Watch the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards live!

This is your springboard to dive into the action as it happens. We usually reveal the winners at a face-to-face event at a swanky London location, but the current pandemic has forced our hands and driven us online.

So save the date​, ​click on this article just before the clock strikes 5pm on 11 February and access our digital brochure covering all the awards and finalists and brace yourself as we celebrate all those receiving trophies with a distinctly 80s vibe. Find out who will claim the ultimate crown of Food Manufacture Company of the Year - selected by the independent judging panel from the winners of the seven main product categories. And don't forget to tweet your successes and congratulations to the winners.

Escape for a moment away from the gloom and relentless slog and take time to witness the cream of the food and drink manufacturing industry claiming just recognition for extraordinary achievements.

   

Sponsors​

These awards, sponsored by Dawn Foods​ ​and Fowler Welch​, ​have for the past 21 years, sought to highlight food processing excellence and for that reason have offered essential recognition to the unsung champions of the sector.

However, while we can't provide a physical ceremony this year, we believe it's more vital than ever to reward those achievements in the face of the biggest supply challenges since the Second World War.

That the industry has literally stepped up to the plate and kept the nation, particularly the vulnerable, fed while still exceeding their own business targets is a real cause for celebration.

50 finalists​

A total of 50 finalists are up for awards across 13 categories​​, including the inaugural Plant-Based Food Manufacturing Company of the Year and the hotly-contested Food Manufacture​ Apprentice of the Year. Access videos of plant-based finalists Freaks of Nature​​, Glebe Farm​​ and Winterbotham Darby​​ and podcasts of Apprentice of the Year finalists Emily Chater​​ and Gabrielle Freeman​​ of Pilgrim's Pride, Amelia Cockran​​ of Coca-Cola European Partners and Henry Greer​​ of Finnebrogue Artisan.

Our annual Business Leader of the Year award is also due to be announced, with the winner chosen by online reader vote from a shortlist of six personalities​ chosen by the editorial team.

Look out for further coverage of winners online after the event as well.