Colleagues from across the UK meat industry gathered on Thursday evening 18th September at the annual Meat Management Meat Industry Awards in Birmingham to recognise excellence within the sector.
Celebrity comedian and magician Pete Firman co-hosted the evening together with Meat Management publisher Graham Yandell MBE, taking to the stage to reveal the winners of this year’s much anticipated awards initiative.
Manufacturers, supermarkets, foodservice, suppliers, trade organisations, butchers, independent retailers and outstanding individuals were among those recognised across 21 categories.
Letitia Redfern of Booker Group took home the title of Young Manager of the Year, while Britain’s Best Butchers Shop award went to Lishman’s of Ilkley in Yorkshire.
The Catering Butcher Award went to Aubrey Allen, and the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers won Best Trade Organisation.
The overall Best Red Meat Product award, which is chosen from the winners of the Best Beef, Best Lamb and Best Pork/Pigmeat Product awards, was presented to Dunbia for its Tesco Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib with Bourbon and Black Pepper BBQ Glaze.
To conclude the evening, the much-prized Meat Management Excellence Award was awarded to John Mettrick, managing director of Mettrick’s Butchers in Glossop, for his contribution to the retail and independent butcher trade, as well as his work as a champion of small abattoirs.
The 2025 winners:
The Catering Butcher Award – Aubrey Allen Ltd
Best Trade Organisation – Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS)
Best Online Business – Gigli’s Butchers (www.giglislythamstannes.com)
Best Equipment / Machinery Supplier – Interfood Technology Ltd
Training Scheme of the Year – Plumpton College Advanced Butcher Level 2 and Level 3 Apprenticeships
Young Manager of the Year – Letitia Redfern – Booker Group
Britain’s Best Butchers Shop – Lishman’s of Ilkley
Supermarket / Multiple Meat Retailer of the Year – Lidl
Britain’s Best Sausage – Iceland Luxury Pork Sausages – Iceland Foods Ltd
Britain’s Best Burger – Marks & Spencer Lamb Burgers – ABP Linden
Britain’s Best Meat Pie – Ma Taylor’s Steak & Ale Pie – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
Best Bacon Product – Waitrose & Partners No.1 Free Range Beech Smoked Dry Cured Streaky Bacon Rashers – Pilgrim’s Europe
Best Free From Product – Co-op Irresistible 6 Cumberland Sausages – Pilgrim’s Europe (Gluten Free)
Best Charcuterie Product – Wicks Manor – Sliced Smoked Ham
Best Poultry Product – Morrisons Market Street Chicken Topped with Chorizo & Cheese Melt – DB Foods
Best Beef Product – Tesco Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib with Bourbon and Black Pepper BBQ Glaze – Dunbia
Best Pork/Pigmeat Product – Festive Ham – Kings Fine Cooked Meats
Best Lamb Product – Lamb Barnsley Chop with Rosemary – Farmison & Co
Best Red Meat Product – Tesco Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib with Bourbon and Black Pepper BBQ Glaze – Dunbia
Manufacturer of the Year – Dovecote Park
The Meat Management Excellence Award – John Mettrick – Mettrick’s Butchers, Glossop
Gwen Mostyn, the editor of Meat Management magazine, commented: “The long established and unique Awards programme reflects the high standards, innovation and dedication to quality right across the sector, and once again it has been another fantastic night for the industry.”
The October issue of Meat Management magazine will publish a full review of the annual event including more details about winners, plus a picture gallery of award recipients. The edition will be available in print and as an online digital edition.
The 2025 Meat Industry Awards partners:
