Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2017: meet the winners

The Country Durham-based manufacturer won praise from the FMEA awards’ independent judging panel – led by Paul Wilkinson, chair of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink. The judges highlighted SK Chilled Foods relentless attention to detail in carving out its place in the highly competitive UK snacks market, estimated to be worth £119M a year.

The firm was one of a host of food and drink manufacturers – large and small – recognised in the 17^th​ FMEAs staged at the Hilton on Park Lane in London.

More than 60 manufacturers​

More than 60 manufacturers and individuals competed for a host of trophies, designed to celebrate manufacturing excellence, with other awards for specific initiatives included in the line up.

This year’s 1920s-themed awards featured seven manufacturing categories. Those were: Ambient manufacturing company of the year, Bakery, Beverages, Chilled, Dairy, Fresh produce and Meat & poultry & seafood.

Manufacturing Oscars were also be claimed for the Best new use of food ingredients, Environmental initiative, Supply chain initiative, SME innovation, Training programme and Judges’ star performer.

Also included this year was a trophy for the Young talent of the year – the individual aged under 25 who promised to make the biggest impact on the food and drink manufacturing sector of tomorrow.

Me and my factory editor’s choice award​

For the second year running, the awards featured the Me and my factory editor’s choice award. This manufacturing Oscar celebrated the achievements of one of the factory managers featured in the Me and my factory profiles​, published each month in our sister title Food Manufacture​​​.

This year’s gala award celebrations were hosted by Rugby World Cup winner and former England team captain Matt Dawson.

Meanwhile, we would like to thank our independent panel of judges, led by chair of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Paul Wilkinson.

We would also like to thank the sponsors​ of this year’s awards: Columbus, D R Newit, KDH, Lockton, Michael Page, Celsius, Sanderson, SA Partners, PPMA and Dawn Foods.

For more information about SK Chilled Foods double Oscar win, click here​.

Read more about the FMEAs here​. And, why not register your interest in entering next year’s awards here​.

Meanwhile, watch out for more reports  – in words, photographs and video interviews – detailing all the winners and the award highlights at FoodManufacture.co.uk and in the December edition of our sister title Food Manufacture​.