in good standing (if not currently a member, Company must join before February 12, 2027);
- Retail sales for the Product must be greater than $100,000 annually by February 1, 2027
- Viable distribution supply chain to scale rapidly
- Near-term sales growth faster than category
- New ingredients, benefits, packaging, format, production, or usage occasion
- Introduced within the past 5 years
- No line extensions
Winner Selection
Qualifying entries will be reviewed by a committee on the following criteria: uniqueness of product, how disruptive/innovative the product is in the current category, and promotional strategy.
Eight finalists will be chosen and notified no later than March 13, 2026. Each finalist will be asked to submit a video no longer than 3 minutes by March 31, 2026 that showcases their product. Finalists will also be asked to ship one case of their product to the NFRA Conference hotel for evaluation by a panel of industry judges on the following criteria:
- Taste – 20%
- Most innovative in their category – 20%
- Visually appetizing – 10%
- Ease of Preparation – 10%
- Is the product on Trend? – 10%
- Creative & Visually Appealing packaging – 10%
- Promotional Strategy – 10%
- Sustainability (Do they use recyclable packaging, what do they do to reduce waste, reduce energy, and help the environment?) – 10%
2026 Grand Prize Winner and Emerging Brand of the Year
- Best Promotional Strategy: DiFara Vodka Sauce Pizza
- Most Disruptive Product: Frönen Caramel Chocolate Crunch Bar
- Most Creative Packaging: Skinny Butcher Crazy Dippers
2026 Prizes
- One 1st place winner will receive a Café NFRA table at the 2026 NFRA Convention (October 17-20, 2026, in National Harbor, MD) to display and promote their product. (valued at approximately $7,500) Any costs associated with shipping, handling, receiving, prepping, and sampling the product, as well as travel and accommodations, will be at the Entrant’s expense.
- One complimentary NFRA Convention registration (valued at $825)
- Trophy
- Use of Emerging Brand logo
- Bragging rights
Honorable Mention Category Prizes
Winners for each of the following categories will receive one complimentary NFRA Convention registration (valued at $825) plus use of Emerging Brand logo and bragging rights:
- Most Creative Packaging
- Most Disruptive Product
- Best Promotional Strategy
