Turning up the Heat
Turning Up The Heat with The National Chilli Awards
inkREADible are delighted to announce that we are teaming up with one of the spiciest new award competitions on the scene - The National Chilli Awards! We spoke to Jay, one of the fiery founders, to get the low-down on what makes a scorching hot entry, why these awards are such red-hot entertainment, the attraction of glowing award medal stickers, and all the other sizzling fun that keeps this event burning bright.
Tell us a bit about Clifton Chilli Club and how the National Chilli Awards came about?
Clifton Chilli Club was started 16 years ago by a small group of chilli enthusiasts. We all had different backgrounds but unified over the mighty fruit! Initially, we were just messing around with chillies and testing our limits; however, that quickly evolved into an organisation that would provide a range of services, education and entertainment centred around chillies. These days, we run chilli eating contests at festivals, provide recipes for magazines, deliver educational talks on chilli, demonstrate how to cook with chillies, consult on TV shows and movies, and much more! We have a healthy following on our YouTube channel, and much of what we do can be viewed there.
What are the values or qualities you look for in chilli products when judging?
Products are judged on their appearance, aroma, texture and, most importantly, taste. Whilst we love innovation, what we’re ultimately looking at is whether the chilli has been used well, and the right chilli has been used. A product doesn’t need to be crazy hot; it just needs to taste good and have the chilli at its heart.
Why are physical award stickers such a big deal for winners?
It’s bragging rights! Producers love to show off their achievements, and rightly so. Stickers can help catch the eye of the wandering public and spark their curiosity. Those producers who enter annually could win multiple awards, which in turn shows that they can be consistent with their production.
What led you to choose inkREADible Labels as your supplier for the award medal labels?
Each year, we have received more and more enquiries from the winners of the National Chilli Awards, asking if we sell award medal stickers. We felt it was time we acted on this valuable feedback. Whilst we were aware of inkREADible Labels, we hadn’t started looking for a supplier until one of your lovely staff happened to drop us an email. It was perfect timing! We had a good chat and liked the vibe from your company, so we decided to get you involved.
Any advice for those considering entering the National Chilli Awards?
There’s a couple of things to consider. Some like to pick their products in the hope of an award, and if that’s your aim, then pick your very best! However, some enter the awards for the feedback. All of our judges take the time to try each product and write down their constructive thoughts. Any product that doesn’t achieve a gold award will be given reasons why and what could be adjusted. It’s common for us to receive entries that are purely focused on the feedback, rather than the possibility of winning an award.
The other piece of advice we’d give is to describe your product to the judges when you complete your entry form. We get too many generic descriptions that don’t help. For example, saying that a product is ‘a taste sensation and family favourite’ tells us nothing about the flavours. Instead, if a participant were to enter, say, a hot wing sauce, a description such as ‘A tangy, buttery sauce with sweet notes from the Cayenne chilli and a balanced heat’ would help us much more. Lastly, anyone considering entering can do so here: LINK
What’s next for the National Chilli Awards or Clifton Chilli Club?
The National Chilli Awards are now open until the end of February 2026. After that, we immediately start with the judging, collating the feedback and announcing the awards.
As for Clifton Chilli Club, we’re currently planning our 2026 events calendar. Our services take us around the world, and there’s a lot of logistical planning that goes on behind the scenes. There’s never a dull moment!
Proud to Partner with the National Chilli Awards
The inkREADible team are thrilled to be on this journey, supplying award medal labels to the National Chilli Awards. We look forward to seeing amazing products proudly bragging with award stickers as fine as the products themselves. Here’s to celebrating the makers who bring the sizzle and the spice - and to an awards season that’s guaranteed to be scorchingly unforgettable.
Order your free sample pack
The National Chilli Awards highlight how strong branding and eye-catching award labels help producers stand out. Order your free sample pack today and see the difference for yourself.
