Whether you are a large well-established company or a small manufacturer just starting out, being recognised as being the best across the whole food and drink industry is impressive stuff. Henry Ford once said that you can't build a reputation on what you are going to do, but at Food Manufacture we believe that you should build a strong reputation for what you have done. The Food Manufacture Excellence Awards are a celebration of great achievements and are all about giving companies the recognition they deserve.
The awards are designed to recognise food and drink companies that have excelled in certain areas over the past 12-18 months and that have reached the highest standards within their sector.
If your company is at the top of its game, or is making the most prominent steps to get there, then through the awards the food and drink industry -- including all your customers -- will get to know about it.
Now in their fourth year and growing in size and status, the awards celebrate true innovation and excellence. They identify companies that are making genuine attempts to become the best in their field and to benchmark best practice. In a crowded food and drink industry, where manufacturers are having to constantly innovate to stay ahead of their rivals, anything that makes you stand out from the crowd could prove a valuable marketing tool for the future.
To enter the awards all you have to do is give us brief details about your company's achievements as a manufacturer over the past 12-18 months. Tell us about particular initiatives you have implemented during this period of which you are most proud. Or tell us about how you have improved your performance in any area of your business. It's not sales or profit that the awards recognise, but across-the-board attempts to make your business a role model for others. And it doesn't matter whether initiatives have been completed or are ongoing, we want evidence that you are trying to become the best.
It is completely free to enter the awards and all entries must be submitted by August 13. Winners will be announced at a celebration dinner held at the Dorchester Hotel in London's Mayfair on Wednesday November 3.
The awards identify excellence in eight categories. These are: Ambient and general groceries; Bakery; Beverages; Chilled ready meals and prepared foods; Confectionery; Dairy; Frozen foods; and Meat, poultry and seafood. One successful manufacturer will also be crowned the Food Manufacture Company of the Year at the event, a prestigious title that will demonstrate the quality of your company.
If you want to join previous Company of the Year winners Bass -- now part of Coors -- Lightbody Celebration Cakes and Coca-Cola Enterprises then, like them, you need to demonstrate excellent performance.
real company benefit
But the awards are not just about gaining respect from your peers. They will be of real benefit to your company. As well as getting widespread coverage within the pages of Food Manufacture, winners will also feature in the retailers' bible The Grocer. If you want your major customers and suppliers to understand how good your company really is, then there is no better way of achieving it.
Nor are the awards just about sales performance or clever marketing. The idea behind them is that they recognise success at many different levels, right across the supply chain. Take Lyons Seafoods, a previous winner in the meat, poultry and seafood category, which was commended for introducing specialised equipment that enabled it to test for banned antibiotics in farmed shellfish. Arla Foods, last year's winner in the dairy category, implemented a range of key performance indicators that meant it progressively reduced customer complaints. Lightbody Celebration Cakes' reduction of staff turnover and absenteeism was the reason it won in the bakery category. The awards recognise change and innovation that actually makes a difference.
The judges are from various backgrounds in the food industry to reflect the diversity of achievements the awards celebrate. Judges include Paul Wilkinson, former chairman of RHM; Neil Nugent, development chef at Asda; and Jonathon Bayne, technical development controller at Budgens.
In particular the judges will be looking for companies that demonstrate supply chain excellence, excellent quality assurance and food safety, sound environmental management and true manufacturing process innovation. And they also want to see your commitment to staff. Good human resource development will also be judged, so if your company can demonstrate how well it looks after its people we want to hear from you.
Never has it been more important for food and drink manufacturers to show off their skills and commitment to success. Food and drink is the biggest UK manufacturing sector, employing 600,000 people. But with a growing shortage of key staff companies are having to fight for skilled workers. Proving that you are one of the industry's best companies could help in this fight.
