Celebrating its 10th edition in January 2026, the Prix EY de l’Agroalimentaire introduces a brand-new award, the “Prix coup de cœur du jury à l’export”, to spotlight remarkable international achievements in the French agri-food sector.

Marking its tenth anniversary in 2026, the Prix EY de l’Agroalimentaire has become a benchmark for excellence within France’s agri-food industry. Created by the Association nationale des industries alimentaires (ANIA) and EY, the initiative recognises the outstanding performance of companies across the food sector – from independent producers to subsidiaries of global groups. Over the years, the prize has celebrated names such as Léa Nature, La Belle Iloise, Ferrero, Barilla, and Mars Wrigley, each embodying innovation, resilience, and responsible growth.

Ten Years of Recognising Agri-Food Excellence
For a decade, EY’s teams have worked closely with company leaders, conducting in-depth interviews to understand the milestones of each year. Candidates are assessed according to four key criteria:

  • strategic adaptability,
  • sectoral performance,
  • employment contribution,
  • corporate social responsibility (CSR).

These categories capture the essence of what makes France’s agri-food sector so dynamic — its ability to balance economic performance with social and environmental commitment. 

A woman wearing a mustard-yellow suit leans on a brown chair with lemons placed in a red net bag, against a yellow background.

A new spotlight on international success

This year marks an exciting evolution for the awards, as ANIA and EY, in collaboration with SIAL Paris, unveil a brand-new category: the Prix coup de cœur du jury à l’export (Jury’s Choice for Export). The addition underscores the growing importance of internationalisation in a sector that contributes €250 billion annually to the French economy and employs more than half a million people.

The new award aims to honour a company whose global trajectory stands out for its vision, innovation, and impact beyond France’s borders. It will celebrate those who have successfully translated the excellence of French savoir-faire into international markets — from product adaptation and logistics to brand storytelling that resonates worldwide.

 

Partnering with SIAL Paris: A Global Showcase
By partnering with SIAL Paris, one of the world’s leading food innovation exhibitions, the award gains an even stronger global dimension. SIAL Paris serves as an international platform for business exchange, innovation, and inspiration, bringing together more than 7,800 exhibitors and 300,000 professionals from around the globe. Through this collaboration, ANIA and EY reaffirm their commitment to promoting French agri-food expertise on the world stage, where quality, authenticity, and innovation are increasingly sought after.

Recognising leadership, sustainability, and innovation

Beyond this new addition, the 2026 edition will feature five distinctions presented during ANIA’s annual ceremony on 28 January 2026 at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris. Alongside the Prix coup de cœur du jury à l’export, the jury will also award the Grand Prix de l’Agroalimentaire, the Prix de la Performance Remarquable, the Prix de l’Avenir, and the Prix de l’Engagement Sociétal et Environnemental.

The selection process remains rigorous and collaborative. Throughout autumn 2025, EY’s teams will evaluate candidates and conduct interviews before a panel of experts led by Jean-François Loiseau, President of ANIA, supported by key industry figures such as Erika Le Noan (Dammann Frères), Miloud Benaouda (Barilla Europe de l’Ouest), and Annick Castelain (Brasserie Castelain). Their combined experience ensures that each award reflects not only business success but also the values and resilience shaping the future of food.

Building a better working (and eating) world

For EY, this initiative aligns with its broader purpose of Building a better working world. With over 400,000 professionals worldwide, EY supports organisations in navigating complex transformations through expertise spanning assurance, consulting, strategy and transactions, and tax. The firm’s commitment to responsible growth, innovation, and digital trust – including its unified AI platform, EY.ai – resonates deeply with the agri-food sector’s own transition toward sustainability and transparency.

As EY continues to guide companies through the challenges of globalisation, regulation, and digital transformation, the Prix EY de l’Agroalimentaire stands as a testament to the firm’s belief in progress built on collaboration, leadership, and purpose. For ANIA, which represents 20,000 companies across France through its national and regional associations, these awards offer an opportunity to showcase the vitality of an industry that remains the country’s leading employer and a cornerstone of its cultural and economic identity.

Celebrating the Future of French Agri-Food
Together, ANIA, EY, and SIAL Paris are not only celebrating today’s success stories but also inspiring the next generation of agri-food champions — those who will carry French excellence to new horizons, one export at a time.

Application deadline: 31 October 2025 to Julien du Boisgueheneuc at [email protected]

Image credit: ANIA 

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