The firm’s achievements were recognised in front of hundreds of industry guests, as the firm’s production director Jamie McGregor collected the award from category sponsor Justine Fosh, chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink.
They were joined on stage by the awards host and star TV presenter Mark Durden-Smith.
Commitment to workplace training
The FMEA awards’ independent judging panel – led by Paul Wilkinson, chair of National Skills Academy – praised the firm’s clear commitment to workplace training that delivered measureable benefits to the business, at a time when some firms were cutting back on skills development.
All new staff completed an online Chartered Institute of Environmental Health training course before beginning work, followed by a factory induction programme and a six-month NVQ programme. “Its ground roots training scheme targeted operators and production staff, rather than simply focusing on management training,” said one judge.
‘Hard evidence’
“It’s all very well making claims, but Essential Cuisine backed those up with hard evidence,” she added.
Essential Cuisine fought off stiff competition from Sleaford Quality Foods, Tulip and Weetabix.
The overall Food Manufacture Company of the Year was awarded to Northern Ireland based meat and poultry firm Moy Park, which also won the Meat and Poultry Manufacturing Company of the Year earlier in the evening.
Unanimous choice
Moy Park was the judges’ unanimous choice, based on its strong meat category leadership, financial performance, training and environmental credentials.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Hall, group technical director of Bernard Matthews, won the coveted Food Personality of the Year title for his campaigning work to curb the spread of Britain’s number one cause of food poisoning – campylobacter.
The carnival themed awards took place at the Lancaster hotel, London on the evening of Tuesday, November 3.
Don’t miss the full list of food and drink manufacturing Oscars winners and finalists.
Training category Oscar shortlist
- Sleaford Quality Foods
- Tulip
- Weetabix