The Food Manufacture Excellence Awards are due to take place on 6 February 2025, with three in the line-up to become Food Integrity Champion.
Only one can win - let’s meet the finalists ahead of the in-person ceremony in London.
Tickets to attend the awards are available to purchase here.
Nestlé
In the past twelve months, Nestlé has introduced and expanded upon a range of major initiatives that go further in supporting greater transparency, resilience and ethical behaviour across its supply chains.
These initiatives have been implemented across different areas of the business, underpinned by the same commitment to integrity. Within this there have been three flagship schemes that have helped the company make significant progress in the year to date, these are:
- Nestlé & Cargill: Breaks For Good – an initiative to improve traceability in its cocoa supply chain and improve resilience for cocoa farmers.
In January 2022, Nestlé launched its Income Accelerator Programme was launched, which incentivises and enables cocoa-farming families to engage in practices that benefit the environment and local community, including school enrolment, good agricultural practices, agroforestry activities and opportunities for diversified incomes. The programme has reached 30,000 farmers in Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana.
This year it extended the programme, with the roll out of ‘Break for Good’ KitKat bars in the UK – a bar made with traceable cocoa mass that came from families enrolled in the Nestlé Income Accelerator Programme.
In partnership with Cargill, the duo has worked to ensure that each bag of produce can be traced all the way back to the farm it came from, throughout its journey to its York factory.
- Nestlé & Arla: King’s Coronation Food Project – helping to provide healthy breakfasts for more than one million young people
In May 2024, Nestlé partnered with Arla to donate the equivalent of 1.25m breakfasts to food charity FareShare, to support families and communities in need across the UK.
This donation came through the King’s Coronation Food Project, which was launched in November 2023. This partnership supports FareShare’s goal to bring together businesses from across the food industry to collaborate on new ways to address food insecurity and reduce food waste.
For this particular donation, Arla provided Cravendale milk and Nestlé provided cereal to contribute towards breakfasts for organisations supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the UK.
This built on Nestlé’s existing partnership with FareShare that saw it contribute towards 220,000 meals that were distributed to more than 2,500 different charities and organisations across the country during 2023.
- Nestlé & First Milk: Milk Plan – a collaborative partnership to encourage regenerative agriculture in the dairy supply chain
This year marked the 21st birthday of Nestlé and First Milk’s partnership, which has seen them work together to implement regenerative agriculture methods with the aim of having a positive impact on the environment.
All milk used by Nestlé in the UK is sourced from a group of 85 First Milk farms near its sites in Dalston and Girvan, incentivising farmers to use regenerative agricultural methods and supporting the next generation through its Next Generation Farmer and Women in Agriculture groups.
Nestlé’s ultimate goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of its fresh milk supply in the UK & Ireland by 50% by 2025, and its partnership with First Milk is key to making it happen.
According to measurements taken during the past year, Nestlé has been able to reduce the carbon emissions of its dairy supply chain by 18% against a 2018 baseline, and modelled carbon removals (soil) reduces this further to an overall net impact reduction of 29.6%.
Kirsty’s
Operating as a 14-allergen-free site, Kirsty’s goes above and beyond industry standards to protect consumers with allergies, offering peace of mind for individuals and families navigating food sensitivities.
This dedication to safety is reflected in the robust allergen control systems developed, including the rigorous intake testing of raw materials to prevent cross-contamination - a critical factor in ensuring product integrity.
Kirsty’s further demonstrates its integrity by exclusively sourcing British meat, despite the higher costs. This decision reflects a deep commitment to supporting local farmers, ensuring full traceability, and maintaining the highest ethical standards in its sourcing.
The manufacturer has fostered a culture where safety is at the forefront of every employee’s mind, from rigorous training programmes to stringent allergen control systems. It tests all its raw materials at intake and ensures thorough cross-contamination prevention protocols. This culture is reinforced through continuous education and strict adherence to safety practices.
The producer has built a resilient supply chain by carefully selecting suppliers who align with its high standards for safety and quality. These standards go above and beyond; for example, Kirsty’s implements additional processes such as washing its lentils to eliminate any risk of mustard seed contamination, ensuring that even trace allergens are removed. Additionally, it sources Coconut Aminos from Malaysia as a substitute for soy sauce, maintaining flavour profiles without compromising on allergen safety. Its exclusive use of British meat further strengthens its supply chain, supporting local farmers and ensuring full traceability.
Kirsty’s commitment to free-from also extends to developing innovative, allergen-free products that cater to specific dietary needs, such as FODMAP-safe meals and protein-rich options.
It has also recently launched allergen free meals for 1-5 year olds. By offering these diverse, safe, and affordable options, it makes allergen-free eating more inclusive and accessible. Its allergen free site means it can compete on price meaning consumers don’t feel as though they are having to pay a premium to eat healthy and safe meals.
Ethics are at the core of its business operations. Kirsty’s prioritises the well-being of its employees by ensuring they are paid above the national living wage at all times, fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment. Its company values, which were collectively created by the entire team, guide its daily actions and promote a culture of respect and collaboration. Additionally, it provides free, nutritious food on site to all employees, reinforcing its commitment to health and well-being.
It also extends its ethical responsibility to the wider community. Recently, it began working with a local prison to help prisoners transition back into work before their release, offering them valuable employment opportunities and supporting their reintegration into society.
The business is also focused on its environmental impact. It is prioritising local sourcing wherever possible, supporting British agriculture and minimising food miles. In addition, it now uses fully recycled plastics in its packaging and to further strengthen its commitment to sustainability. In fact, it recently recruited a team member with a master’s degree in sustainability, who is focused on helping the manufacturer achieve its carbon-neutral goals.
The business also holds authenticity close to its heart. Its founder started the business after her own son was diagnosed with severe allergies, giving her first-hand experience of the challenges that families and individuals face.
Ross Priory
Situated on the banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland, Ross Priory’s foundations date back to 1693. Bought by the University of Strathclyde in 1971, it is used for variety of events.
The venue grows much of its own ingredients such as fruits, vegetables & herbs, whilst sourcing the ‘very best’ from its local suppliers for products it cannot make itself, such as its proteins.
Ross Priory operates on a zero-waste policy, so anything it can plant and regrow, it will. For example, it will keep its onion and garlic peelings to make its own powders and it makes its own natural food colourings too.
The University will be rolling out apprenticeship schemes for its chefs at Ross Priory soon and is also looking into breaking through into the rosette area.
The Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2025 are kindly supported by headliner Menzies and event sponsors Niras, Quor, and Watermill Press.
The entire shortlist of finalists for the FMEAs 2025 can be found here.
