Details
Gluten Free Awards & Guide Timeline
January 31 – Final day for monthly subscribers to join (for ballot eligibility)
April 30 – Annual payment deadline (for ballot eligibility)
May 15 – Late registration deadline (annual only, +$10% late fee)
June 30 – Product information due (SKUs, images, descriptions)
July 15 – Brand listing and ad proof review begins
August 1 – Public voting opens
August 15 – Final ad copy and changes due
August 31 – Public voting closes
November 15 – Gluten Free Buyer’s Guide is published with awards
Ad Specifications
Starter — $99/month or $999/year (2 months free)
Perfect for emerging brands ready to make their mark.
The Starter Tier is built for small but mighty food brands ready to gain traction in the market. This package delivers meaningful exposure, award eligibility, and real credibility — all at an accessible price point.
Included in the Starter Plan:
- List up to 5 products in our national Buyer’s Guide
- 1 social media post promoting your brand
- 1 email blast to our engaged consumer or industry audience
- 1 half-page ad in our print and digital guide
- Full award seal license for any products placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd
- Eligibility for feature in our national media partner, Gluten Free & More Magazine
- Estimated value: $1,200
Builder — $149/month or $1,499/year (2 months free)
Built for growing brands with a broader product lineup.
The Builder Tier gives expanding food brands more ways to shine. With support for up to 10 products and increased visibility through social and email marketing, it’s ideal for those ready to move from emerging to established.
Included in the Builder Plan:
- List up to 10 products in our national Buyer’s Guide
- 2 social media posts highlighting your brand
- 1 email blast to our curated audience of buyers or consumers
- 1 full-page ad in the Buyer’s Guide
- Full award seal license for any products placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd
- Eligibility for feature in our national media partner, Gluten Free & More Magazine
- Estimated value: $1,800
Accelerator — $249/month or $2,499/year (2 months free)
For fast-growing brands ready to scale and dominate their category.
The Accelerator Tier is designed for brands with a larger product line and an aggressive growth strategy. This plan gives you expanded visibility through social, email, and print — plus multiple product listings and ad placements to ensure you stay top-of-mind.
Included in the Accelerator Plan:
- List up to 20 products in our national Buyer’s Guide
- 5 social media posts spread across the awards cycle
- 2 email blasts promoting your brand or product family
- 1 half-page ad and 2 full-page ads in the Buyer’s Guide
- Full award seal license for any products placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd
- Eligibility for feature in our national media partner, Gluten Free & More Magazine
- Estimated value: $3,000
Unlimited — $399/month or $3,999/year (2 months free)
Maximum exposure for established or rapidly scaling brands.
The Unlimited Tier offers the highest level of visibility, flexibility, and support. With no cap on product listings and premium ad placements, this plan is designed for brands who want to dominate their category and maintain year-round momentum.
Included in the Unlimited Plan:
- Unlimited product listings in our national Buyer’s Guide
- 10 social media posts across multiple platforms
- 3 email blasts to our targeted audiences
- 3 full-page ads in our print and digital guide
- Full award seal license for any products placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd
- Eligibility for feature in our national media partner, Gluten Free & More Magazine
- Estimated value: $5,000+
Schedule a quick Chat
Schedule a time that works for you
Book a quick 30 minute call HERE
Product Listing Information - Due June 30th
Ensure your listing are in the correct category and spelled correctly using this product listing form.
2027 Gluten Free Award and Guide Product Listings (xlsx)
DownloadAd Specifications - Due August 15th
Digital and Print Ads
Digital Specs:
Ads must be at 300 dpi or higher
1125 px by 1125 px for half page and 1125 px by 2250 px for full page ads
Print Specs:
Ads must be at 300 dpi or higher
3.75" by 3.75" for half page and 3.75" by 7.5" for full page ads (no bleed)
Legal
Award Seal Usage Terms & Conditions
Brands that register products in the Gluten Free Buyer’s Guide Awards and place first, second, or third in their respective category are granted a non-transferable, non-exclusive right to use the corresponding “Winner” and “General” award seals in their promotional efforts. This includes use on product packaging, websites, printed materials, and official brand communications.
To retain the right to use the award seal, the following conditions must be met:
- Payment & Good Standing
The brand must be fully paid and in good standing with The Guided Buyer. Any unpaid balances or violations of program terms may result in immediate revocation of all rights to use the award seal.
- Product Integrity
The product must remain materially the same as when it was submitted for the award. For example, a product that won a Gluten Free Award must continue to meet gluten-free standards. Any reformulation or packaging change that misrepresents the awarded product will void the seal’s validity.
- Year-Specific Seal Use
The award seal is tied to the year it was awarded. For instance, a winner of the 2024 Gluten Free Award may use the 2024 seal for the life of that product, assuming compliance with all other terms. However, the 2024 seal cannot be used to imply an award in any other year. To use future years’ seals (e.g., 2026), the product must be re-entered and win again in that year’s program.
- Intellectual Property Rights
All award seals are the exclusive property of The Guided Buyer and are protected by trademark and copyright law. Unauthorized duplication, modification, or distribution of the seals is strictly prohibited.
- Policy Changes
The Guided Buyer reserves the right to update, modify, or amend these terms at any time, with immediate effect upon notice. Notice may be delivered through direct communication or by publishing updated terms on The Guided Buyer website. Continued use of the award seal constitutes acceptance of any such changes.
The Guided Buyer a Mad Pelican Marketing Company
210 Downy Dr, Hampstead, North Carolina 28443, United States
Copyright © 2010-2026 Mad Pelican Marketing All Rights Reserved.
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