FDF Awards 2017 - Awards Shortlist highlights very best of Food and Drink Industry
20 July 2017
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has announced the shortlist for the Food and Drink Federation Awards 2017. Taking place on Thursday 21 September at The Brewery in London, the annual awards celebrate the success of the food and drink manufacturing industry and the dedication of the people who work in it.
This year's Awards finalists highlight the innovation, hard work, and commitment to quality that are hallmarks of the sector. Shortlists were chosen by expert panels of judges, specifically chosen for each category.
The people and organisations listed represent the great diversity of UK food and drink manufacturing. Nominees include talented individuals, well-loved brands and dynamic SMEs from across the country.
The Awards ceremony, which is sponsored by Santander, is a prestigious event bringing together around 500 guests from across the industry. The evening is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of winners and acts as a platform for knowledge sharing and networking.
This year's category sponsors are Santander, General Mills, Kite Packaging, Grant Thornton, Omron, Aktrion Food, Sheffield Hallam University, and PepsiCo.
FDF Awards 2017 Shortlist
Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by AKTRION FOOD): Bidfood – Elise Rawlins, Mondelēz International – Aaron Taylor, Mondelēz International – Ellie Marsh, Nestlé UK & Ireland – Calum Finn, Unilever Food Solutions – Megan Whitehouse, Weetabix Food Company – Tom Bird
Campaign of the Year: Birds Eye – Captain Birds Eye Campaign, KP Snacks – McCoy's: When Flavour Calls, Mars Chocolate UK – MALTESERS® celebrates diversity with ads that Look on the Light Side of disability, Premier Foods – Dysphagia Chef of the Year Programme, SlimFast – Works for Me, Spirax Sarco – Steam as an Ingredient
Community Champion (sponsored by Santander): Auntie Val's Kitchens Community Interest Company – Val Challis, Central England Co-operative – Neil Matthews, Ferrero UK – Wendy Staples, Coca-Cola European Partners Ltd – Victoria Prowse
Community Partner (sponsored by General Mills UK Ltd): apetito – Working in partnership with the Trowbridge's senior community, British Sugar – Values in Action Programme, Calbee – Community Engagement Programme, Coca-Cola Great Britain – ParkLives , Mondelez International – Health for Life, Plan Bee Ltd – #GenerationBee
Education Initiative: Central England Co-operative – SENse to Aspire Scheme, Ferrero UK – Move and Learn, Perth College UHI – Continuous Professional Development for Teachers and Lecturers - Food and Drink Manufacturing in Scotland, Radnor Hills Mineral Water Company – Healthy School Drinks Project, Weetabix Food Company – Apprenticeship Launch and Education establishment links, Working Options in Education
Environmental Leadership (sponsored by Kite Packaging): Agrico UK Ltd – Arsenal becomes a 'medicine for the land', Mars UK – Moy Wind Farm, Mars Food UK – New Office, Melton Foods in partnership with Veris Strategies – Cultivate - Sustainable Growth at Melton Foods, PepsiCo UK – 50 in 5, WRAP – The Courtauld Commitment 2025, The Wrigley Company – Waste to Boots and Energy
Exporter of the Year (sponsored by Santander): Bfree Foods, Crème d'Or Limited, Franklin & Sons, Loch Duart, Ramsden International, Suma Wholefoods, Wyke Farms
Food and Drink Engineer of the Year (sponsored by Sheffield Hallam University): The Wrigley Company – Jamie McLaren, The Wrigley Company – Sarah Cain, Weetabix Food Company – Kevin Bates
Food and Drink Scientist of the Year: Mars Chocolate UK – Mike Zietek, Rowett Institute – Wendy Russell, Victor's Drinks – Dimitris Papaoikonomou
Good Employer: Ashbury Labelling – Employee Benefits Programme, Huffkins – Employee Development and Training Programme, KP Snacks – Achieving Together, Reading Scientific Services Ltd – Great Place to Work
Health: Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition, Kerry Taste & Nutrition – TasteSense, Nom Noms World Food, Nutripot Nutrition Ltd – Healthy fast food on the go, Soupologie – Three Mushroom Broth
Innovation (sponsored by Omron): Addo Food Group – Expanding the gluten-free pastry market, apetito – Purée Petite, Belvoir Fruit Farms – Wine without the hangover, Calbee – Yushoi, Green Lizard Technologies – Novel purification of vegetable oils using a vitamin based approach, Kerry – DairySource, Nom Noms World Food – High Protein Hot World Wraps, Sticksology – T-Sticks
Rising Star (sponsored by PepsiCo UK): Addo Food Group – Gemma Thornton, Addo Food Group – Sophie Bohanan, Bidfood – David King, Bidfood – Sarah Whiddett, Weetabix Food Company – Molly Smith
To follow: Regional Growth Business (sponsored by Grant Thornton UK LLP)
Ian Wright CBE, Director General of the Food and Drink Federation, said: “The entries for this year's Awards are of exceptional quality. FDF is proud to showcase the talent and hard work of such a diverse mix of people, companies and organisations. Selecting the shortlist has been no easy task, but our expert judging panels have chosen remarkable finalists.
“This is a timely reminder of the talented, dedicated people working in Britain's food and drink industry. Given the many challenges we face it is essential that we continue to encourage more talented individuals to work in our vibrant sector.”
Nicola Thomas, Head of Food & Drink Sector, Santander Corporate & Commercial, said: "As part of our wider and ongoing partnership with the FDF, we are delighted to be the headline sponsor for the 2017 awards and to have particular involvement in the Exporter of The Year and Community Champion of the Year categories.
Not only were the entries of an extremely high standard, but also serve as a perfect illustration of the diversity of, and the innovative approaches to both community and export initiatives in the UK food and drink sector.
We are also very pleased to be able to offer the six finalists in the Exporter of the Year Award the opportunity to have a bespoke export strategy session with the Santander Food & Drink Sector team to support them with the next phase of their international development."
More Information
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. It has brought real competition to the UK, through its innovative products for retail customers and relationship banking model for UK SMEs.
Contact Skye Oudemans, Corporate Affairs Division, at: skye.oudemans@fdf.org.uk, or 02074207120.