The industry has also recently come under fire for its part in rising obesity levels and manufacturers are being urged to reformulate products with lower sugar, salt and fat contents. A new government White Paper is expected to call on the food industry to become part of the solution to the problem. As part of this real commitment must be shown by companies if legislation considerably constraining the types of food they can market is to be avoided, and winning an award could prove your company's commitment.
How manufacturers promote their products to children has also come under scrutiny and they are being urged to voluntarily review their current practices. The ball is in the industry's court and it must make moves to more closely regulate itself.
New traceability legislation that takes effect next January will also prove challenging for companies across the supply chain. Add to this the increased pressures being put on margins by the retailers as part of their price wars and it is clear the industry will face challenging times ahead.
As a backdrop to all these challenges, the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards demonstrate to the people that matter the positive moves companies are making in the food industry. Healthier products are already being produced, better traceability systems are coming on stream and improved hygiene and safety measures are helping to boost the confidence consumers have in the food they eat. The industry has a lot to shout about.
Winners will become beacons of success for the industry and are likely to be rewarded in their work with renewed confidence from their customers and staff. But you have to be in it to win it!FM
Closing date for entries is August 13. The awards will be presented at a dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in London on November 3. Call 01293 610427, e-mail nicola.smith@william-reed.co.uk or visit http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk for details and an entry form.
Company Of the year -- Sponsor: Invensys APV
APV is a world-class supplier of equipment to the food, dairy, cheese, brewing, soft drinks and juice industries. It offers customers top quality products, process engineering expertise and service allied to leading-edge automation systems that together can help them drive down costs, improve profitability and preserve investment in existing plant and systems.
For many years, APV has been a leading innovator in the design and manufacture of pumps, valves, heat exchangers and homogenisers. The products it has developed, many with built-in intelligence, set new standards for operational efficiency and reliability.
These products, combined with APV's extensive process know-how and project management experience, enable it to supply totally engineered systems and integrated plant solutions for a wide range of applications. The basis of any APV design is always based on an in-depth understanding of the issues confronting a customer. This approach enables APV to help customers maximise their investments with greater impact on the bottom line. APV's solutions can include everything from conceptual design to installation and commissioning.
The third strand of APV's operation is its service business. This is supported by an extensive range of testing and maintenance services that are designed to extend the life of a plant and keep it working at optimum efficiency. Service involves anything from troubleshooting and installation of a spare part to a fully comprehensive breakdown or planned service contract.
APV's control and automation systems provide manufacturers with opportunities to dramatically improve business performance. At the heart of the APV system is the Invensys Intelligent Integrator, which enables a seamless flow of information from factory floor through the whole of the enterprise, eliminating compatibility problems sometimes experienced between other control and business systems.
APV's advanced production management systems help to increase yield and reduce waste, as well as to integrate production planning between shop floor and administrative systems. Business planning and scheduling systems help to improve efficiency throughout the supply chain.
APV is now part of the Invensys group which employs 39,000 people worldwide.
Last year's Winners
Company of the Year:
Coca-Cola Enterprises
Bakery: Lightbody Celebration Cakes
Beverages: Coca-Cola Enterprises
Chilled ready meals and prepared foods: Joint winners Alresford Salads and Kettleby Foods
Dairy: Arla
Frozen foods: Dalepak Foods
General groceries: KP Snacks
Meat, poultry and seafood: Lyons Seafoods
The judging panel
Jonathon Bayne --
Technical development controller at Budgens
Mark Colvin --
Director with consultancy Suiko WCS
Neil Nugent -- Asda development chef
Rick Pendrous -- Editor of Food Manufacture
Mick Whitworth (chairman of judges) -- Former editor and food industry commentator
Paul Wilkinson -- Former chairman of RHM and chairman designate of the Food Sector Skills Council
bakery -- sponsor: vandermoortele
Vandemoortele, a producer of speciality margarine, fats and frozen bakery products, is once again encouraging the pursuit of excellence within the bakery industry. For the second year running, it is sponsor of the Bakery Award as part of Food Manufacture's Excellence Awards.
