INC Awards
The INC Awards stand as the premier international platform for celebrating excellence within the nuts and dried fruits industry. These prestigious awards honour the remarkable achievements, innovation, and dedication of individuals and companies that are shaping the future of the industry.
Corporate Golden Nut Award
MERCADONA
Honouring unparalleled excellence in the nuts and dried fruit industry, the prestigious Golden Nut Award represents the highest international recognition of achievement in the sector. This esteemed award celebrates outstanding contributions and dedication to the global nuts and dried fruit community. It is designed to recognize and reward excellence at every level, and may be received by both individuals and companies who have demonstrated exceptional performance, leadership, or influence in the industry.
This year, the Corporate Golden Nut Award, the nut and dried fruit’s industry’s highest honor, will be presented to Mercadona, Spain’s leading supermarket chain. Founded in 1977, Mercadona has grown into a retail giant with more than 1,700 stores across Spain and Portugal, serving millions of customers daily. The company operates under a unique Total Quality Model, developed in 1993, which aims to satisfy five key components: “The Boss” (the customer), the Employee, the Supplier, Society, and Capital. This model places “The Boss” at the center of all decisions, ensuring customer satisfaction is paramount. Mercadona also invests heavily in its employees, offering stability, training, and internal promotion opportunities. The company works closely with its suppliers to provide an efficient selection of products tailored to the needs of its customers, while also contributing to society’s sustainable development. With 104,000 employees and more than €35 billion in sales in 2023, Mercadona plays a key role in Spain’s retail landscape.
The Corporate Golden Nut Award is given to truly outstanding companies that have shown excellence in and commitment to the nut and dried fruit industry. In the case of Mercadona, the award reflects the venerable brand’s long track record and commitment to delivering excellence for consumers.
Corporate Golden Nut Award
Voicevale
The Corporate Golden Nut Award was awarded to Voicevale. Established in London in 1981 by Managing Director, Roby Danon, Voicevale is an importer and distributor of nuts, dried fruits, seeds and coffee to industries around the world, with local subsidiaries, armed with local knowledge and proximity to customers. The group provides its customers with a service which aims to ensure food safety in products, price stability, knowledge of impending markets as well as future demand & supply dynamics allowing buyers to take informed decisions.
On hearing of the news, Roby Danon explained, “I am extremely honoured that Voicevale has been chosen to receive such a prestigious award within the nut and dried fruit industry. From starting off as a small room in an office building, we now have a global reach with local subsidiaries in seven locations providing optimum solutions for all our customers while maintaining sustainability at the forefront of our business at all times. I couldn’t be prouder of all my colleagues who have helped us get to where we are today.”
The Corporate Golden Nut Award is given to truly outstanding companies that have shown excellence in and commitment to the nut and dried fruit industry with the intention to aid in the sustainable growth of the sector.
Golden Nut Award
Mrs. Goretti Guasch
INC Executive Director
This year, the Individual Golden Nut Award was awarded to INC Executive Director, Mrs. Goretti Guasch for her 25 years of service to the nut and dried fruit industry. Goretti has been a pivotal player in the formation of the INC as we know it today. Her vision of long-term growth for the INC has helped turn an association of 200 members into a leading global organization whose membership represents over 85 % of the sector’s commercial trade with a supply value with both nuts and dried fruits estimated at over US 47 billion.
Goretti’s business education and forward-thinking strategic planning and criteria have helped the INC bring together the sector’s leading companies at the top international and largest congress for the industry which plays a crucial part of the evolution and growth of the nut and dried fruit supply chain. To date, the largest congress embraced over 1,500 top industry players from 65 countries. As well as this she had pivoted the creation of the INC Pavilions under the umbrella of international trade fairs, nowadays being one of the most acclaimed exhibiting space for the industry, and has implemented the best education program for the sector, the INC Academia with both online and onsite programs.
This progressive business approach has enabled the INC to increase incomes by an interannual average of 12.6% in the last 10 years which has allowed for essential projects to be developed. These projects include, among others, the most extensive nut and dried fruit online statistics sector database, grants for investigation to health research, grants for regional promotion through industry stakeholders and most recently Global Dissemination Plans, now concentrated in the key markets of China and India. These projects are beneficial not only to provide the industry with essential data but also to aid in the healthy balance of supply and demand.
Goretti Guasch explained, “I feel very humbled and at the same time extremely proud to receive such an important award and be acknowledged for my professional career within such a fantastic industry. This really is a great honour that I will hold very dear to me. I would like to thank all those who have worked alongside me and my team at the INC headquarters.”
