Who is eligible?
To be eligible to enter, businesses must:
- Have started to trade on or before 16th April 2025.
- Be a business based within Wales.
- Pay business rates to their local council within Wales.
The Judging Process
Entry into the Food and drink Awards Wales has been designed to be as simple as possible.
Applications are to be received by midnight on 13 February 2026.
Following receipt of entries, the judges will draw up a shortlist of a minimum of three finalists for each award.
The shortlist will be announced in February. Shortlisted companies will then be invited to be interviewed by a panel of judges (which will also include the category judge and an independent judge). The interviews will be the process by which the winner of each category is chosen.
The interview should take no longer than 15 minutes. A 5-minute presentation and 10 minutes of Q&A. No computer aids are allowed.
The decision of the judges is final regarding all categories for the Wales Food and Drink Business Awards.
Timeline for the awards:
Deadline for Entry – 13th February 2026
Shortlist Announced – 18th February 2026
Judging Interviews – w/c 9th March 2026
Winners Announced – 16th Aril 2026
