#food-innovation

#food-innovation

CHICAGO - October 22, 2025 - The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show® has officially opened submissions for the 2026 Food and Beverage (FABI) Awards, honoring products that redefine culinary innovation and transform foodservice menus. The prestigious awards celebrate breakthroughs that set industry trends and inspire new dining experiences. Recipients will be recognized at the National Restaurant Association Show, taking place May 16-19, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago.

In the 1940s, gluten was identified as the trigger for celiac disease, and in the decades since, more and more people have realized that even if they didn't have celiac, they might be slightly or significantly gluten intolerant. Cue the rise of gluten-free diets and products in the 1990s and early aughts, with many a terrible gluten-free muffin, cupcake and bowl of pasta consumed along the way.

Social media has transformed the culinary landscape by creating a shared language around food, influencing how we perceive and enjoy dining experiences.

After months of meticulous R&D, testing, and tasting, we landed on a savory-sweet blend that celebrates the tomato in all its glory, said Lori Primavera, vice president of R&D and product marketing at Smoothie King.

I think it became a voice for a certain part of Los Angeles and a certain part of immigration and a certain part of life that wasn't really out there in the universe. We all knew it, and we all grew up with it, and it was all around us, but the taco kind of pulled it together.

The Cheez-It x Wendy's Baconator collaboration introduces a limited-edition cracker inspired by the famous Baconator cheeseburger, featuring flavors of smoky, meaty, and cheesy goodness.

Pilot Project serves as an incubator of small brewers, leasing out its space and equipment to jump-start businesses and offering beers from different brands inside its taproom.

George Duran was genuinely awestruck when he discovered finger limes, exclaiming, 'Why have I never heard of this? This is the coolest thing I've ever tasted!'. His reaction mirrored that of Jim Shanley, founder of Shanley Farms, upon his first encounter with this unique fruit nearly two decades ago.

General Mills has decided to discontinue three flavors of Cheerios to introduce new products, including the Cheerios Protein line that features innovative flavors.

"This was just a byproduct of growing up very, very poor. We couldn't afford to go get all the different condiments out there. We used barbecue sauce on everything."

"So I set out to grow a brand that was built around products specifically designed for use by kids," he shared on Noshi's website.

Yancey's history with cheese-making crossed with the legacy of Pabst Blue Ribbon creates a nostalgic tip of the hat to the long history of cheese and beer as counterparts.

DiGiorno's Wood Fired Style Crust Pizza offers an authentic pizzeria experience with crispy edges, light char, and chewy texture, crafted without complex prep.

Gonanas offers a unique banana bread mix, emphasizing better ingredients and easy preparation, targeting those with dietary restrictions without sacrificing taste.

For more than 125 years, Campbell's Foodservice has been a trusted partner to foodservice operators, bringing quality, convenience, and bold flavors to their kitchens.

Momofuku Ando believed 'Peace will come to the world when people have enough to eat', which remains central to Nissin's mission of providing accessible food.

Baskin-Robbins was founded by Burton Baskin and Irvine Robbins in the 1950s with the idea of offering 31 unique flavors to enjoy every day of the month.

Transform store-bought rotisserie chicken into something special with a Smashed Cucumber and Chicken Salad, allowing flavors to meld over time, enhancing the dish.

To create the world's largest Cadbury Creme Egg, we made it in two halves, hand-piped the wrapper inside the mold, and added the chocolate later.

Hormbles Chormbles may sound like gibberish, but this new kind of candy bar actually 'makes sense.' The brand's slogan, 'Make Candy Make Sense,' suggests a guilt-free alternative to a world full of sugar. Each bar of chocolate contains 10g of protein, 0g sugar, and just 100 calories.