Nearly 50 of Britain’s top food and drink manufacturing businesses were shortlisted in the awards that recognised the best of the best in British food and drink manufacturing. See the full list of winners and shortlisted businesses and individuals below.
Meat and poultry firm Moy Park won the coveted Food Manufacture Company of the Year trophy in the carnival-theme gala celebration, hosted by TV star Mark Durden-Smith, fresh from presenting television coverage of the Rugby World Cup.
The ultimate accolade
The Northern Ireland headquartered Moy Park won the ultimate accolade in food and drink manufacturing, after first collecting an award for the Meat and poultry manufacturing company of the year earlier in the evening.
In addition to category awards – for Ambient, Bakery, Beverages, Chilled, Fresh and Dairy, Meat and poultry manufacturing company of the year – other awards recognised top achievements in the field of Best use of new food ingredients, Environmental initiative of the year and Supply chain initiative of the year.
Three other awards showcased the Training programme of the year, Judges’ star performer of the year and Small and medium-sized innovation of the year. Six prominent food industry figures were shortlisted for the Food Manufacture Personality of the year, while six talented youngsters were shortlisted for the Young talent of the year awards.
Independent judging panel
From food and drink manufacturing giants – employing thousands of people – to modestly sized businesses, with a few employees, each shortlisted firm impressed our independent judging panel, led by Paul Wilkinson, chair of the National Skills Academy.
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists and thanks to our sponsors, who made the awards possible.
Look out for more highlights from the annual FMEAs, now in their 15th year, organised by the Food Manufacture Group – including video and text reports – later this week. Catch up on Twitter coverage of the best night out in food and drink manufacturing at #FoodManAwards.
Could you be one of next year’s winners? Why not register your interest in the 2016 Food Manufacture Excellence Awards here.
Winners and finalists
Food Manufacture Company of the year: Moy Park
Ambient manufacturing company of the year: Glanbia Performance Nutrition
Shortlisted:
- Chika’s Food
- Essential Cuisine
- Fudge Kitchen
- Kolak
- Sleaford Quality Foods
Bakery manufacturing company of the year, sponsored by Alcontrol: Premier Foods (Mr Kipling)
Shortlisted:
- Butt Foods
- Deli Santé
- Finsbury Food Group
- Ginsters
- The Village Bakery
Beverages manufacturing company of the year: CocaCola Enterprises
Shortlisted:
- Aston Manor Cider
- Fruitapeel Juice
Chilled, fresh and dairy manufacturing company of the year: Worldwide Fruit
Shortlisted:
- Mash Direct
- Samworth Bros (Kettleby Foods)
- Willowbrook Foods
- Wyke Farms
- Yorvale
Meat and poultry manufacturing company of the year, sponsored by Dasic: Moy Park
Shortlisted:
- Cargill
- Faccenda Foods
- Hannan Meats
- 2 Sisters Food Group
- Tulip
Best new use of food ingredients: Tulip
Shortlisted:
- Appy Food and Drinks
- Moral Fibre Food
- Sidney B Scott & Sons
- Wild Snack Co.
Environment initiative of the year: Samworth Bros (Kettleby Foods)
Shortlisted:
- Aston Manor Cider
- Ginsters
- Moy Park
- Winning Blend/Welsh pantry
- Wyke Farms
Supply chain initiative of the year: Ginsters
Shorlisted:
- Coca-Cola Enterprises
- Fruitapeel Juice
- Ginsters
- Hannan Meats
- Tulip
- 2 Sisters Food Group
Training programme of the year, sponsored by The National Skills Academy: Essential Cuisine
Shortlisted:
- Sleaford Quality Foods
- Tulip
- Weetabix
Young talent of the year, sponsored by B3 Jobs: Amber Wild, Worldwide Fruit
Shortlisted:
- Michael Andrew – Tulip
- Alex Barton – ABP UK
- Seana Boyle – Willowbrook Foods
- Jack Hamilton – Mash Direct
- Caitlin Johnstone – The Welsh Pantry
- Robert Willatt – Freshpack
Judges’ star performer, sponsored by Lauras International: 2 Sisters Food Group
Shortlisted:
- Aston Manor Cider
- Deli Santé
- The Village Bakery
- Willowbrook Foods
Small and medium-sized enterprise innovation of the year: Winning Blend/Welsh Pantry
Shortlisted:
- Butt Foods
- Chika’s Food
- Fudge Kitchen
- Hannan Meats
Food Manufacture Personality of the Year: Jeremy Hall, Bernard Matthews group technical director
Shortlisted:
- Kevin Brennan, Quorn chief executive
- Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, Genius Foods founder
- Christine Tacon, Groceries code adjudicator
- Chris Thomas, Tulip chief executive
- Roger Whiteside, Greggs chief executive