SK Foods wins Judges’ Star Performer Oscar

Chilled ethnic snacks producer SK Foods has landed the coveted Judges’ star performer trophy in the food manufacturing industry’s Oscars – the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards (FMEAs) – during an awards celebration at The Hilton Park Lane, last week.

SK Foods’s success was celebrated in front of hundreds of food and drink manufacturing sector guests with the FMEA trophy at a Venice-themed ceremony, hosted by star TV presenter Carol Smillie.

The firm’s md Jeremy Faulkner received the award from Jeremy Praud, head of UK and Europe with category sponsor Lauras International.

The FMEA’s independent judging panel – led by Paul Wilkinson, chair of National Skills Academy for Food and Drink – were impressed by SK Foods’s initiative to step up its game to assure the top quality nature and full traceability of ingredients sourced from its diverse supply chain.

Inbound raw materials

To ensure the protein and spices its uses are completely contaminant-free, the business has put in place procedures to check the integrity of its inbound raw materials.

One judge remarked: “SK Foods has worked tirelessly with a big supermarket partner and has become a key supplier of oriental snack foods. That achievement has been made possible partly by its single-minded focus on the integrity of its supply chain.”

SK Foods was selected for the award from a shortlist of five candidates, including ABP UK and Davison Canners. Read the full shortlist in the box below.

The full shortlist

Last year’s winner of the Judges’ Star Performer Oscar was 2 Sisters Food Group for its pioneering work in campylobacter prevention.

The overall title Food Manufacture Company of the Year was won by Mash Direct after it won the Chilled and Fresh category earlier in the evening.

Mash Direct was the judges’ unanimous choice for its new product development, inspired category management and production efficiencies.

The Food Manufacture Personality of the year title went to 2 Sisters Food Group technical learning and development manager Janette Graham for her pioneering work in developing the government’s new Trailblazer apprenticeship programme for the food and drink sector.

This year’s FMEAs award ceremony took place on the evening of Wednesday, November 2.

Don't miss the full list of winners and finalists.

Meanwhile, register your interest in entering next year's awards here.

Judges’ Star Performer shortlist

• ABP UK

• Davison Canners

• Premier Foods

• Rise Bakery

• SK Foods WINNER