Organisers of the 2025 FMT Food Industry Awards have revealed this year’s finalists shortlist ahead of the much anticipated 5-star awards ceremony in London, taking place on Thursday 26th June.
The FMT Food Industry Awards is a prestigious and long-established annual awards initiative celebrating excellence across the British and Irish food industry.
Products shortlisted were entered from a wealth of leading companies and retailers and have been judged to exacting standards.
There were also a variety of voting and nomination categories too.
Winners are not pre-informed and will only hear at the lunchtime ceremony if they are a category winner.
The 2025 finalists are:
Best Trade Organisation
- FDF (Food & Drink Federation)
- AIMS (Association of Independent Meat Suppliers)
- BMPA (British Meat Processors Association)
- PTF (Provision Trade Federation)
- BFFF (British Frozen Food Federation)
- NPA (National Pig Association)
Best Ingredients Supplier
- Foodmaker Limited
- Griffith Foods
- Middleton Foods
- Prosur
- Unbar Rothon Ltd
- Kerry Taste & Nutrition
Best Machinery/Equipment Supplier
- Reiser UK
- Multivac
- GEA Group
- Handtmann Ltd
- Marel
- Interfood Technology Ltd
- Urschel International
Best Training Initiative
- FDQ – L3 Diploma in Food and Drink Engineering Maintenance
- ABP Talent Academy/Graduate Scheme
- Bakkavor Apprenticeship Programme
- Food and Drink Training and Education Council Ltd (ftc) – Meat Managers Hygiene and HACCP Workshop
- Plumpton College – Food & Drink Process Operator – Level 2 Apprenticeship
- Pilgrim’s Europe – Graduate Trainee Programme
Best Free From Product
- Porky Whites Cumberland Pork Swirl Premium Sausage (Gluten-Free) – Porky Whites Ltd
- Co-op Irresistible Hot Honey Pork Belly Slices (Gluten-Free) – Pilgrim’s Europe
- Chilli Non Carne (No Meat) – Fresh Kitchen from Fresh Direct
- Waitrose Free-From Breaded Chicken Mini Fillets (Gluten-Free) – Pilgrim’s Europe
- Love Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream (Gluten-Free, Wheat Free, Dairy Free, Soya Free, Nut Free, Egg Free) – Suncream Dairies
- Pork and Leek Sausage (Gluten-Free) – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
Best New Product Development
- M&S Collection Wagyu Topside of Beef – ABP Linden
- Asda BBQ Lamb & Leg Steaks – Dunbia
- Firecracker Pork Sausages – The Traditional Welsh Sausage Company
- M&S Collection Blackthorn Salt Dry-Aged King Arthur Sirloin Beef Joint – ABP Linden
- Waitrose Hot Honey Chicken Breast Chunks – Pilgrim’s Europe
- Baileys Caramel Sauce – The Flava People
Best Frozen Product
- Chicken Sausage – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
- Lidl Deluxe Cheddar and Onion Beef Quarter Pounders
- Asda Minted Lamb Koftas – Dunbia
- Porky Whites Mediterranean Style Meatballs – Porky Whites
- Tesco Oriental Takeaway for 1 – Pilgrim’s Europe
- Frozen M&S Collection Beef Wellington – ABP Linden
- Iceland Luxury Lamb Guard of Honour – Dunbia
Best Bakery Product
- Aldi Specially Selected Chocolate Luxury Cake
- Chicken Leek & Stilton Pie – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
- Yorkshire Pasty – The Original Baker
- Chicken, Bacon & Mushroom Pie – Walter Rose & Son
- M&S Collection Beef Wellington – ABP Linden
- Unearthed 6 Chocolate Pastel de Nata – The Compleat Food Group
Best Ready To Eat Product
- The Tartan Scotch Egg – The Tartan Butchers
- Coronation Chickpeas – Fresh Kitchen from Fresh Direct
- Waitrose Jerk Spiced Chicken – Pilgrim’s Europe
- Wall’s Jumbo Sausage Roll – The Compleat Food Group
- Cornish Hogs Pudding – Primrose Herd
- Co-op Buffalo Chicken Bites – Pilgrim’s Europe
Best Seafood Product
- Aldi Specially Selected Rich & Intense Smoked Salmon
- Chef’s Larder Premium 10 Scottish Farmed Salmon Fillets – Booker
- Aldi Specially Selected Cheese & Spinach Salmon Wellington
- Home Hot Smoked Salmon – The Tartan Butchers
Best Red Meat Product
- Blackgate Beef Tomahawk Steak – Booker
- Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Slow Cooked Hickory Smoked BBQ Beef Brisket – Dunbia