This prestigious award recognises excellence and the raising of standards within the food industry. There's sure to be tough competition again for this coveted prize.
"Encouraging others to raise standards is very much part of Vandemoortele's corporate culture," says Gordon Kirkwood, commercial director. "Pushing the boundaries is something we are really good at, whether it's troubleshooting a production issue, finding solutions to legislative changes or simply helping customers produce tastier, more profitable products, we provide creative and innovative solutions."
Vandemoortele operates from 18 production units located across Europe, producing a wide variety of products including frying and bakery fats, shortenings, frozen bakery products and soya products. Quality is the corporate standard throughout research and development, production, technical and commercial support. "We recognise the importance of our working partnerships. Bringing innovative solutions, tailor-made to customers' specific needs is just one way in which the team here at Vandemoortele excels," says Els Vancoillie, commercial director for bakery products.
Vandemoortele enjoys an exceptional reputation for its quality products and flexible production capabilities, both of which play an essential role with its customers in the retail, foodservice and industrial sectors throughout the entire European Union.
meat, poultry and Seafood -- sponsor: CMI
CMi is the largest specialist food assurance company of its type working across the supply chain and has in-depth experience of all sectors of the food supply chain. Based near Oxford, the company operates throughout the UK and internationally.
CMi Certification is Europe's leading provider of independent assurance and certification services to the agriculture, produce and processing industries. Specialising in the delivery of individual and composite assessments, CMi offers a broad range of international, national, and client specific standards including BRC, EUREPGAP and British Red Tractor schemes.
CMi Technical Services is experienced in all aspects of contract technical management. These contracts have ranged from short-term project based activities, designed to address immediate business needs, to longer term full-service contracts.
CMi works closely with clients to identify key industry drivers and internal business needs before designing and delivering a tailored portfolio of services that integrate effectively with other in-house technical, development and commercial functions.
CMi Consulting comprises an experienced team of specialists with a broad range of technical and industry knowledge of manufacturing, retailing and catering. CMi consultants also have technical specialisms in legal challenge work relating to food safety and due diligence, labelling, training, hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) and risk management.
CMi has developed close strategic consultancy partnerships with Deloitte (general food safety) and Webber Shandwick (food issues prediction) offering integrated, developed approaches within a broader management agenda. These alliances bring complementary skills and global resource offering the client added value.
frozen foods -- sponsor: Messer UK
Messer UK is a major supplier of carbon dioxide and industrial gases to the food and beverage industry. It provides a wide range of gases, dry ice and equipment, along with technical expertise to provide innovative solutions for food processing, chilling, freezing and packaging.
Messer UK has an extensive customer base, including major players in the food and beverage sectors. Constantly striving for product and process improvements, it is committed to developing new technologies to satisfy customer requirements.
Through UK and European development centres it is able to offer support in the evaluation and testing of technology to suit consumer needs, using global technology experience of the Messer group for the benefit of customers in the UK.
Trials can also be completed at customers' premises to ensure maximum process integration. Messer UK has extensive experience in finding solutions for production problems, implementing trials to improve the suitability of technology followed by successful scale-up of production volumes.
The company is able to offer a complete food processing solution package. This ranges from initial design and equipment provision, right through to gas supply.
Beverages -- sponsor: FISKE
Fiske is the pan-European speciality food ingredient brand of Univar N.V. Since the company's inception in 1979 it has developed a passion for serving its customers and built a strong culture for sales excellence. It is the most customer focused, responsive and highly efficient ingredients supplier within this fast moving, innovative and rapidly changing market.
It provides the food industry with a range of services, including high quality synthetic, natural and functional ingredients for the manufacture of food and beverage products. It brings high quality ingredients, a personal dedicated service, technical support and value to its customers, incorporating the highest food safety standards and total efficiency through every stage of supply.
Fiske's friendly, enthusiastic and helpful team of resourceful, motivated and passionate people ensure that its customers are cared for. The company's core competencies in sales, marketing, distribution and technical support put it at the forefront of the European food ingredients sector.
