It’s time to nominate products and cast your votes for the prestigious FMT Food Industry Awards 2022, scheduled to take place in London on the evening of 25th May.

Every year, the FMT Food Industry Awards recognise the achievements of food processors and manufacturers across the UK food sector. Ingredients suppliers, machinery and equipment companies, trade organisations, packaging manufacturers, product innovations and training schemes are all honoured as part of the evening’s festivities.

It is a unique annual initiative that offers an enjoyable opportunity to network with colleagues and customers; but most of all, it is a chance to recognise and celebrate this remarkable sector and those who work hard to feed the nation.

How it all works

The awards are structured in two parts. Readers are invited to vote in seven categories, while manufacturers and retailers can nominate products for entry into one or more of the nine product categories, which will be judged by industry experts.

The initiative honours the best that the food industry has to offer, with many of the UK’s leading companies nominated each year. The FMT Food Industry Awards are designed to commend companies across the food supply chain who go that extra mile to deliver a fantastic product or service. Readers of Food Management Today and the magazine’s website are encouraged to vote for their industry stars to ensure they get the recognition they deserve.

Nominate your products today

For the first six of the nine product categories, we are looking for nominations from manufacturers, wholesalers, caterers, independent retailers or supermarkets. The product must be manufactured in the British Isles but can use non-British ingredients as well as British product. These six categories are:

• Best Bakery Product
• Best Dairy Product
• Best Frozen Product
• Best Poultry Product
• Best Red Meat Product
• Best Seafood Product

Entrants to these categories will be required to send us products for the judging panel to assess at a specific time and location. Full details will be supplied to allow this to be done by the product entry deadline.

You must be in it to win it, so don’t delay and enter as many products as you like now. There is no entry fee and the winners and finalists can count on substantial extra business as a result.

• Best ‘Free-From’ Product

Retail, catering butchers and manufacturers can enter any ‘Free-From’ product as long as it’s manufactured in the British Isles. It can be gluten, dairy, or wheat-free. There is no entry charge and you may enter as many products as you like.

• Best New Product Development

This award will be presented to the best new food product of 2021/22. It must have been launched during 2021 or early 2022 and be available to either the retail, wholesale or foodservice sectors. Entrants to this category will be required to send us products for the judging panel to assess at a specific time and location. Full details will be supplied to allow this to be done by the product entry deadline.

• Most Innovative Packaging Development

This is one of the most challenging areas for food manufacturers, given the environmental and food waste issues facing us all. The award is looking to recognise the most innovative development, whether that innovation is environmental, in marketing of a food product, or technological. After entering, entrants will be requested to send in an example of the packaging for the judging panel at a specific time and location.

Vote for your industry stars

The UK food sector has continued to forge new markets, innovate production methods and deliver exciting products tailor-made to the demands of today’s consumer. It’s time to celebrate the individuals and companies behind these successes. Voting is now open in the following categories:

• Best Ingredients Supplier
• Best Machinery / Equipment Supplier
• Best Trade Organisation
• Best Training Initiative
• Food Manufacturer of the Year

Food Industry Champion

Every year, Food Industry Champion Award is presented to a manager or senior executive who has made an outstanding contribution to the UK or Irish food industry. The individual may work directly in food processing or be employed in retailing, a trade body, a supplier or promotional organisation. Who do you know that merits such recognition? Make sure you nominate them now.

• To nominate a product, or for more information on the awards, visit foodmanagement.today/awards. The deadline voting and nominations is Friday 21st January 2022.

A big thank you to our partners:

For details of how to become a partner call Michelle Ingerfield on 01908 613323 or email michelle.I@yandellmedia.com

Event date is subject to ongoing Government rulings on public assembly and therefore the organisers reserve the right to make appropriate changes if required affecting the date or venue at their absolute discretion.