Blackcurrant products contest

Since 2016, the International Blackcurrant Association organizes a “blackcurrant contest” every two years. Any company manufacturing traditional or innovative products with blackcurrants can take part in the contests.

WHERE, WHEN, WHAT?

The blackcurrant contests take place during our international blackcurrant conferences. There is no fixed date for these conferences, but our member country associations generally organize them in June.

The participants in the contest can present as much products as they want in three different categories:

  • Cassis, cordials, juices
  • Food products (Preserves, fruit leathers, pies, confectionary)
  • Functional food (nutraceutical products which offer proven health benefits, made from all elements of the blackcurrant fruit, backed by hard science)
WHY HAVING A BLACKCURRANT CONTEST?

During our meetings since the existence of the International Blackcurrant Association in 2008, we have noticed that many blackcurrant products exist in many countries. Nevertheless, only few products are available internationally. Every country thus has its blackcurrant specialties. But the range of products available per country is rather limited:

France mainly produces liqueurs (crème de cassis). United Kingdom’s blackcurrants mainly go into the production of Ribena. German customers will buy blackcurrant juices and blackcurrant nectars. In Poland, people eat blackcurrant jams. And in Japan, a country without commercial blackcurrant production, customers buy nutraceuticals made with blackcurrant extracts for a better eyesight. And this is how it goes in every country of the world. Of course, beside these mainstream products, there is always a small production of original and innovative blackcurrant products.

Anyhow, whatever the blackcurrant product is, it rarely crosses borders. And finally, it has difficulties to get into the habits of other countries.

This is the reason why we have started our blackcurrant contest: we show each other, the press and the public what processors can make with blackcurrants all over the world!

CONTEST = WINNERS

If we call it “blackcurrant contest”, this of course means that there are winners!

A team of 6 blackcurrant professionals examines, tastes, looks closely at each of the products behind closed doors. Each of them notes his or her comments on the general aspect, labels, content and taste (if applicable) of the samples. Meanwhile, all the participants of the conference can have a look at the other samples, which we openly display in the meeting rooms. A deliberation by the panel will determine one winner per category and an overall winner for an innovative product.

But not only the four winners take advantage of their participation: every exhibitor wins by displaying his/her product to the public – and may gain new customers, markets, and have publicity!

Blackcurrant product contest 2018, Angers, France

The second blackcurrant contest in Angers has put much focus on innovation. The organizers have therefore established a partnership with the local Higher School of Agriculture. 35 students have thus worked on the development of new blackcurrant products. They had received basic ingredients from our partners: blackcurrant IQF (Windmill Hill Fruits) , blackcurrant juice (Nectars de Bourgogne), natural blackcurrant flavor (Austria Juice), blackcurrant pepper (Nectars de Bourgogne), blackcurrant puree (Fruits Rouges & Co), blackcurrant leaves (PMA 28). Out of these basics, they prepared an amazing range of 11 tasty and innovative products, only waiting for commercialization by a big transforming company.

Together with these products not yet available in the market, we have tasted and tested a range of already existing products. They came from the Cassissium (France), La Piautre (France), MacKays Scottish Preserves (United Kingdom), Radnor Preserves (United Kingdom), Rocks (United Kingdom), White Heron Drinks (United Kingdom) and Windmill Hill (United Kingdom).

Prices were offered to the winners by the partners of the contest: Crédit Agricole and Giffard.

Contest Winners 2018

Drinks (Cassis, cordials, juices)
Food Products
Company Products

Blackcurrant Kefir, by Joséphine Morgand, Mathilde Souvestre and Louise Anselme

Dehydrated blackcurrant buds, by Guillaume Grousset and François-Xavier Sobczak

Winner of the blackcurrant product competition: Rock’s organic blackcurrant cordial

Blackcurrant product contest 2016, Ashford, United Kingdom

18 companies from 6 different countries participated in this first contest: Beneseed (Japan), Cassismanufaktur (Germany), Cassissium (France), Eric Méot (France), Klaus Brems (Germany), Lindemans (Belgium), MacKays Scottish Preserves (United Kingdom), Marmelure et Confitade (France), Naturège (France), Nectars de Bourgogne (France), Radnor Preserves (United Kingdom), Thatchers (United Kingdom), Trénel (France), Vitality (New Zealand), Voelkel (Germany), White Heron Drinks (United Kingdom), Windmill Hill Fruits (United Kingdom), Yeo Valley (United Kingdom)

Contest Winners 2016

Cassis, cordials, juices
Food Products
Functional Food
Innovative Products
young lady holding a bottle of Vedrenne Creme de cassis Nouvelle Recolte and the award of the blackcurrant contest 2016

Crème de cassis de Bourgogne IGP, Védrenne (Cassissium)

glass of Mackays Scottish blackcurrant preserve with the award of the blackcurrant contest 2016 in the background

Mackays Scottish blackcurrant preserve

bottle of Cassis+ by Naturege standing in front of the award for functional foods from the blackcurrant contest 2016

Cassis+, Naurège

Heiko Danner standing behind a table displaying a huge range of blackcurrant products and holding an award for the overall winner at the blackcurrant contest 2016

Overall winner for most innovative product (blackcurrant gummy bears): Cassismanufaktur