The finalist shortlist for this year’s FMT Food Industry Awards have been unveiled across 15 different categories, as excitement builds for the annual awards lunch and ceremony taking place on 12th June.
The FMT Food Industry Awards is an annual awards programme that recognises the best of the best in the British and Irish food manufacturing and retailing industries, rewarding innovative products as well as people, training providers, ingredient companies, machinery and equipment suppliers and trade bodies.
The products shortlisted this year were entered from a wealth of companies and retailers and have been judged to exacting standards, with entries also submitted across a variety of voting and nomination categories.
The 2026 FMT Food Industry Awards finalists:
Best Trade Organisation
- FDF (Food & Drink Federation)
- PTF (Provision Trade Federation)
- AIMS (Association of Independent Meat Suppliers)
- BMPA (British Meat Processors Association)
- BFFF (British Frozen Food Federation)
- AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board)
Best Ingredients Supplier
- Ulrick + Short Ltd
- Bosse Interspice Ltd
- Unbar Rothon Ltd
- Kerry Taste & Nutrition
- Prosur
- Scobie & Junor Group
Best Machinery/Equipment Supplier
- Reiser UK
- GEA Group
- Handtmann Ltd
- Multivac
- JBT Marel
- Interfood Technology Ltd
Best Training Initiative
- ABP Talent Academy/Graduate Scheme
- Cranswick Graduate Development Programme
- Pilgrim’s Europe Graduate Programme
- Food Standards Agency – Food Allergy and Intolerance (Online) Training
- Avara Foods Graduate Scheme
- Food & Drink Training & Education Council Ltd (ftc) – Meat Managers Hygiene and HACCP Workshop
Best Free From Product
- Waitrose No.1 Extra Succulent Smoky Hot Honey Pork Sausages – Pilgrim’s Europe (Gluten Free)
- Grant’s Chilli Non Carni – Grant’s Foods (Meat Free)
- Lidl Deluxe Aberdeen Angus Beef Burgers – Dunbia (Gluten Free)
- Cumberland Sausage – Aubrey Allen (Gluten Free)
- M&S Only 3 Ingredients British Beef Meatballs – ABP UK (Free from Gluten & Sulphites)
- Gills Premium Lincolnshire Sausage (Gluten Free)
- Asda Tender Chilli & Mint Lamb Rump Steaks – Dunbia (Gluten Free)
Best New Product Development
- Waitrose No.1 Free Range Pork Short Ribs with Honey Glaze – Pilgrim’s Europe
- Grant’s Butter Chicken – Grant’s Foods
- M&S Collection Rolled Sirloin & Ribeye Roast – ABP UK
- Exceptional by Asda Miso Burgers – ABP UK
- Chef’s Menu Tiramisu – Booker
- Waitrose No.1 Pork Soft Set Scotch Eggs – Pilgrim’s Europe
Best Frozen Product
- Chef’s Premium Super Crispy Straight Cut Fries – Booker
- Co-op Frozen Lasagne – Pilgrim’s Europe
- Aldi Specially Selected Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream
- Iceland Luxury Perfect Aberdeen Angus Rump Joint with Garlic & Rosemary Seasoning – Dunbia
- Chef’s Premium Potato Gratin Dauphinois – Booker
- Korker Gluten Free Sausages – Korker Sausages Ltd
- Lidl Deluxe Aberdeen Angus Beef Quarter Pounders
Best Bakery Product
- Beef and Vegetable Pasty – The Tartan Butchers
- Wrights Limited Edition Centenary Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie – Wrights/The Compleat Food Group
- Aldi Specially Selected White Sourdough Loaf
- M&S Collection Beef Wellington – ABP UK
- Chef’s Premier Panettone Bread & Butter Pudding – Booker
- Ploughman’s Sausage Rolls – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
- Steak & Ale Pie – James Kittow Butcher & Grazier
Best Ready To Eat Product
- Stilton & Broccoli Quiche – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
