The organic industry sees the return of the BOOM Awards, as Soil Association Certification partners with leading online retailer Ocado to celebrate the best of the organic market in 2025.
Back for the eighth year, the BOOMs (Best of Organic Market), are expanding to celebrate excellence with new improved categories across organic farming, beauty & wellbeing, fashion & textiles and food & drink, giving an opportunity for organic-certified businesses to showcase their products and initiatives, celebrate success, generate media coverage and increase sales and listings.
This year will see streamlined product categories, together with the new, free to enter, public-facing Organic For All Awards celebrating those who are making organic more affordable, available and accessible. Entrants will also enjoy a chance to meet the buying team of the headline sponsor of the awards, Ocado, for a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitch.
In addition, new for 2025 is the Ocado Roots Award celebrating the Ocado Roots Programme, designed to support and showcase start-ups and challenger brands. Organic Food and Drink, and Beauty and Wellbeing entrants can opt-in for free for this award. They must be a micro or small business with less than £10m annual turnover.
Ocado Retail Product Director Simon Hinks said: “Ocado Retail is delighted to be the headline sponsor for the BOOM awards. We know the positive impacts of growing and consuming organic foods – for our customers, suppliers, farmers and growers – that’s why we offer the largest Organic range of any UK supermarket and have a transformative partnership with the Soil Association.”
Entry to the BOOMs is open to all certified organic businesses from Monday 2nd December. For 2025, the first product entry is free for any small Soil Association-certified businesses (Certified organic sales under £250K and limited to one free entry per business) with generous support from Headline Sponsor Ocado Retail. And there is also a 10% discount for early bird business who submit their entries in December.
Soil Association Certification Commercial Director Alex Cullen said: “The Best of Organic Market Awards are the UK’s only awards that recognise and celebrate the organic industry. The BOOM’s honour the brands, businesses and people behind the UK’s organic food and farming, championing innovation and celebrating those who create exceptional organic products.
“We are super excited to announce that this year we launching the Organic For All Awards which reflect the wider campaign we launched across the sector to make organic more affordable, available and accessible. These will celebrate those individuals and businesses who are making the biggest difference in their organic sphere whether farmers, organic ambassadors, supply chain leaders and those working to get organic on the menu in schools, workplaces and public sector catering settings.
“We will also be looking for the best organic gardener and asking the public to vote for their favourite organic product. There really is something for everyone who is proud to be involved in organic.”
2024 has seen the acceleration of growth in the UK organic market as the organic food and drink market grew 6.4% in the year to 24 August compared to non-organic’s 5.4%. Most – 59% – of supermarket shoppers regularly buy organic and 70% of shoppers say they are willing to pay more for sustainable grocery brands.
Maria Dawson, Managing Director of 2023 Winner Clearspring, said: “The Awards are a great way to showcase the very best in innovation and commitment to sustainability. It has helped Clearspring highlight our dedication to organic as well as flavour, authenticity and quality whilst reaching even more new customers with our range of premium Japanese and organic foods.”
Judging will take place in April and May 2025, with the awards ceremony taking place in July. For more information please visit https://www.soilassociation.org/boomawards
