Firms begin their excellent adventure as shortlist announced

The shortlist has been announced for the 2011 Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards, following assessment by an independent panel last month.

The Awards recognise the very best in the food and drink industry across a range of business categories. Entries were assessed across a variety of criteria, which cover everything from category management and new product development to process innovation, supply chain improvements, quality assurance, health, safety and environmental management and human resources development.

The shortlisted companies are listed below.

Ambient Manufacturer of the Year:

AB World Foods

Premier Foods

Thorntons

Weetabix

Bakery Manufacturer of the Year:

Genesis Crafty

Puratos UK

United Biscuits

Walkers Charnwood Bakery

Beverage Manufacturer of the Year:

Fruitapeel

Kraft Foods

Chilled Foods Manufacturer of the Year:

Dairy Crest

Hitchen Foods

Mash Direct

Dairy Manufacturer of the Year:

Arla Foods UK

Dairy Crest

Rodda's

Fresh Produce Manufacturer of the Year:

IPL Normanton

Willowbrook Foods

Frozen Foods Manufacturer of the Year:

Apetito

Ardo UK

Aunt Bessie's

R&R Ice Cream

Meat & Poultry Manufacturer of the Year:

Becketts Foods

Finnebrogue

Taste Tradition

Tulip

Seafood Manufacturer of the Year:

Keltic Seafare (Scotland)

Lossie Seafoods

Young's Seafood

Small Company of the Year:

American Muffin Co

Finnebrogue

Lossie Seafoods

Moguntia Food Ingredients UK

Training Programme of the Year:

Greencore Grocery

Nom Dairy UK

Tulip

Weetabix

The full range of awards will be presented at a celebratory dinner on Tuesday November 8 at the Riverbank Park Plaza in London. For more information on the categories, details of last year's winners or to book your table at the evening ceremony in London visit: www.foodmanawards.co.uk. You can also enter your vote for 2011's Personality of the Year.