FDF Awards unveils shortlist
The shortlist for this year’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Awards has been announced, following much deliberation by a judging panel comprised of industry experts and sponsors.
Finalists include a range of well known brands, SMEs, rising stars in the industry, as well as more established innovators and technical experts.
The FDF Awards 2016 shortlist is:
- Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Aktrion: Addo, Ben Groom; Coca-Cola Great Britain, Josh Sloan; Mars, Marc Cotton; Mondelēz International, Omar Woodburn; Mondelēz International, Grant Thomas; Nestlé UK, Keely Laycock; and PepsiCo UK, Kaifer Williams
- Campaign of the Year: Haribo, Kids’ Choice; KP Snacks, Space Raiders, Out of this World; Mondelēz International, Joynormous Surprise; Premier Foods, McDougalls Young Baking Team of the Year; Premier Foods, Bisto Spare Chair Sunday; and Storm Communications, Proper Cornish, The Pasty Society
- Community Champion: Ashbury Labelling, Alex Gibson & Louise Kakoulli; General Mills, Peter O’Reilly; Premier Foods, Anthony Warner; and Wrigley, Gurpreet Saundh
- Community Partner: Ferrero, Kinder + Sport; KP Snacks, Bolivian Peanut Project; KP Snacks, Living Leadership Team, Stockton Riverside College; Nestlé, Cocoa Plan; Warburtons, Community Investment Programme; and Wrigley, PLUSS co-packaging
- Education Initiative – sponsored by General Mills: KP Snacks, Healthy Eating Week; Premier Foods, McDougalls Young Baking Team of the Year; Thorntons, Factory Tours & Educational Projects; and Wrigley, Open Wide, Step Inside
- Environmental Leadership: ABP Beef, Ellesmere Development; KP Snacks, Sustaining Brazil Nut Collecting in Bolivia; Mondelēz International, Cocoa Life; PepsiCo UK, 50 in 5 progress; and United Biscuits, Ultra Biofuel Project
- Exporter of the Year – sponsored by Santander: Joe & Seph’s; Kudos Blends; London Deli; Premier Foods; and Ramsden International
- Food and Drink Scientist of the Year: KP Snacks, Andy Clow; Mondelēz International, Wayne Price; Mondelēz International, Evelien Beuling; and Premier Foods, Gordon Wiseman
- Food and Drink Engineer of the Year – sponsored by Sheffield Hallam University: Addo Food Group, Ian Taylor; Mondelēz International, Sarah Boyd; PepsiCo UK, John Walker; and Premier Foods, Martin Law
- Good Employer – sponsored by apetito: Ashbury Labelling; Frank Roberts & Sons; KP Snacks; and Premier Foods
- Health and Wellbeing – sponsored by Nestle: Agrico; Baxters; Little Dish; and Wholegood Foods
- Innovation: apetito, Purée Petite; apetito, Free from; ChicP; Premier Foods; Taywell; and United Biscuits
- Product Reformulation: Bad Ass Cakes; Halo Foods; KP Snacks; Little Dish; Premier Foods; and Spar
- Rising Star – sponsored by PepsiCo: Addo Food Group, Samuel Benjamin; Jarrett Health, Pearl Jarrett; KP Snacks, Natasha Barnett; Mars, Harriett Greenwood; Premier Foods, Geraldine Garbett; and Sleaford Quality Foods, Rob McAndrew.
Ian Wright, FDF director general, comments, “We received a huge number of entries from across the food and drink sector. They represented a wide range of the most innovative names in the industry, from growers, retailers, artisan producers and big global brands to SMEs.
“It was a very difficult task to make a shortlist but, along with our expert judging panel, we are really pleased with the number of entrants and our eventual finalists. This is a great reminder to us all of the talented and dedicated colleagues we have in Britain’s food and drink industry.”
Finalists will gather together with their peers and colleagues on 22 September 2016 for a gala evening at The Brewery, London, to recognise the industry’s achievements and to hear which finalists have been successful. As well as acting as a platform for the industry, the evening – which will be hosted by broadcaster and presenter Hardeep Singh Kohli – will enable guests to come together and discover more about the many innovations underway in food and drink in the UK.