- Buitelaar Prumpelstown Dry Aged Sirloin Steak – Buitelaar
- M&S Collection Blackthorn Salt Dry Aged King Arthur Sirloin Beef Joint – ABP Linden
- Slow Cooked Pork Shanks in Apple & Cider Sauce – Holmesterne Foods
- Lidl Deluxe Mulled Wine Gammon Joint – Danish Crown
- Exceptional by Asda Aberdeen Angus Grass & Forage Fed 10oz Sirloin Steak – ABP UK
- Lidl Deluxe Dry Aged 36 Day Matured Aberdeen Angus Ribeye Steaks – Dunbia
- Aldi Specially Selected British Wagyu Sirloin Steak
- Waitrose No1 Lamb Leg with Rosemary – Pilgrim’s Europe
Best Poultry Product
- Waitrose No1 Wild Garlic Kyiv with Jersey Butter – Pilgrim’s Europe
- Hunters Chicken Fillets – The Tartan Butchers
- Aldi Specially Selected Wood Fired Chicken, Chorizo & Roquito Sourdough Pizza
- Waitrose No1 Free Range Roast In Bag Chicken – Pilgrim’s Europe
- Porky Whites Bang Bang Chicken & Lamb Kebabs – Porky Whites Ltd
- Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Italian Style British Chicken Arrabiata with Nduja Butter – Pilgrim’s Europe
Best Dairy Product
- Aldi Specially Selected Salted Caramel Ice Cream
- Spar Indulgent Chocolate Ice Cream – Dale Farm
- Gelato Lusso Raspberry Cheesecake Ice Cream – Suncream Dairies
- Chipotle Cheese & Vintage Cheddar Sauce – Fresh Kitchen from Fresh Direct
- Aldi Specially Selected Mature Blue Stilton
- Gelato Lusso Macchiato Cappuccino Ice Cream – Suncream Dairies
Food Retailer of the Year
- Sainsbury’s
- Lidl
- Marks & Spencer
- Aldi
- Morrisons
- Waitrose
- Asda
- Tesco
- Co-op
Food Manufacturer of the Year
- Pilgrim’s Europe
- Arla Foods
- ABP Linden
- Westaway Sausages
- Dunbia
- Sofina Foods Europe
The ceremony will culminate in the announcement of the prestigious Food Industry Champion Award, which is given to an individual within the industry who has had a considerable impact on the sector and made an outstanding contribution.
What did the 2024 winners have to say about the awards?
Best Free From Product – Dunbia
Andrew Brondon, head development chef at Dunbia, commented: “Dunbia is delighted to accept the award for Best Free From Product, a food category which is becoming increasingly important as we work to provide a range of products for every consumer.
“This award is in recognition for everyone at Dunbia who dedicates their time and effort to creating delicious products.”
Best Ready To Eat Product – Pilgrim’s Europe
Pilgrim’s Europe chief commercial officer Nick Robinson said: “It is a pleasure to accept the award for Best Ready To Eat product on behalf of the team at Pilgrim’s Europe.
“Our Waitrose Popcorn Chicken with Hickory BBQ Sauce is an excellent product, a real testament to the hard work of those in our manufacturing facilities. Congratulations to the whole team for their well-deserved recognition!”
Food Retailer of the Year
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi, stated: “At Aldi we continue to invest in product innovation and store design to ensure we keep meeting the needs of our customers – and beating other more expensive supermarkets to this prestigious title is testament to the hard work of our team.
“We are delighted to have our relentless focus on providing the best quality food at unbeatable prices recognised for the third consecutive year by the Food Management Today Industry Awards.”
Gary Wilmot to host the 2025 ceremony
Comedian, actor and songman Gary Wilmot will take to the stage to entertain guests and announce the 2025 category finalists and present winners with their trophies.
Gary’s career has seen him starring in many and varied stage shows and musicals, both touring and in the West End. These include Wicked, Oklahoma, The Wizard of Oz, Oliver, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and many, many more.
This year’s awards ceremony and lunch will take place on Thursday 26th June at the 5-star Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London.
- For more information email events@yandellmedia.com
- To book tickets for the awards lunch and ceremony click here.
With thanks to the 2025 partners:
