Sports nutrition firm wins manufacturing Oscar

The firm’s achievements were recognised in front of hundreds of industry guests by an award presented by awards host star TV presenter Mark Durden-Smith.

With a UK base in Middlesbrough, Glanbia Performance Nutrition is a leading contract manufacturer of functional food bars for the sports nutrition, healthy lifestyle and functional food markets.

The FMEA awards’ independent judging panel – led by Paul Wilkinson, chair of National Skills Academy, praised the firm’s strong investment strategy, directed towards all the right areas.

New product innovation

A stand out factor was how the firm detailed the business benefits of its actions: growing turnover from £16M in 2010 to £80M last year – fuelled by strong new product innovation and production efficiencies.

The judges also praised the firm’s engagement with no fewer than 14 universities, which is “too often” overlooked by leading manufacturers, they said.

Also shortlisted in this category were: Chika’s Food, Essential Cuisine, Fudge Kitchen, Kolak and Sleaford Quality Foods.

Food Manufacture Company of the Year

The overall Food Manufacture Company of the Year trophy 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.

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 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 carnival-themed FMEAs award ceremony took place on Tuesday, November 3.

Read the full list of winners and finalists here.

Meanwhile, last week Glanbia announced its acquisition of US protein snack bar company thinkThin for $217M (£143M).