Winning the award for the second year in succession, the firm’s achievements were recognised in front of hundreds of industry guests, as the firm’s Trevor Newman and Steve Thorpe collected the award from Foodex event director Dan Dixon and awards host and TV presenter Mark Durden-Smith.
The FMEA awards’ independent judging panel – led by Paul Wilkinson, chair of National Skills Academy – praised CCE’s track record of investment, training and environmental stewardship.
£300M investment
Coca-Cola Enterprises packed a lot of impressive information into its entry, agreed the judges. Several praised its decision to invest in latest manufacturing technology at its East Kilbride site, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, part of a £300M investment plan over five years.
The firm’s water stewardship scheme and its full range of training programmes also won acclaim. One judge summed up: “They are doing some cracking stuff with new production development, processes, people and their academy’s engagement with local schools to address the STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] skills shortage.”
‘STEM skills shortage’
The business fought off stiff competition from fellow short-listed firms: Aston Manor Cider and Fruitapeel Juice.
The top trophy – Food Manufacture Company of the year – was awarded to poultry processor Moy Park, which also won the Meat and poultry manufacturing company of the year. The business won the award for its strong meat category leadership, financial performance, training and environmental achievements.
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, were staged at the Lancaster hotel, London in a carnival-themed celebration on the evening of Tuesday, November 3.
Read the full list of FMEA winners and finalists here.
Fancy winning a food and drink manufacturing Oscar for your boardroom? Then register your interest in the 2016 Food Manufacture Excellence Awards here.
Aston Manor Cider Fruitapeel Juice
- Aston Manor Cider
- Fruitapeel Juice