- JUGGLE Citrus Kick Confectionary – Juggle Confectionary
- Spicy Chickpea and Mediterranean Veg Salad – Fresh Kitchen From Fresh Direct
- Tesco Finest Deli Wild Garlic & Pancetta Soft Set Scotch Egg – Pilgrim’s Europe
- Unearthed Spanish Spinach Tortilla – The Compleat Food Group
- Waitrose Ploughman’s Hock – Pilgrim’s Europe
Best Seafood Product
- Aldi Specially Selected Lightly Smoked Salmon Fillets
- Campbells & Co Smoked Salmon – Campbells Prime Meat Ltd
- Aldi Specially Selected Cheese & Spinach Salmon Wellington
- Smoked Salmon & Crème Fraiche Quiche – The Original Baker
- Aldi Specially Selected Yellowfin Tuna Steaks
- Aldi Specially Selected Garlic & Herb Argentinian Prawns
Best Red Meat Product
- M&S Collection Rolled Sirloin & Ribeye Roast – ABP UK
- Co-op Irresistible British Aberdeen Angus Thick Cut Ribeye Steak – Dunbia
- French Trimmed Lamb Rack – Campbells Prime Meat Ltd
- Lidl Deluxe Dry Aged Aberdeen Angus Rump Steak – Foyle Food Group
- Exceptional by Asda Aberdeen Angus Grass & Forage Fed 10oz Ribeye Steak – ABP UK
- Aldi Specially Selected Aberdeen Angus Scotch Ribeye Steak 40 Days Matured
Best Poultry Product
- Yorkshire Christmas Cockerel – Soanes Poultry
- Cornfed Chicken Supreme Wrapped in Bacon – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
- Aldi Specially Selected Sourdough Breaded Wild Garlic & Jersey Butter Chicken Kievs
- Red Tractor Chicken – Kings Fine Cooked Meats
- Free Range Turkey Bacon – Ambry Foods
- Cajun Spiced Chicken Schnitzel – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
Best Dairy Product
- Aldi Specially Selected Baked Camembert French Cheese
- Gelato Lusso Dubai Jaffa Cake Orange Ice Cream – Suncream Ice Cream
- Heavenly Honeycomb – Simply Ice Cream
- Aldi Specially Selected Barber’s Cave Aged Cheddar
- Brown Bread Ice Cream – Simply Ice Cream
- Gelato Lusso Dubai Chocolate Ice Cream – Suncream Ice Cream
Food Retailer of the Year
- Aldi
- Morrisons
- Asda
- Tesco
- Lidl
- Sainsbury’s
- Marks & Spencer
- Waitrose
- Co-op
Food Manufacturer of the Year
- Premier Foods Plc
- Pilgrim’s Europe
- Arla Foods
- Dunbia
- ABP UK
- Samworth Brothers
Luke Kempner to host 2026 ceremony
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by comedian, actor and impressionist Luke Kempner on Friday 12th June 2026.
The awards lunch and ceremony will be staged at the 5-star Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, when a range of awards will be presented by Luke Kempner across various different categories, culminating in the Food Industry Champion, which last year went to Bob Carnell, CEO of ABP UK.
Graham Yandell MBE, publisher of the Food Management Today annual awards review publication, commented: “It is a delight to be able to announce this year’s finalists ahead of the ceremony on June12th, and I offer my congratulations to all of the shortlisted businesses.
“Winners are not pre-informed and will be exclusively announced at the lunchtime ceremony if they are a category winner, so be sure to book your tickets now to ensure attendance. Our host Luke Kempner will keep guests laughing at this year’s ceremony, and we are looking forward to welcoming him to the Royal Lancaster Hotel for what promises to be another memorable occasion.”
To book tickets and tables for the 2026 ceremony, click here.
To become an awards partner, call 01908 613323 or email Michelle Ingerfield: michelle.i@yandellmedia.com.
With thanks to the 2026 FMT Food Industry Awards partners:
