The competition

Culinary Ambassador
of Lower Saxony

Making quality visible. Opening doors to the market.

Culinary Ambassador of Lower Saxony 2026/27 award seal Culinary Ambassador of Lower Saxony organic award seal
Your benefits

What taking part
means for you

Recognised award
An independently verified mark of quality for your product packaging, your website and your communication with retailers.
Visibility in retail
Award-winning products enjoy better placement opportunities in food retail: in special promotions, on regional shelves or on in-store promotion days.
Network & reach
Access to the network of the Marketing Association of the Lower Saxony Agri-Food Industry (Marketinggesellschaft der niedersächsischen Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft e. V., MGN), with contacts in retail, politics and the media across Lower Saxony.
Genussbox & media presence
Award-winning products may be included in the Genussbox Niedersachsen tasting box: a prestigious gift for political and business occasions.
Apply now (German)
Taking part

Conditions of entry

Food producers with their registered office in Lower Saxony (commercial register entry). For large companies with several sites, it is sufficient for the relevant production facility to be located in Lower Saxony. The main ingredient must come from Lower Saxony, or a significant processing step must take place in Lower Saxony.
Processed foods from the following product categories: Non-alcoholic drinks, Beer, Bread, Spreads, Ice cream and dairy, Vinegar and oil, Pastries and cakes, Ready meals, Fish and seafood, Meat and sausages, Spices, Coffee and tea, Cheese, Snacks, Spirits, Mustard and sauces, Other alcoholic drinks, Sweets and desserts, Dry goods. Unprocessed primary products (e.g. individual apple varieties) are not eligible.
The competition is judged in two categories: conventional products and organic products. Each company may enter up to three products.
Products containing flavour enhancers (E620–E625) or other substitutes and additives that artificially enhance the product are not eligible. The list of ingredients may be requested as part of the assessment.
The entry fee is €250 per product for SMEs and €350 per product for non-SMEs (plus 19% VAT in each case). If a product wins an award, a further €250 (SMEs) or €350 (non-SMEs) is charged for use of the seal. The right of use is granted for an unlimited period.
Three product samples are required per product (for frozen or fresh products, initially one packaging sample). Samples are delivered at the entrant's expense and become the property of the MGN.
The award may only be used in relation to the award-winning product, not as a general company accolade. The right of use is granted for an unlimited period in accordance with the seal licence agreement.
Download the conditions of entry as a PDF (German)
Evaluation

How products are judged

1
Online application
You submit your products via the online form and send product samples to the MGN between 1 and 12 June.
2
Sensory tasting
The independent expert jury assesses each product in a sensory tasting: appearance, aroma, taste, consistency/texture and overall impression.
3
Origin verification (GfRS)
As an independent certification body, the Gesellschaft für Ressourcenschutz (GfRS) verifies the origin of the main ingredients or the place of processing in Lower Saxony.
4
Award
The results are documented. Winning products receive the award and are announced publicly.
The expert jury

Independent. Knowledgeable.
Passionate.

The evaluation lies in the hands of an independent expert jury. Every product entered is tasted.

Thomas Wohlfeld, Michelin-starred chef and jury member of the Culinary Ambassador of Lower Saxony award
Thomas Wohlfeld
Michelin-starred Chef & Restaurant Manager

Michelin star since 2022. His kitchen at Restaurant Handwerk thrives on regional produce, chosen uncompromisingly for quality and origin.

Kerstin Hintz, Regional Managing Director of Bioland Niedersachsen/Bremen and jury member
Kerstin Hintz
Regional Managing Director, Bioland Niedersachsen/Bremen

From field to plate: Kerstin Hintz knows the value chain from her own experience in hospitality and long-standing work with producers across Lower Saxony.

Prof. Dr. Daniel Mörlein, Professor of Product Quality and jury member
Prof. Dr. Daniel Mörlein
Professor of Product Quality, University of Göttingen

As Professor of Product Quality, he assesses foods with an expert eye and palate for sensory quality, craftsmanship and production: rigorous, precise and across the entire value chain.

Kevin Schneevoigt, food retailer and jury member
Kevin Schneevoigt
Food Retailer, Hanover Region

As a retailer, he stands between producer and customer every day. His team visits suppliers on their farms: at Schneevoigt, regional sourcing is everyday practice.

Karin Tischer, trend researcher and food specialist, jury member
Karin Tischer
Trend Researcher & Food Specialist

Managing Director of food & more in Kaarst and one of Germany's leading voices on food trends. She knows which products capture the mood of the moment.

Patronage

A word from the
Minister-President

Olaf Lies, Minister-President of Lower Saxony, in front of the State Chancellery in Hanover
Olaf Lies
Minister-President
of Lower Saxony
Photo: Ole Spata / Staatskanzlei Niedersachsen (State Chancellery)
“

Lower Saxony stands for a strong and diverse food industry. High-quality products are made in every region of our state, from traditional specialities to innovative new products. Behind all of them are committed businesses that contribute to Lower Saxony's culinary profile with craftsmanship, creativity and a deep connection to their region.

The “Culinary Ambassador of Lower Saxony” competition makes this remarkable diversity visible. It honours foods that impress through their taste and quality and have a direct link to Lower Saxony, whether through regional ingredients or production within the state.

I am delighted to take on the patronage of this competition this year, and I warmly invite all businesses in Lower Saxony's food industry to enter their products. The “Culinary Ambassador of Lower Saxony” award is valuable recognition of quality, dedication and the good food of our state.

I wish all entrants every success and look forward to many outstanding products from every region of Lower Saxony.

Hanover, March 2026
Olaf Lies
Minister-President of Lower Saxony
Rules

Using the award

The award may only be used for the award-winning product, not as a general company accolade.
Every award bears the year of the competition in which it was won. To update it, you need to enter again.
The composition of the product must not be changed after the award. Details are set out in the seal licence agreement.
Apply now (German)
Take part now

Your product deserves
this award.

Apply now for the 2026/27 competition and make your quality visible.

Apply now (German)