The Golden Nut Award is given to those individuals who have clearly made a significant contribution to the nut and dried fruit industry over a period of years.
Excellence in Research
Dr. David Baer
Research Leader, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, USA
The INC Award for Excellence in Research celebrates exceptional researchers whose contributions have led to significant accomplishments in the fields of health and nutrition in areas related to nuts and dried fruits. By recognising these achievements, the award aims to inspire continued excellence and progress in this area of study and raise greater awareness of the nutritional benefits and potential of these foods.
The Award for Excellence in Research recognizes exceptional researchers whose work has made significant contributions to advancing health and nutrition related to nuts and dried fruits. This year, the award will go to David J. Baer, Ph.D., a Supervisory Research Physiologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center located in Beltsville, Maryland, USA. He serves as the Research Leader for the Center’s Food Components and Health Laboratory. Dr. Baer conducts controlled dietary intervention studies to investigate the relationship between diet and the risk for chronic degenerative diseases, especially cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes in people. He has investigated the role of dietary patterns, individual foods, food components, and food processing including different types of protein, fats and fatty acids, fiber, margarine, butter, plant sterols, salad dressings, meat, whole grains, pulses, berries, alcohol, tea, and of course nuts. In addition to dietary intervention studies, Dr. Baer is involved in research studies to validate food survey methodologies and to develop new methods for dietary assessment.
Excellence in Gastronomy
Restaurant Disfrutar
Chefs Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch, and Mateu Casañas
The INC Award for Excellence in Gastronomy is dedicated to honouring chefs who have demonstrated exceptional creativity and innovation in the world of high gastronomy. This award celebrates those who have made significant contributions to the culinary world through outstanding creations and the development of recipes that highlight the versatility and qualities of nuts and dried fruits.
The Award for Excellence in Gastronomy honors those who have made significant contributions to the culinary world, showcasing the versatility of nuts and dried fruits. This year, the award goes to the restaurant Disfrutar. Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch, and Mateu Casañas embarked on their culinary journey together in 2012 with the opening of Compartir Cadaqués. Though they officially teamed up then, their collaboration began much earlier, having met in the late 1990s at elBulli, where they honed their craft.
In 2014, they expanded their vision to Barcelona with the opening of Disfrutar, which has since earned three Michelin stars and was named the Best Restaurant in the World by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2024. Their creativity doesn’t stop there. In 2022, they launched Compartir Barcelona, and they continue to consult for culinary ventures around the world. Renowned for their boundless innovation, their work is driven by an unrelenting pursuit of new techniques and concepts that challenge the status quo of modern gastronomy.
Innovation Award
Showcase your brands' latest innovations to a global audience
The application period is now closed.
The INC Innovation Award 2025 celebrates outstanding new products or services in the nut and dried fruit industry. Open exclusively to INC members attending the World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress in Palma de Mallorca, this award provides a unique opportunity for global recognition and industry exposure. Participants will have the chance to showcase their innovations to over 1,500 industry professionals while gaining visibility and elevating their reputation.
All applicants will be featured on the Congress website, and the winner will receive additional recognition in Nutfruit magazine and the official Congress video.
To participate, submissions must include one product or service launched in 2024 or early 2025. The deadline for submission is April 1, 2025, at 12:00 CET. Applicants may also be required to provide product samples for evaluation.
Entries will be assessed based on innovation, originality and inspiration.
Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to showcase your innovation on a global stage and gain the recognition you deserve! The winner will be announced on stage at the INC Congress in Mallorca.
Don’t miss this opportunity to show the nut and dried fruit industry your dedication to innovation and share your brand’s new product/service at the World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, in Palma de Mallorca! Delegates attending the Congress have the chance not only to share experiences, but also to get enriched with new ideas. The Top Best new product/service at the World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, in Palma de Mallorca, May 8-10, 2025. Open only to INC members attending the congress, this is a unique opportunity to reach 1500+ participants from 60+ countries, highlight your new products/services and enhance your company’s reputation for innovation. The projects will be review by experts in the field of innovation and the winner will be announced at the INC Congress in Palma de Mallorca. [Read More]
Application is Now Open!
The INC Innovation Award 2025 celebrates outstanding new products or services in the nut and dried fruit industry. Open to INC members attending the 42nd World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress in Palma de Mallorca, this award offers global recognition for innovation.
