The businesses were recognised in front of hundreds of industry guests at the London Park Lane Hilton, in a glittering awards celebration on Thursday November 21.
The judges decided to honour British Sugar for the skill, foresight and determination with which it is managing change within its business ahead of the removal of the EU’s sugar regime in 2017.
Supplier initiative
Dairy Crest was chosen in recognition of its supplier initiative designed to secure its continued success while offering a fair price to farmers.
British Sugar’s talent development manager Alison Hollas and Dairy Crest chief executive Mark Allen received their awards from Jude Mason, director of client and product services with category sponsor NSF International. They were joined on stage by awards presenter and TV Countryfile star Julia Bradbury.
The award judges – led by judging panel chairman Paul Wilkinson – praised both company’s “quite outstanding achievements”.
'Impossible dilemma'
“Faced with impossible dilemma of choosing between two equally fantastic companies that were doing something quite special – albeit in very different areas – for the first time the judges decided to make a joint award,” said Wilkinson.
The Judges’ Star performer award celebrates the achievement of food or drink manufacturers in one particular area of achievement.
Premier Foods was the winner of the overall title Food manufacturing company of the year. It also collected the award for Ambient manufacturing company of the year
Other companies collecting awards were:
• Allied Bakeries, bakery manufacturing company of the year
• Wyke Farms, Dairy manufacturing company of the year
• Pork Farms, Chilled and fresh foods manufacturing company of the year and Best use of food ingredients award.
• Ardo UK, Frozen foods manufacturing company of the year
• The Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group, Meat, poultry and seafood manufacturing company of the year
• United Biscuits, Environmental initiative of the year
• Iglo Foods Group, Supply chain initiative of the year
• British Sugar and Dairy Crest, Judges’ star performer of the year
• Mash Direct, Most innovative small company of the year
Meanwhile, could your food or drink manufacturing business challenge Premier Foods and the other FMEA winners for a food and drink manufacturing Oscar next year? Register your interest for the 2014 awards here.