Wanted: food and drink manufacturing champions

The awards – now in their 13th year – celebrate excellence and world-class manufacturing across the range of food processing: from ambient, bakery and confectionery to beverages and chilled foods; from dairy, fresh produce to frozen foods; and from meat and poultry processing to seafood.

From the winners of the individual category awards, one company will be selected by our independent panel of expert judges to be crowned Food Manufacturing Company of the Year – the very best of the best!

New for this year ​

In addition to the main category awards described above, awards will also be presented for: Best new use of food ingredients; Environmental initiative of the year; Supply chain initiative of the year; Training programme of the year; and – new for this year – Young talent of the year​. This award will celebrate the sector's new entrants at apprentice, technician and graduate levels to encourage more young people to take up a career in food and drink.

An award will also be made for Judges’ Star Performer, presented to a company selected from all entries, which the judges believe deserves special recognition for one particular area of its activities. An SME [small and medium-sized enterprise] Innovation of the Year award will also be made to the best small company whose turnover is less than £10M and which employs fewer than 100 staff.

Premier Foods​

From the category entries, an overall Food Manufacturing Company of the Year trophy will be awarded. Last year Premier Foods​ scooped top honours.

Completing the tally of prestigious awards, will be Food Manufacture Personality of the Year. Now in its eighth, year this award will be presented to the individual who has done most over the past year to raise the profile of the industry. The winner will be selected by an online poll of Food Manufacture's readership from a shortlist of candidates compiled by the Food Manufacture Group's editorial team. The shortlist will be announced in the June issue of Food Manufacture​ and online. Last year's winner was Richard Clothier, md of Somerset-based cheese producer Wyke Farms.

The closing date for receipt of entries is July 31. The winners will be revealed at a classy awards evening at the London Hilton in Park Lane on November 20.

To find out more about entering the awards, visit: www.foodmanawards.co.uk​ Alternatively, call Rebecca George on 01293 610422 or email: erorppn.trbetr@jeoz.pbz​.