The winners of the 2018 Food Management Today Industry Awards were announced today (9th February) at a special celebratory lunch at The Royal Garden Hotel, London, attended by around 300 guests.
Celebrity chef and TV presenter John Torode, perhaps best known for his role on BBC’s MasterChef, presented food manufacturers, supermarkets, suppliers and manufacturers with their winning trophies.
The Food Management Today Industry Awards are a celebration of the creativity, innovation and excellence of the British food industry.
The awards consist of reader voting and product entries to determine the best in the industry, as chosen by Food Management Today readers together with a select judging panel for product evaluation.
A total of 16 accolades were handed out to companies, associations, retailers and manufacturers, plus personalities, that struck a winning chord with readers and a panel of expert judges.
The Food Industry Champion title went to Rob Nugent, operations director of Direct Table Foods Ltd, and immediate past chairman of the Provision Trade Federation (PTF).
Dawn Meats won Food Manufacturer of the Year and Aldi was voted Retailer of the Year.
Other food manufacturers up and down the country won in various product categories and the Best Training Initiative went to Samworth Brothers for its training scheme for graduates.
The 2018 winners are:
Best Trade Organisation: Red Tractor Assurance
Best Ingredients Supplier: Kerry
Best Equipment / Machinery Supplier: Interfood Technology
Best Training Initiative: Samworth Brothers – training scheme for graduates
Most Innovative Packaging Development: Porky Lights – Lower Fat Chuck Steak Burger 6 Stack
Best Free From Product: debbie & andrew’s Perfect Pork Sausages – ABP Wessex
Best New Product Development: Men’s Health Kitchen Lean Pork Sausages – ABP / WA Turner
Best Frozen Product: Iceland Luxury Chateaubriand with Red Wine Sauce
Best Bakery Product: Lichfields Granola Flapjack
Best Seafood Product: BigFish Brand Traditionally Cured and Oak Smoked Sea Trout – JCS Fish Ltd
Best Red Meat Product: Dorset Crown Lamb Sirloin – ABP
Best Poultry Product: Marks & Spencer Souvlaki Kebabs – Linden Foods
Best Dairy Product: Vintage Cheddar with Leeks – South Caernarfon Creameries
Food Retailer of the Year: Aldi
Food Manufacturer of the Year: Dawn Meats
Food Industry Champion Award: Rob Nugent – Direct Table Foods Ltd
