Applications for the Fifth Annual Shelfie Awards are Opening Soon!
In 2021, Startup CPG began conducting the largest free awards program exclusively for emerging CPG brands: The Shelfie Awards. The Shelfie Awards’ goal is to give exceptional small CPG brands an opportunity to be seen, and get recognition they deserve. The Shelfies eliminate typical hurdles involved in awards applications, creating opportunities for brands in their earliest stages. The Shelfies recognize + celebrate next-level product innovations, inspiring brand stories, and packaging that stops us in our tracks — we can’t wait to see what tricks you have up your CPG sleeves this year!
Everything You Need to Know to Apply to the 2025 Shelfie Awards:
- Everything you need to know lives in the 2025 Shelfies Guide
- Submissions begin February 1, 2025
- Refer to the Shelfies Guide to see which month we’ll review your category
- During that month, fill out the form and send in samples for your product to our Shelfies judges
- If you have any issues with scheduling your samples to arrive within the assigned month, please email community@startupcpg.com
- You don’t want to miss out on this incredible opportunity to turn your emerging brand into the next big thing!
Hear What Past Winners Have to Say:
“Winning the Shelfies Award was instrumental to the launch of Popadelics Crunchy Mushroom Chips! Namely – we were awarded only a few months after we launched the very first version of our product, and it was also our first external product award (the first of many!). Being honored provided us with the confidence and validation we needed to enter our product for more awards programs, which led to us becoming an Expo West NEXTY finalist, and go all-in on pursuing retail, which eventually led us to now be on the shelf of over 3,000 stores, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, The Fresh Market, CVS, and more. Thank you so much to the Startup CPG team and community for being some of our first and most passionate supporters!”
“Winning the Startup CPG Shelfie Award was an incredible milestone for Pink Salt and our Nam Prik Pao. This recognition not only validated the hard work and passion we pour into our brand, but it also reminded me that even in the loneliness of building something from the ground up, there’s a vibrant community cheering you on. The support and excitement from Startup CPG and fellow creators has been heartwarming and empowering. The award has put us on the radar for businesses and vendors I’m eager to collaborate with, opening up new opportunities for growth. It also brought a tangible boost in sales and visibility across all our channels, helping us connect with even more people who share our love for Thai flavors. Thank you again, Startup CPG, for spotlighting small brands like ours and creating a community where we can thrive together!”
The 2025 Shelfie Awards are powered by Social Nature and Green Spoon
At Social Nature, we’re all about removing barriers to help emerging brands get discovered at retail. We drive demand for your product by directing qualified shoppers to your target retail stores, helping your product get discovered and stay on the shelf. CPG brands appreciate the detailed reviews and real-time redemption data, filtered by retailer and store location, to track campaign impact. Shoppers enjoy instant cash back and the chance to provide feedback directly to the brand.
Green Spoon is a national natural food & beverage brokerage company that represents the most disruptive & exciting consumer packaged goods in the industry. We work with like-minded brands and people that share the common desire to shake things up. In 2023, Green Spoon saw the need for a more curated broker experience for emerging brands. One that provided an elevated level of strategy with extra support along the way. From here, Take Root was founded. Take Root serves as a “pre-broker” for brands looking to jumpstart their CPG journey with dedicated focus on natural retailers at affordable costs.
Startup CPG is the biggest CPG community on the planet with over 22k members. We believe in the massive potential of small consumer brands — and have made it our mission to empower them along their journey. Startup CPG connects emerging brands to resources, industry partners, and the most supportive community in the industry.
Through our online community on Slack, our in-person events, and our media and resources — podcast, databases, webinars, and more — Startup CPG brings major opportunities to emerging brands at NO COST. JOIN US!