Why Participate?
Exclusive Opportunity to showcase your products to 1,500+ industry professionals.
Global Recognition: Gain visibility and elevate your reputation.
Featured Promotion: All applicants will be highlighted on the Congress website, with the winner receiving extra recognition in Nutfruit magazine and the Congress video.
Submission Requirements:
- Deadline, March 25, 2025, 12:00 CET
- Submit one product/service launched in 2024 or early 2025
- Exclusively for INC members attending the Congress
- Possible request for product samples
Evaluation Criteria:
- Innovation & originality
- Market impact
- Sustainability & inspiration
Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your innovation globally!
The INC Celebrates New Ideas and Innovative Approaches. INC wants to thank all the companies for submitting their brand’s new products for the Innovation Award. This contest selected the top best new product/service at the XLI World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, in Vancouver, May 8-10. The winner was Diamond of California Crunchy Nut Toppers, Diamond Foods, USA.
These are the applications for the 2024 Innovation Award:
- Yupik’s Retail Collection, Tootsi, Canada
- Cashew Apple Harmony, Bösch Boden Spies, Germany
- Grab and Go, Nutty Gritties, DRB Foods, India
- Premier Nuts, Premier Health, Grupo Premier de Occidente, Mexico
- MacaPaste, Premier Nut, South Africa
- Borrell SmartSorter® AMX, JOSÉ BORRELL, S.A., Spain
- Date Flakes, Boudjebel, Tunisia
- Organic Dried Fig Slice, Sante Gida, Türkiye
- Diamond of California Crunchy Nut Toppers, Diamond Foods, USA
- Intraflow Briner, Laitram Machinery, USA
- Trace the Case®, Pecan Grove Farms, USA
- Qcify HUB, Qcify, USA
The winner of the XLI World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, in Vancouver, May 8-10 was Diamond of California Crunchy Nut Toppers, Diamond Foods, USA.
Diamond of California Crunchy Nut Toppers are made of bite-size pieces of walnuts and pecans for a delicious and nutritious addition to salads, baked potatoes and other vegetable side dishes.
To see the applications for the 2023 Innovation Award click the button below.
Excellence in Sustainability
The application period is now closed.
The INC Sustainability Awards 2025 awards recognize impactful projects in two categories: Back to the Planet for environmental sustainability and Back to the People for social initiatives. Open exclusively to INC members attending the World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress in Palma de Mallorca, the award gives the opportunity to gain industry acclaim among 1,500+ professionals from over 60 countries while enhancing your company’s reputation as a sustainability leader.
All applicants will be showcased on the Congress website, with winners receiving additional recognition in Nutfruit Magazine and the official Congress video.
Eligible projects must align with at least one of the following Sustainable Development Goals: 2: Zero Hunger, 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, 13: Climate Action, or 15: Life on Land.
Projects must have started within the last two years, be active for at least one year with measurable outcomes, and be submitted via the official Application Form by April 1, 2025, at 12:00 CET. INC members may submit one project per category or two for both.
Submissions will be evaluated on industry relevance, sustainability impact, and innovation and the winner will be selected by INC leadership.
Take this opportunity to showcase your commitment to sustainability and let your efforts shine on a global stage! The winner will be announced on stage at the INC Congress in Mallorca!
The Award for Excellence in Sustainability honors projects and organizations making significant contributions to sustainability, with two categories: Back to the Planet and Back to the People.
Back to the Planet: Honoring initiatives focused on environmental sustainability, including climate action, biodiversity conservation, and responsible resource management.
Back to the People: Recognizing efforts that prioritize social sustainability, such as community support, livelihood enhancement, and workplace well-being.
The INC Leadership will evaluate projects based on originality, relevance, impact, and innovation. Winners will be announced at the INC Congress in Palma de Mallorca and featured in Nutfruit magazine and INC publications, showcasing their achievements to a global audience. [Read More]
The Award for Excellence in Sustainability honors exceptional projects and organizations that have made significant and inspiring contributions to sustainability. Reflecting the diverse dimensions of sustainability, the award is divided into two distinct categories: Back to the Planet and Back to the People. Each category showcases innovative efforts that inspire progress and exemplify sustainability in action.
- Back to the Planet: recognizes initiatives demonstrating outstanding commitment to environmental stewardship. Winners of this award contribute to the preservation of our planet and inspire others in the industry to adopt eco-friendly practices of their own.
