And the most excellent shortlist of winners is ...

The shortlist of candidates for the Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards (FMEAs) has now been announced, following decisions from an independent panel of 13 experts from across the industry. The judging took place at the offices of William Reed Business Media - the publisher of Food Manufacture - on September 14.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at London's Hilton in Park Lane on November 5.

The shortlisted candidates are listed below.

 Ambient Company of the Year: Burts Chips; Greencore Grocery; Mars Food; Moguntia Food Ingredients

 Bakery Company of the Year: Allied Bakeries; Butt Foods; Walker & Son

 Cakes and Biscuits Company of the Year: Border Biscuits; Rich Products; American Muffin

 Beverages Company of the Year: Britvic Soft Drinks; Solution Sciences

 Chilled and Fresh Company of the Year: Greencore Northampton; Hazeldene; Mash Direct; Raynor Foods

 Ice Cream Company of the Year: Fredericks Dairies; R&R Ice Cream

 Frozen Company of the Year: Green Gourmet; Iglo Food Group; Lewis Meat and Pasty Co

 Protein Company of the Year: Adams Foods; Dawn Meats Group; Lossie Seafoods; Taste Tradition; Young's Seafood

 Environmental Initiative of the Year: Coca-Cola Enterprises; Kelly's of Cornwall; Premier Foods; Young's Seafood; United Biscuits

 Training Programme of the Year: Bakkavör Hitchen Foods; Britvic Soft Drinks; Fairfax Meadow; Greencore Grocery; Tillery Valley

 Small Company of the Year: Butt Foods; Mash Direct; Moguntia Food Ingredients; Raynor Foods

From the winners of the eight food and drink sector categories an award will be made to the overall Food Manufacturing Company of the Year. Also, a Judges' Special Award will be given to the firm the panel believes deserves recognition for one particular area of its activities.

The winner of the Personality of the Year will also be announced at the event. For your last chance to vote go to www.foodmanawards.co.uk. Voting closes on October 5.

To book seats and tables for the event on November 5, call Rebecca George on 01293 610422 or email rebecca.george@wrbm.com.