Kettleby Foods wins top environmental award

The firm’s environmental record was recognised in front of hundreds of industry guests, as the firm’s production director Andrzej Szokalski collected the award from William Reed Business Media’s (WRBM's) global brands director Elaine Marshall and awards host and star TV presenter Mark Durden-Smith.

The FMEA awards’ independent judging panel – led by Paul Wilkinson, chair of National Skills Academy – praised the firm’s holistic approach to waste reduction, demonstrated throughout its business. Its inspired environmental management, 4 ‘R’ Plan, wowed the judges with its strong workforce engagement and impressive record of achievement.

‘The engagement of everyone’

The business had achieved savings of 2,876t of carbon dioxide equivalent and waste reduction of up to 41%. One judge commented: “If you want to make an impact in this area, you really have to get the engagement of everyone and this entry from Kettleby Foods showed strong evidence of having achieved that, with its easy-to-understand environmental strategy.”

In a sharply contested category, other shortlisted firms were: Aston Manor Cider, Ginsters, Moy Park, Winning Blend/Welsh Pantry and Wyke Farms.

The overall Food Manufacture Company of the year was awarded to Northern Ireland headquartered meat and poultry firm Moy Park, which also won the Meat and poultry manufacturing company of the year earlier in the evening. 

Meat category leadership

The judges selected Moy Park because of its strong meat category leadership, financial performance, training and environmental credentials.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Hall, group technical director of Bernard Matthews, landed the Food Manufacture Personality of the year title for his campaigning work to curb the spread of Britain’s number one cause of food poisoning – campylobacter.

The annual FMEAs, organised by William Reed Business Media’s Food Manufacture Group, now in their 15th year, have become the premier event in the food and drink manufacturing calendar.

This year’s carnival-themed awards celebration was held on the evening of Tuesday, November 3.   

Read the full list of FMEA winners and finalists here.

Could your food and drink manufacturing business win an Oscar next year? if so, register your interest in the 2016 Food Manufacture Excellence Awards here.