NFT strategic development director Fiddy said the improvement in smaller companies’ entrants was clear from last year, and emphasised how important the FMEAs are for helping small businesses become big organisations.
“You always expect a high quality, professional entry from a corporate organisation,” Fiddy told FoodManufacture.co.uk. “But the thing I’ve been impressed with is the quality of the submissions from smaller companies.
“Recognise how these awards can profile your business, and it really doesn’t matter the size of your organisation. The judges are looking for excellence and they won’t simply default to a large corporate brand.”
Brexit the focal point
Fiddy went on to say that a lot of this year’s entries focussed on how their businesses are adapting to change. Brexit, in particular, was the focal point of many submissions, he said.
Working with companies that look to optimise their supply chain, Fiddy encouraged more submissions for the supply chain category in the future. He said the entrants were “good quality”, but wants to see more submissions in the “critical area”.
The FMEAs – the Oscars of food and drink manufacturing – takes place on November 2 at the Venice-themed gala in London. Reserve your place here.
Food Manufacture Excellence Awards: the shortlist
Ambient manufacturing company of the year
- Alara Wholefoods
- Jordans, Dorset & Ryvita Company (ABF)
- Kolak Snack Foods
- Nim's Fruit
- Tommy Tucker
- Weetabix
Bakery manufacturing company of the year
- Addo Food Group
- Ginsters
- Premier Foods
- Premier Foods – Cadbury Amaze Bites
- Rise Bakery
- Winning Blend/The Welsh Pantry
- CocaCola European Partners
- Solution Sciences
- Wessanen UK
Chilled and fresh produce manufacturing company of the year
- Bradgate Bakery
- Davison Canners
- Mash Direct
- Quinfresh
- Samworth Brothers
- SK Foods
Dairy and frozen foods manufacturing company of the year
- Freshasia Foods
- R&R Ice Cream
- Wyke Farms
Meat, poultry or seafood manufacturing company of the year
- ABP UK
- Cargill
- Dunbia
- Moy Park
Environmental initiative of the year
- ABP UK
- Ginsters
- Premier Foods
- Samworth Brothers
- Winning Blend/The Welsh Pantry
- Wyke Farms
Supply chain initiative of the year
- Aston Manor Cider
- Ginsters
- Moy Park
Training programme of the year
- Moy Park
- Rise Bakery
- Weetabix
Young talent of the year
- Raheem Gordon, Addo Food Group
- Wojciech Kalinowski, Bradgate Bakery
- Robert Powell, Dunbia
- Sarah Richards, Winning Blend/The Welsh Pantry
- Josh Sloan, CocaCola European Partners
- Molly Smith, Weetabix
Judges’ star performer
- ABP UK
- Davison Canners
- Premier Foods
- Rise Bakery
- SK Foods
SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) Innovation of the year
- Alara Wholefoods
- Davison Canners
- Nim’s Fruit
- Rise Bakery
Me and my factory – editor’s choice award
- Bells Food Group: Ronnie Miles
- Coca-Cola European Partners (Wakefield): Trevor Newman
- Délifrance: Frank Bird
- Glanbia Performance Nutrition: Alex Baker
- Kellogg (Manchester): Tony O’Brien
- Signature Flatbreads: William and Charles Eid
Personality of the year
- Tom Carroll, supply chain director, Graze
- Colin Dennis, immediate past president, Institute of Food Technologists
- Janette Graham, group technical learning and development manager, 2 Sisters Food Group
- Andy Morling, head of food crime at the Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit
- David Potts, chief executive, Morrisons
- Ian Wright, director general, Food and Drink Federation