Marca by BolognaFiere & Adm presents the new edition of the Marca Awards

Marca by BolognaFiere & Adm, taking place on 13 and 14 January 2027 in Bologna, presents the new edition of the Marca Awards, the competition organised in collaboration with Edizioni DM, a publishing group specialising in retail and private label, which promotes product innovations and industrial expertise for the development of private label.

In the 2026 edition, the more than 300 products participating in the Marca Awards were displayed in the Marca Trend Area, the space dedicated to private-label trends and innovations. Building on this experience, the Marca Awards 2027 are expanding their scope with new categories, updated evaluation criteria and an innovative initiative developed through a partnership with Adi (Associazione per il Disegno Industriale), in line with the evolution of the market and the needs of modern organised distribution.

This growth reinforces the role of Marca by BolognaFiere & Adm as the only point of reference for the sector in Italy and one of the leading ones internationally, offering the market a new opportunity to identify and promote product innovations and industrial partners that contribute to the development of private label.

The competition is divided into two complementary award categories.

Best Innovation Product

This award is dedicated to recently launched or soon-to-be-launched private-label products, with particular attention to innovation content and internationalisation potential.

For 2027, the selection is structured into 12 product categories, designed to best represent all the sectors and trends of private label: Bakery Products, Pasta and Rice, Beverages, Dressings, Sauces, Spreads and Oil, Snacks and Confectionery Products, Fresh Products (meat and fish), Dairy Products, Fresh Produce (fruit and vegetables), Plant-Based, Free From, Alternative and Organic Products, Frozen Foods, Home Care, Health and Beauty, Pet Products.

One of the new features of this edition is the special category dedicated to packaging, created in collaboration with Adi – Associazione per il Disegno Industriale. The winning project in this special category may access the first selection for the Adi Design Index 2027, offering the product an unmissable opportunity for visibility in the Italian industrial design landscape.

Participation in the Best Innovation Product is reserved exclusively for companies exhibiting at Marca by BolognaFiere & Adm 2027.

Best Private Label Partner

Promoted by PL Magazine of Edizioni DM, the award represents the evolution of the long-standing Best Copacker Profile and celebrates the value of the manufacturing partners that contribute to the creation, management and protection of private label.

The industrial partners will be evaluated in 6 qualitative categories: Sustainability, Quality & Reliability, Brand Care, Collaboration with Retail, Flexibility & Time-to-Market, Supply Chain & Service. These are joined by the overall title of Best Private Label Partner Overall.

Participation in the Best Private Label Partner is open both to companies exhibiting at the event and to non-exhibiting companies.

The evaluation methodology combines qualitative questionnaires, jury assessment and standardised objective indicators, enabling companies of different sizes to compete on the basis of consistent criteria.

Participation opportunities

Applying for the Marca Awards offers an important opportunity for visibility before, during and after the event. This year too, all admitted products and company profiles will be displayed in Bologna during the event in the Marca Trend Area. The project also includes communication activities through the channels of Marca by BolognaFiere & Adm and the event's and Edizioni DM group's partner publications: PL Magazine and Distribuzione Moderna. The finalists of the Marca Awards will also be displayed at Marca China and Marca Poland 2027.

To register for the Marca Awards 2027, click here. The deadline is set for 20 November 2026.

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.