The Chicago-based National Restaurant Association is accepting applications for the 2014 FABI Awards. The FABI Awards program recognizes and celebrates food and beverage manufacturers that advance the industry through innovation in ingredients, preparation, processing and/or packaging. An independent panel of expert judges will select the award recipients, which will be showcased at NRA Show 2014 on May 17-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

“Successful operators continually seek and adopt new products that reflect consumer trends, are highly marketable and can add incremental value and benefits to their operations,” says Mary Pat Heftman, NRA’s executive vice president, convention & strategic alliances. “The FABI Awards were created to identify emerging products that operators can use to enhance their business.”

“We are looking for trailblazing products that will help drive customer satisfaction and profitability for restaurants,” says John Li, senior vice president, research & development, Bloomin’ Brands Inc., and FABI Awards judge. “I have seen how introducing a FABI Award can contribute to improving operators’ businesses. That is why it is so important to bring these cutting-edge innovations to the forefront of the industry.”

The application 2014 FABI Awards deadline is Jan. 10. To be considered, all food and beverage products (new food or beverage product can include the packaging or delivery system) must be introduced in the U.S. foodservice marketplace between Jan. 1, 2013 and May 17, 2014. The innovative product must meet four criteria:

• Unique with meaningful differentiation
• Superior to directly competing products
• Documentation for claims made and proof of performance
• Deliver significant benefit(s) to targeted operators as judged by the panel

Visit Restaurant.org/Show/FABI to view the online application and to see a list of previous award recipients.