Food and drink leaders in Queen’s birthday honours list

Wade Lyn, founder and md of ethnic foods business Cleone Foods, was awarded a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) award for services to the business community. The Birmingham-based business makes a range of Caribbean snacks – including more than 100,000 Island Delight patties a week for retailers across the country.

Lyn told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “I am deeply proud to have been deemed worthy for such an accolade. My gratitude to my business colleagues at the Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP [Local Enterprise Partnership] and wider business fraternity for their open acknowledgement that my very small contribution is worthy of reward.”  ​

'Difficult to buy a pattie'​

On Cleone Foods' website, Lyn said: “When I came over to the UK as a teenager, I was surprised to find how difficult it was to buy a pattie, and a bag of chips just wasn’t the same. ​Later on, I decided I wanted to help bring the vibrant Caribbean tastes and flavours I grew up with to the British market.” ​

He added: “Caribbean culture and influence continues to be an extremely important part of modern British cuisine.”​

James Lambert​, chief executive and executive chairman of Europe’s largest own-label ice cream business R&R Ice Cream, received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) award for services to business in North Yorkshire.

“I was both delighted and surprised to be honoured in this way", ​Lambert told FoodManufacture.co.uk. "However, the success of R&R is down to a team effort and I hope that everybody in the organisation is taking pride in this award. This is an amazing business which has achieved great things and everybody – from production workers and engineers to NPD [​new product development], sales and finance – has played a part.  ​

“I believe the award is also an endorsement for the UK food industry and its skilled workforce which help businesses such as ours compete with the best in Europe.”​

Lambert said last year his ambition was to build an ice cream business to rival Unilever’s operation in Europe. A string of well-timed acquisitions and the sale of the business to private equity firm PAI partners has put Lambert firmly on track to achieving that goal.

He is also one of six candidates vying for the Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2013 Personality of the Year. Read profiles of the other candidates and make your selection here​.

Brian Stein​, new non-executive director of the Karro Food Group, was awarded a CBE for services to business and to the community in Leicestershire.

Backed by more than 40 years’ experience in the food industry, Stein spent a decade as ceo of Samworth Brothers and nine years with Northern Foods.  He joined Karro last month after the business was formed from part of Vion UK’s meat business.

Professor Hugh Pennington​, University of Aberdeen, was awarded a CBE for services to microbiology and food hygiene.

Kamal Basran​, founder of the Authentic Food Company, was awarded an OBE for services to business and charity.

Ernest Brace​, chairman of Brace’s Bakery, received an OBE for services to the baking industry and to the community in Wales.

James Stuart Espey​ was awarded an OBE for services to the whisky industry.

Michael Parker​, formerly a board member of the Sea Fish Industry Authority, was awarded an OBE for services to the seafood industry and the community in Grimsby.

Martin Shaw​, bee keeper, was appointed OBE for services to the National Bee Unit and to bee keeping.

Jill Stein​, director of The Seafood Restaurant, got an OBE for services to the restaurant industry.

Professor John Warner​, formerly member of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes, received an OBE for services to Food Allergy Research.

Professor Christopher Wathes​, formerly chairman Farmer Animal Welfare Committee, was appointed OBE for services to animal welfare.

Dr Andrew Charles Wood​, chief executive of brewery, pub and hotel chain Adnams, received an OBE for services to the business community in East Anglia.

Katie Jayne White​, formerly head of international and UK engagement, Department of Energy and Climate Change was awarded an OBE for services to tackling climate change engagement in the UK and overseas.

Meryl Suzanne Ward​, farmer and formerly member of the Farm Animal Welfare Committee was awarded an Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the improvement of pig welfare.

John Francis Oldfield​, md Raynham Estates, received an MBE to services to the farming industry and the advancement of farming practice through research.

Sharon Elizabeth Porter​, member of the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise Advisory Group, received an MBE for services to Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland.

Mark Anthony Hall,​ grounds manager, Harper Adams University College, was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to land-based higher education and to the National Vegetable Society.