Highlights from SIAL Innovation 2026

SIAL Innovation Jury co-chair

Isabelle Marquis, Dt.P.

Food Communication, Marketing and Innovation Strategist

"The show was once again filled with innovation this year, with a few notable trends. First, we observed strong momentum in the beverage sector, which has been experiencing significant growth for some time now.

Reducing sugar content, keeping ingredient lists simple, and adding prebiotic fibers were recurring attributes across many of these products. The local aspect was also strongly highlighted, regardless of the product’s origin, serving both as a mark of authenticity and as an invitation to discover regional flavors and expertise. Finally, sustainability continues to gain ground in the food industry.

Many outstanding products successfully combined these attributes with strong pleasure-driven benefits and were presented by a wide variety of companies, clearly demonstrating that this trend is far from slowing down."

The 4 award-winning SIAL Innovation 2026 products

Congratulations to the exhibitors who stood out through the excellence of their innovations.

Unsweetened Banana Milk

KUNANA

Selected for its use of whole downgraded bananas, a truly sustainable approach that transforms a previously discarded product into an innovative, 100% Canadian dairy alternative.

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Black Garlic Sauce (Soy Sauce Style)

LA TERRE DU 9

Selected for the richness of its Quebec-grown black garlic, offering a genuine local alternative to traditional soy sauce while addressing current concerns related to food allergies.

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Flavoured Butters in Aluminum Capsules

LES BEURRÉS

Selected for their 100% recyclable single-serve packaging, which minimizes waste and ensures precise portions, an innovation designed for both consumers and chefs.

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Lion’s Mane Mushroom Steak

LION'S MANE MUSHROOM COMPANY

Selected for this unique 100% plant-based steak made from lion’s mane mushroom, combining rich umami flavour with a tender, meaty texture and offering a bold alternative in the plant-based protein category.

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Rediscover the 10 finalists

Our press release

Relive the competition in video

What the winners receive

Beyond industry recognition, the winners benefit from increased visibility and access to NielsenIQ tools and expertise, including consumer reports, market analyses, and exclusive sessions with industry experts.

A special thank you to our jury co-chairs, Isabelle Marquis, nutritionist and senior food strategist, and Xavier Terlet, Managing Director of Proteines XTC, for their commitment and expertise.

Meet all the jury members

The SIAL Podcast x The Food Professor: Special Episode

An interview featuring the Gold Award winner of the SIAL Innovation competition, Kunana, and jury co-chair Isabelle Marquis, discussing sustainable innovation, food entrepreneurship, and the major economic challenges facing the agri-food sector.

Listen now

Competition partners

Exhibit at SIAL Canada 2027

Join the next edition from April 27–29, 2027, in Toronto and connect with key players across the North American agri-food industry.