23 June 2015

Food and drink talent recognised by industry in awards shortlist

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Innovation, creativity and passion underpin the exceptional ideas, people and businesses that have made the shortlist for this year's FDF Awards 2015. Following an overwhelming number of entries, the long-awaited shortlist has now been announced.

The Food and Drink Federation Awards honour the talent and inspiration in the UK food and drink sector. Finalists will find out if they have triumphed on Monday 7 September at a gala industry event at The Brewery, London, hosted by broadcaster and presenter Hardeep Singh Kohli.

The group and individual shortlists were chosen by a panel of judges comprised of industry experts and sponsors. Finalists include a range of well-known brands, SMEs and people who are rising stars in the industry or established innovators and technical experts.

FDF Award 2015 Shortlist

Growth Business London & South East: The Bread Factory, DJ Limbrey, Hans Soane Chocolate, Natoora and Savse

Growth Business South West: Blossoms Syrup, Lacka Foods, MooFree, Moorish and Picnic Cornwall

Growth Business Central England and Wales: Alliance in Partnership, Food Innovation Solutions, Orchard Valley Foods, Our House of Spice, Ray Gray Snacks and Sleaford Quality Foods

Growth Business Northern England: Country Pudding, Delicious Alchemy, The Flava People (MRC), Hawkshead Relish, Wold Top Brewery and Yorvale Icecream

Growth Business Scotland and Northern Ireland: Argyll Smokery, Decadently Pure, Kilsyth Community Market Garden and Mo's Cookie Dough

Community Champion: Alison Atkins (PepsiCo UK) and Dennis O'Shea (Mars Chocolate)

Engineer of the Year: John Pearson (Glenrath), Cathy Battaloglu (Mondelez International), Gary Loverance (PepsiCo UK) and Jason Fewell (Wyke Farms)

Exporter (individual) of the Year: Ed Moore (Henllan Bread) and Sean Ramsden (Ramsden International)

Exporter (company): Ashbury Labelling, Bestway, Delamere Dairy, Eat Natural, Hawkshead Relish, Ramsden International, Reids of Caithness, Somerdale International, Sunmark and Wyke Farms

Food and Drink Scientist of the Year: Sterling Crew (Kolak Snack Foods), Alice Cadman (Leatherhead Food Research), Julia Duckworth (Natoora) and Luise Kloster (Premier Foods)

Good Employer: Nestle UK, PepsiCo UK, Sleaford Quality Food and Spar UK

Education: Kettle Foods, Mars Chocolate, Mondeléz International, PepsiCo UK, Thorntons and Warburtons

Environmental Leadership: apetito, Mondeléz International, Nestlé UK, Olleco, Vegware and Wykes Farms

Innovation: Bird's Eye, Burton's Biscuits (Fish and Chips), Kilsyth Community Market Garden, Mini Nom Noms, Peel Tech, Soffle's Pitta Chips and Wyke Farms

Apprentice of the Year: Mark Edwards (Mondeléz International), Sara-Jayne Barker (Nestlé UK), Dean Irving (Nestlé UK), Jack Shannon (Nestlé UK), Matt Tarn (Nestle UK), Sam Kelly (PepsiCo UK) and William Gray (Premier Foods)

Community Partner: Aduna, General Mills, Kavli, Kilsyth Community Market Garden, New England Seafood, Premier Foods and Warburtons

Rising Star: Sarah Blackford (KP Snacks), Emily McCallum (KP Snacks), Ash Dutta (Mondeléz International), Louise Eaton (Premier Foods), Katie Dunn (Spar UK) and Liz Spooner (Spar UK)

Campaign of the Year: shortlisted companies will follow in due course

The annual FDF Awards ceremony is a highlight in the industry calendar as it gives food and drink companies the chance to show their customers and competitors that they are leading the way. The awards also showcase the industry's continued and substantial contribution to the economy and consumers, in the UK and world-wide.

Steve Barnes, FDF's Economics and Commercial Services Director, said:

“We've had a record number of entries across the food and drink supply chain including growers, retailers and artisan producers, ranging from the big global brands to SMEs. Our expert judging panel faced a huge challenge to get the entries down to a shortlist, but we're really pleased with the variety and number of entrants. This is a reminder of the talented, dedicated people there are working in Britain's food and drink industry.

“Thank you to sponsors, entrants and judges for their efforts. We look forward to welcoming finalists, guests and supporters to what is sure to be a great evening in September.”

Sponsors for this year's awards include: Aktrion Food and Drink, Alvarez and Marsal, apetito, Food Matters Live, General Mills, Grant Thornton, James Hutton Institute, Nestlé UK, PepsiCo UK, Sheffield Hallam University and Willis.

FDF is now taking awards ceremony bookings for tables including corporate packages. Details are available here: awards ceremony registration

Notes for editors:

1. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is the voice of the food and drink manufacturing industry – the UK's largest manufacturing sector.
2. See case studies from the 2014 FDF Awards winners
3. Highlights from the 2014 FDF Awards Ceremony can be viewed here

For More Information and images, please contact:

Alexandra Crisp alexandra.crisp@fdf.org.uk 020 7420 7120

Anna Taylor anna.taylor@fdf.org.uk 020 7420 7118

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