‘New and improved’ BOOMs return for 2025

Now in their eighth year, The Best of the Organic Market Awards (BOOMs) are back for 2025, with Soil Association Certification having opened voting on 2 December with an early bird discount of 10% for certified businesses which submit their applications this month.

Partnering once again with headline sponsor Ocado Retail for the UK’s only dedicated organic awards, Soil association Certification has adapted the BOOMs to include some ‘new and improved’ categories across organic farming, beauty and wellbeing, fashion and textiles, and food and drink. The changes are intended to fully reflect the spectrum of certified organic businesses ‘working to restore nature, health and a safe climate’.

While some categories have been streamlined, the BOOMs has been expanded to now feature the public-facing Organic For All Awards, which celebrate ‘those who are making organic more affordable, available and accessible’. Free to enter, Organic For All offers entrants a chance to engage with the Ocado buying team in a Dragons’ Den-style pitch, while food, drink, beauty and wellbeing brands can submit an additional free entry to the Ocado Roots Awards — an offshoot of the Ocado Roots Programme, designed to ‘support and showcase start-ups and challenger brands’ [micro or small businesses with less than £10 million annual turnover].

Organic For All

“We are super excited to announce that this year we’re launching the Organic For All Awards which reflect the wider campaign we launched across the sector to make organic more affordable, available and accessible,” comments Alex Cullen, Soil Association Certification commercial director. “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,” continues Cullen.

Simon Hinks, Ocado Retail product director, adds: “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.”

Other sponsors include English Tea Shop, Abel & Cole, RBOrganic and independent grain merchant Robin Appel.

CLEAR WINNERS

When the BOOMs last ran in 2023, Clearspring was awarded twice — for its Silken Tofu and Seaveg Crispies. Maria Dawson, MD (pictured second from left), says as a double award-winner her brand is ‘well placed to highlight some of the benefits of the BOOM Awards and encourage all organic producers and businesses to enter’. “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 is set to take place in April and May, followed by an awards ceremony in July. To enter your business visit The BOOM Awards homepage.

By Rosie Greenaway, editor