Fiske believes that encouraging others to raise the standards and strive for excellence is vital to the future of this dynamic industry and it is for this reason it has again decided to support these awards.
confectionery -- sponsor: CINTEX
Cintex is world-renowned for the manufacture and supply of high quality, customised end-of-line inspection solutions to the food industry. Its extensive portfolio includes metal detectors, checkweighers, X-ray machines and label identification and verification systems.
With ever-increasing consumer demand for higher quality products, manufacturers are under constant pressure from retailers to stay ahead of the game. This requires the latest inspection technology, system reliability and the knowledge that full support will be available to ensure the smooth running of their production lines. Cintex aims to provide just that.
Acquired by Spectris earlier this year, the company has gone from strength to strength, benefiting strongly from the support of a large group's resources in engineering, R&D and supply chain issues.
The acquisition secures the future of the Cintex brand, ensuring existing and prospective customers continued support for their range of products, together with a promise to develop even higher capability and more accurate inspection techniques.
Following the development of low-cost, high specification X-ray technology, Cintex continues to strive to change the face of end-of-line inspection and reinforce its position as market leader in this state-of-the-art field.
Ambient & General groceries -- Sponsor: CHRISTIAN SALVESEN
Christian Salvesen is a major European logistics firm, specialising in managing outsourced logistics for blue-chip manufacturing and retail customers in the consumer, food and industrial sectors.
With more than 200 sites in nine countries, Christian Salvesen operates one of the most efficient networks within nine European countries and the largest temperature controlled network in the UK. It partners with clients, supported by industry-leading IT, to optimise inventories and ensure goods are available precisely when and where required.
Christian Salvesen provides dedicated and shared-user temperature-controlled logistics services, giving customers flexible, tailor-made solutions that meet individual needs on a cost-effective basis.
The company's approach is to listen to customers and address their needs, offering relevant services which add value. These include supply chain optimisation, planning, transport, warehousing, ICT systems, project management, automation, fleet and labour management.
Additional specialist services, including tray and crate washing, card and plastic packaging, waste recovery and inspection and repair of equipment, are provided from 20 UK sites. Other services are ambient and temperature-controlled distribution, temperature controlled warehousing, network transport operations, perishable cargo handling, contract packing and pack-house management.
chilled ready meals and prepared foods -- sponsor: FMCL
FMCL is an expert in food recruitment, setting high standards for the sector. With three operating divisions, it has a clear commitment to operational excellence to benefit clients and candidates -- and its business growth proves that this is understood and appreciated.
Working as a strategic partner with both major PLCs and specialist producers alike, it can confidently demonstrate business improvement among its clients as a result of successful, long-term candidate resourcing. Operating across all functions within the sector, it has seven national offices and claims the largest database within food industry recruitment.
It is committed to setting market-leading standards for candidate and client management, believing it can illustrate real points of difference.
With its team's first-hand knowledge of working in the food industry it is often seen as an extension to its clients' human resources department, providing a knowledgeable and professional service that really does add value far above the norm.
Above and beyond its extensive knowledge, infrastructure, database, advertising presence and search capability, it is passionate about doing it right and is evangelical about ethical, excellent recruitment.
dairy -- sponsor: mondi
Mondi Packaging is a leading supplier of corrugated packaging solutions. It uses an innovative approach in meeting the needs of its customers and manufactures and delivers a full range of products, including corrugated board, corrugated cases and point of purchase displays.
It aims for the highest levels of quality, service and efficiency to meet the needs of its customers, both large and small, in a wide variety of market sectors.
Mondi is an energetic and rapidly expanding business. In just under five years, it has reached a market leading position in the UK corrugated packaging industry. Growth has been rapid and innovation has been placed at the heart of the business. Mondi understands its customers' businesses and has developed successful partnerships with the marketing, distribution, technology and purchasing teams of many major organisations.