Meat industry manufacturers, processors, supermarkets, industry suppliers, trade organisations, catering butchers, independent retailers and outstanding individuals were amongst those recognised across the various awards categories.
The awards ceremony and black-tie dinner, which was held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Thursday 3rd September, highlighted the creativity, innovation and excellence of the UK’s meat industry. TV Chaser and comedian Paul Sinha was the 2026 VIP host, presenting winners with their trophies and certificates.
The coveted Excellence Award goes to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution the British and Irish meat industry, and this year Niall Browne, chief executive of Dawn Meats, was awarded the title.
Other award winners included Manufacturer of the Year Dovecote Park and Supermarket/Multiple Meat Retailer of the Year Marks & Spencer. The Young Manager of the Year category was won by Erin Wright of Myton Food Group, with A D Ringrose Butchers in Broughton Astley crowned as this year’s Best Butchers Shop.
A special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Peter Allen, the chair of Aubrey Allen Ltd, and shortly to become Master of the Worshipful Company of Butchers for his work as a key figure and role model in the meat industry.
The 2026 winners:
The Catering Butcher Award – Fairfax Meadow
Best Trade Organisation – British Meat Processors Association (BMPA)
Best Online Business – Cooper Craft Butchers (www.cooperbutchers.com)
Best Equipment/Machinery Supplier – Handtmann Ltd
Training Scheme of the Year – Craft Skills Scotland
Young Manager of the Year – Erin Wright – Myton Food Group
Britain’s Best Butchers Shop – A D Ringrose Butchers (Broughton Astley, Leicestershire)
Supermarket/Multiple Meat Retailer of the Year – Marks & Spencer
Lifetime Achievement Award – Peter Allen
Britain’s Best Sausage – Co-op Irresistible 6 Pork Sausages – Pilgrim’s Europe
Britain’s Best Burger – Tesco Finest Cherrywood Smoked Beef Aberdeen Angus Beef Burgers – Dunbia
Britain’s Best Meat Pie – 1lb Stilton Pork Pie – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
Best Bacon Product – Denhay Smoked Back Bacon – Denhay Farms Ltd
Best Free From Product – Aubrey Allen Pork Breakfast Sausage
Best Charcuterie Product – Traditional Black Pudding – Martin Thomas Butchers
Best Poultry Product – Lidl Deluxe Corn Fed Free Range British Whole Chicken
Best Beef Product – M&S Collection British Wagyu Gold Ribeye Steak – ABP
Best Pork/Pigmeat Product – Waitrose No.1 Slow Cooked Hot Smoked Sticky Pork Belly with Peach Barbecue Glaze – Pilgrim’s Europe
Best Lamb Product – Scotch Lamb Lollipops – Campbells Prime Meat
Best Red Meat Product – M&S Collection Wagyu Ribeye Steak – ABP
Manufacturer of the Year – Dovecote Park
The Meat Management Excellence Award – Niall Browne, chief executive officer, Dawn Meats
Graham Yandell MBE, publisher of Meat Management magazine, which organises the awards, commented: “Once again it has been fantastic to see the meat industry come together for these annual awards, and I know it has been an excellent evening for our guests. It is a real privilege to stage these awards each year and to host the ceremony, and I also extend my thanks to our valued partners who support this important initiative.”
The October issue of Meat Management magazine will publish a full review of the annual event, and will be available in print and as an online digital edition.
Thank you to the 2026 Meat Management Meat Industry Awards partners:
