Booker Food Group, Brakes and Caterforce were among the winners in the new awards, which highlighted the top achievement of foodservice suppliers from wholesalers thorough to food makers.
Judged by chefs for chefs, the awards showcase best in class operators who deliver quality, innovation, value and great taste in their frozen, fresh, chilled or ambient products.
The Chefs’ Choice Product of the Year Award was won by Booker Group for its Chefs’ Larder Chocolate Fudge Brownie.
Chefs’ Choice Product of the Year
Finalists in this category were Brakes for its Ready to Serve Continental Cheese Selection and Mövenpick Ice Cream’s Swiss Chocolate Ice Cream.
Don’t miss a full list of winners, highly-rated entries and finalists in the box below.
Organised by the Food Manufacture Group’s publisher William Reed, the awards offer all category winners, highly-rated entries and finalists the opportunity to use the awards’ endorsement logos on packaging and in all marketing.
Endorsement logos
Event director and publisher of the Food Manufacture Group Sonia Young said the industry asked William Reed to organise the awards to enhance the sector. “These awards will allow businesses in the foodservice supply chain to compete head-to-head in core product categories and secure a competitive advantage via independent assessment of eating quality, value and taste,” said Young.
“They also highlight great development work that’s delivering value to thousands of customers in pubs and bars, restaurants, hotels, cafes and other hospitality outlets.”
Commenting at the awards’ launch last year William Reed md retail and manufacturing Lorraine Hendle said: “Suppliers have told us they want a process by which they could secure a wholly independent assessment of their product development work, quality output and recipe innovation. These awards meet that demand.”
Taking place at the Haymarket Hotel in London, the awards were supported by the Food Manufacture Group’s sister titles Morning Advertiser, Restaurant and The Grocer in association with Food Innovation Solutions.
Meanwhile, don’t miss this video interview capturing the judges’ comments on the industry innovation highlighted in the new awards.
Chefs’ Choice Awards: meet the winners
Bread and Morning Goods
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Premium Brioche Buns
- New York Bakery Company – Croll
- Bidfood – Premium Selection Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese & Chutney Bloomer
- Bidfood – Premium Selection Five Seed & Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese Bloomer
Highly Rated: Bidfood – Premium Selection Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese & Chutney Bloomer. Bidfood - Five Seed & Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese Bloomer
Winner: New York Bakery Company – Croll
Cheese and Dairy Products
Finalists
- Brakes – British Individual Cheeseboard
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Premium Taw Valley Mature Cheddar
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Tuxford and Tebbutt Blue Stilton
- Brakes – Ready to Serve Continental Cheese Selection
Highly Rated: Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Premium Taw Valley Mature Cheddar
Winner: Brakes – Ready to Serve Continental Cheese Selection
Condiments
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Pesto Alla Genovese
- Booker Group - Chef’s Larder Premium Caramelised Red Onion Chutney
- Booker Group - Chef’s Larder Premium Real Mayonnaise
- LoSalt – LoSalt Original
Highly Rated: Booker Group’s – Pesto Alla Genovese
Winner: Chef’s Larder - Premium Real Mayonnaise
Finished Desserts
Finalists
- Brakes – Granola Topped Blackcurrant and Goji Berry Roulade
- Belfield – Chocolate Coated Salted Caramel Profiteroles
- Bidfood- Premium Selection Belgian Chocolate Salted Caramel Mousse Dome
- Brakes – Salted Caramel and Chocolate Tart
Highly Rated: Brakes – Granola Topped Blackcurrant and Goji Berry Roulade
Winner: Belfield – Chocolate Coated Salted Caramel Profiteroles
Beverages
Finalists
- Bidfood- Black & White Costa Rican 100% Arabica Medium Roast Beans
- Booker Group – Lichfields Fairtrade Gourmet Espresso Beans
- Booker Group – Lichfields Flavoured Tea, Red Berries
- Wenlock Spring – Still Water
Highly Rated
- Booker Group – Lichfields Flavoured Tea - Red Berries
- Wenlock Spring – Still Water
Winner: Booker Group with Litchfield Fair Trade Gourmet Espresso Beans
Cheesecake
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Premium New York Cheesecake
- Bestway Wholesale – Essentially Catering Premium Madagascan Vanilla Cheesecake
- Brakes – Muscovado and Speculoos Cheesecake
- Bidfood– Premium Selection Popping Prosecco Lemon Cheesecake Torte
Highly Rated
- Bestway Wholesale – Essentially Catering Premium Madagascan Vanilla Cheesecake.
- Booker Group – Chefs’ Larder Premium New York Cheesecake
Winner: Brakes – Muscovado and Speculoos Cheesecake
Cakes, Biscuits and Scones
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Premium Luxury Biscuit Assortment
- Bidfood– Premium Selection Hummingbird Cake
- Bidfood– Premium Selection Spiced Parsnip, Maple & Pecan Cake
- Caterforce – Superfood Fruit Cake
Highly Rated
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Premium Luxury Biscuit Assortment
- Bidfood – Premium Selection Hummingbird Cake
- Caterforce – Superfood Fruit Cake
Winner: Bidvest – Premium Spiced Parsnip, Maple and Pecan Cake
Lamb and Pork
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Premium Wild Boar Hot Dogs
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Smoked Grilled Bacon
- Bestway Wholesale – Essentially Catering Premium Back Bacon
Highly Rated: Bestway Wholesale – Essentially Catering Premium Back Bacon
Winner: Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Premium Wild Boar Hot Dogs.
Fish and Shellfish
Finalists
- Brakes – ASC King Prawns
- Brakes – Cold Smoked Salmon Portions
- Attilus Caviar – Fresh Sturgeon Caviar
Highly Rated: Attilus Caviar – Fresh Sturgeon Caviar
Winner: Brakes – Cold Salmon Portions
Ice Cream and Sorbet
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef's Larder Premium Luxury Madagascan Vanilla Dairy Ice Cream
- Minioti – Premium Strawberry Ice Cream
- Mövenpick Ice Cream – Raspberry Sorbet
- Mövenpick Ice Cream – Swiss Chocolate Ice Cream
Winner: Mövenpick Ice Cream – Swiss Chocolate Ice Cream
Beef
Finalists
- Brakes – Beef Rib with Salt and Pepper
- Booker Group – Blackgate Signature Beef Roasting Joint
- Booker Group – Blackgate Signature Chain off Fillet Steak
- Brakes – Tomahawk Steak
Highly Rated: Brakes – Beef Rib with Salt and Pepper
Winner: Brakes – Tomahawk Steak
Meal Accompaniments
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Buttery Mash Potato
- Farm Frites UK & Ireland – Ultimate Chips
- Riso Gallo UK – Gran Riserva Rice
- Brakes – Wheatberry Apple & Cranberry Salad
Highly Rated
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Buttery Mash
- Riso Gallo UK – Gran Riserva Rice.
Winner: Farm Frites UK & Ireland – Ultimate Chips
Party and Buffet Foods
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Coronation Chicken Filler
- Brakes – Japanese Karaage King Prawns
- Caterforce – Panko Coated Squid Strips
- Bidvest Food Service – Premium Selection British Sausage Roll
Highly Rated
- Brakes for Japanese Karaage King Prawns
- Bidfood – Premium Selection British Sausage Roll,
Winner: Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Coronation Chicken Filler
Ready Meals
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Beef Lasagne
- Brakes – Penang Chicken Curry
- Brakes – Slow Cooked Hickory Smoked BBQ Beef Brisket
- Brakes – Venison Lasagne
Highly Rated
- Brakes – Penang Chicken Curry
- Brakes – Slow Cooked BBQ Beef Brisket
Winner: Brakes – Venison Lasagne
Poultry Products
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef’s Essentials Chicken Breast Fillets
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Crispy Chicken Bites
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Spicy Chicken Pops
- Brakes – Shredded Aromatic Duck
Highly Rated: Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Crispy Chicken Bites
Winner: Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Spicy Chicken Pops
Vegetables
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Italian Peeled Plum Tomatoes
- Bestway Wholesale – Essentially Catering Reduced Salt & Sugar Baked Beans
- Booker Group – Farm Fresh Peeled Garlic
Winner: Bestway Wholesale – Essentially Catering Reduced Salt & Sugar Baked Beans
Products Sold as Free-From
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Chocolate Fudge Brownie
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Fine Gravy Granules
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Premium Extra Chunky Gourmet Chips
Winner: Booker – Chef’s Larder Chocolate Fudge Brownie
Vegetarian Ready Meals
Finalists
- Brakes – Individual Portions of Paneer Saag & Gobi Masala
- Bidfood – Premium Selection Butternut Squash, Aubergine, Feta and Pomegranate Moussaka
- Bidfood – Premium Selection Green Pesto Roulade
Winner: Bidfood – Premium Selection Butternut Squash, Aubergine, Feta and Pomegranate Moussaka
Chefs’ Choice Product of the Year
Finalists
- Booker Group – Chef’s Larder Chocolate Fudge Brownie
- Brakes – Ready to Serve Continental Cheese Selection
- Mövenpick Ice Cream – Swiss Chocolate Ice Cream
Winner: Booker Group – Chefs’ Larder Chocolate Fudge Brownie