The annual spicy condiment and snack food competition, hosted by the Internet's #1 chilihead forum, The Hot Pepper. The Hot Pepper Awards is the only awards competition of its kind that does not allow artificial ingredients to be added! Only the best will be awarded The Hot Pepper Award.
Why Enter?
Show the Industry and consumers that you have an award-winning product. When it carries the seal of The Hot Pepper Awards, it not only signifies a win, but a win in a competition that cares about quality! And how about exposure? Postings, press releases, advertising... what are you waiting for?
Categories:
Top categories include Hot Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Salsa, Dry Spice (seasonings, rubs, mixes...), Condiment (ketchup, mustard, steak sauce...), Sweet Condiment (jelly, jam, honey...), Snack/Sweet (jerky, chips, candy...), Extreme Product, and Open Class (miscellaneous hot). There are many sub-categories under each category. Categories may be altered due to entries. To take a look at last year's, go here.
Awards:
The Hot Pepper Award is the overall top category award. There are also 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards for sub-categories. Other awards include The Hybrid Pepper Award (innovation), The Picasso Pepper Award (labels/artwork), and The Offensive Pepper Award (most offensive product name).
Winners of The Hot Pepper Award will receive free advertising on thehotpepper.com. A 120x90 ad that rotates with the winners will appear on all pages in the header (example below and live on the page above). The ad will remain live until it is replaced with the following year's winners.
All Winners will receive a custom certificate that is perfect for framing (example below left) as well as website and print quality graphics in an array of sizes (example below right). All Winners will be announced on thehotpepper.com, the most popular chilihead community on the Internet, and each listing will include a link to the winner's website. We also submit press releases to news sites and blogs.
Rules:
Your product must have some heat. Mild is okay, but it must have some. This is The Hot Pepper Awards. It does not have to be from peppers, it can be from mustard, horseradish, etc.
No amateur entries. All entries must be commercially made (commercial kitchen, co-packer, mass-production) with labels[1] and tamper-free packaging, and be available for sale somewhere on the Internet[2], even if it's only your own website. We will ask for the sale link. If amateur entries or entries that appear unsafe for consumption are received they will be discarded and no refund will be given, so do not try to bend this rule.
The product entered must be your creation and one-of-a-kind. Do not send private-label products.
You must send two commercial size products for each entry. Commercial size means the size you sell, not samplers.
Do not send your products until the shipping window has opened. When the window is open you will receive an email with the form to fill out along with the address.
1. If you do not have labels it is okay, but that does not mean you can submit an amateur product.
2. If your product is not for sale on the Internet yet, you may still submit it, but you must have other products under that name brand for sale on the Internet, or a website that states where your products can be purchased.
Ingredient Restrictions:
No artificial colors or flavors. If colors are derived from a natural source they are allowable (caramel color, etc.).*
No preservatives except natural acids (citric, malic, ascorbic, etc.). Chemical and synthetic preservatives not allowed.*
No MSG.*
All other additives (emulsifiers, etc.) must be natural or derived from a natural source (guar gum, xanthan gum, etc.). Silicon dioxide is allowed.
Extracts (as in pepper extracts) are allowed.
*The only exception is if this is an ingredient of an ingredient, as in, you use a lemon juice that has a preservative, or a soy sauce that has MSG. As long as you are not adding artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives directly to your recipe, it is allowable.
If entries are ineligible due to not following the rules or restrictions a refund will not be given, so make sure your product is eligible. If you have questions, please contact us or review the FAQ.
Deadline: SUBMISSIONS CLOSED FOR 2008
Winners announced fourth quarter 2008.
Terms and conditions can change at any time. No refunds, please read the rules, restrictions, and FAQ.
Sponsors:
Please visit our sponsors, who help make The Hot Pepper Awards possible.
