Creating and running Europe’s first sports nutrition awards ceremony.
Background
Whitehouse Communications, in partnership with ESSNA (European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance), spotted a gap in the industry for an awards ceremony specifically dedicated to honouring sports nutrition brands, campaigns and organisations in Europe. The very first of its kind, our goal was to put on a ceremony that recognises excellence in a rapidly expanding and competitive industry. With meticulous planning and hard work, the event was successfully managed and delivered on 6 December at the Kia Oval in London.
Our strategy
To begin with, the focus of the strategy was sourcing an esteemed panel of professionals from diverse and well-informed backgrounds in order to ensure a fair, accurate and healthy competition, as well as sponsors and media partners to support the ongoing campaign. The awards categories, chosen by Whitehouse with the support of ESSNA Officers and members encompassed many different elements of the sports nutrition industry and the challenges faced by the sector today, including sustainability, innovation and consumer awareness. The team ensured that invitations were sent to all key stakeholders in the industry, as well as ensuring that all the biggest and best sports nutrition organisations in Europe were both encouraged to attend and enter their products into the awards categories. Another significant part of managing the event was the logistics in the run up to the event; Whitehouse created the all the literature, such as programmes, banners and digital marketing material, as well as organising entertainment, a guest speaker, producing presentations for the host of the awards ceremony, Adam Carey, and creating the physical awards. Throughout the campaign, which spanned six months in total, the team planned and successfully implemented an integrated digital and social media campaign in the lead up to, during and after the ceremony.
Outcome
Over 100 people from some of the world’s biggest and best sports nutrition brands and organisations attended and the event was a fantastic success. The ESSNawards was an opportunity for our winners to discuss their future projects and visions for the industry and the event will be back again next year to celebrate the sport nutrition pioneers of 2020. Feedback from our attendees was extremely positive but also gave the team ideas for improvement for next year. Winners included huge brands such as BASF, Nektium Pharma, SWARM Protein, Pharmako Biotechnologies, Myprotein and Nutrition X. The social media campaign saw engagement and reach rates increase sharply, as well as more generally expanding ESSNA’s social media presence. Overall, the event served to benefit the image and credibility of ESSNA and led to new membership enquiries and new business opportunities.
The Whitehouse Consultancy has delivered an event for the benefit of the biggest brands and organisations from the industry which will undoubtedly become a fixture in the sports nutrition calendar for years to come. The event was a fantastic success thanks to all the attendees, judges, sponsors, entrants and the huge efforts of the Whitehouse Team. Bring on the ESSNawards 2020!