- Back to the People: celebrates projects that embody social responsibility, fostering community engagement, improving livelihoods, and promoting equitable practices. Award winners showcase a holistic approach to sustainability, blending environmental conservation with social justice, setting ethical business standards, and inspiring positive change across the sector.
The purpose of this award is to recognize a project and company/organization that has made a remarkable contribution and can serve as an inspiration in the field of sustainability. The deadline for applications was March 25, 2025. The INC received 14 applications of projects implemented or being conducted in 10 countries. The projects will be assessed on the basis of their interest, relevance, impact and innovative approach, among other things. The projects will be review by experts in the field of sustainability and the winner will be announced at the INC Congress in Vancouver.
The Award for Excellence in Sustainability recognizes projects and companies/organizations that have made a remarkable contribution and can serve as an inspiration in the field of sustainability. Intending to recognize the diversity of projects in the field of sustainability, the award has been divided into two distinct categories: Back to the Planet and Back to the People. The planet category recognizes initiatives that demonstrate remarkable dedication to environmental stewardship, while the people category celebrates initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility and community engagement. The INC received 14 applications for projects from 10 countries, which were peer reviewed by experts in the field of sustainability. The winners were as follows:
Back to the Planet: The Almond Project, Treehouse California Almonds, USA
Back to the People: LIMBUA, Limbua Group Limited, Kenya
The applicants for the 2024 Sustainability Award were as follows:
- A First Step for Fruit d’Or Towards Solar Energy and the Valorization of Thermal Waste, Fruit d’Or, Canada
- Factory Energy Sustainability, Qingdao Prima Farm Foods Co., Ltd., China
- LIMBUA, LIMBUA Group Limited, Kenya
- Modular Green Nitrogen Fertiliser Production Project – An Elixir of Life for the Kenya Macadamia Industry, Kenya Nut Company, Kenya
- Modified Atmosphere Packaging, Masterpack Group, Netherlands
- Agroecological and Climate Management Plan, NOGAM, Portugal
- ForestGap, Siberian Cedar Eco-Factory, LLC, Russia
- Creating Impact for People and Planet, Olam Food Ingredients (ofi), Singapore
- Regenerative Organic Certified Tropical Dried Fruits, HPW AG, Switzerland
- Preventing Child Labour, Durak Hazelnuts, Türkiye
- BDG Climate-Smart Program, Blue Diamond Growers, USA
- Beekeeping with Smallholder Cashew Farmers in Ghana, Red River Foods Intl., USA
- The Almond Project, Treehouse California Almonds, USA
- Vann Bros / Vann Family Orchards Sustainability Program, Vann Bros / Vann Family Orchards, USA
The winner of the XL World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, in London, May 22-24 was ofi.
ofi’s project is more than a decade of establishing and implementing programs to improve the environmental and social impact of almonds, cashews and hazelnuts. Most recently, they’ve launched dedicated sustainability strategies with 2030 targets, focusing on the highly specific challenges of each supply chain: the Cashew Trail in June 2021, the Hazelnut Trail in December 2021, and the Almond Trail in July 2022.
In 2008, they formed the first farmer group in Côte d’Ivoire to provide traceability. With their customers and partners including GIZ, ComCashew and Gain, ofi has already supported 50,000 smallholder cashew farmers in Africa and Asia through 24 sustainability projects with more than 15 partners. In Vietnam, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria they have trained more than 21,000 farmers on good agricultural practices in 2022. They have distributed approx. 1 million USD premium to small farm holders to support their livelihood. Around 80,000 beneficiaries have been reached through their health and nutrition programs organized within cashew communities.
In 2018, ofi worked with farmers and labour contractors in its supply chain to introduce labour contracts for hazelnut harvest workers —a first for the hazelnut sector, and also for Türkiye’s agriculture sector. They have renovated worker houses in selected villages to provide seasonal workers with access to basic services, such as clean water, electricity, proper toilets and bathrooms. In partnership with the International Labor Organisation (ILO), Ministry of Education of Turkish Republic, and local governorships they have established 24 summer schools for children of seasonal workers, attended by 339 children in 2022. Since 2013 they’ve had extensive sustainability programs happening on the ground in Türkiye, supporting over 20,000 hazelnut farmers.
Sustainability programs in their Almond business kicked off in 2014 with their Bee Friendly farming and continued with initiatives in the area of water, healthy ecosystems and biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions reduction and supporting communities in almond growing regions.
To see the applications for the 2023 Sustainability Award click the button below.
