FDF awards ceremony recognises industry leaders
The Food and Drink Federation Awards ceremony last night (21 September) showcased the achievements of the UK’s food and drink manufacturing industry.
A panel of judges were tasked with awarding 21 prizes to individuals, companies, and campaigns throughout the country. They were presented by broadcaster, writer, and comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli at London’s The Brewery.
The FDF Awards 2017 winners are as follows:
Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Aktrion Food)
Elise Rawlins, sustainability apprentice at Bidfood, Nottingham, UK
Campaign of the Year
Berkshire-based Mars Chocolate UK’s campaign, Maltesers celebrates diversity with ads that Look on the Light Side of disability
Community Champion (sponsored by Santander)
Victoria Prowse, senior manager, commercial strategy at Coca-Cola European Partners Ltd in Uxbridge, UK
Community Partner (sponsored by General Mills UK Ltd)
apetito in Wiltshire, working in partnership with the Trowbridge senior community
Education Initiative
Central England Co-operative SENse to Aspire Scheme which supports students through classroom employability sessions and work experience in Staffordshire, UK
Weetabix Food Company’s apprenticeship and education programme in Northamptonshire, UK
Environmental Leadership (sponsored by Kite Packaging)
PepsiCo UK, in Berkshire, ‘50 in 5’ project which aimed to halve the water and carbon used to grow the potatoes that make Walkers crisps in water stressed areas
Exporter of the Year (sponsored by Santander)
BFree Foods, the 3rd largest bakery brand in the free from category, based in Newry and Dublin.
Food and Drink Engineer of the Year (sponsored by Sheffield Hallam University)
Sarah Cain, reliability & maintenance manager at The Wrigley Company in Reading, UK
Food and Drink Scientist of the Year (sponsored by the Institute of Food Science and Technology)
Dr Wendy Russell, gut health theme leader and a principal investigator in natural product chemistry at the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Scotland
Good Employer
KP Snacks’ ‘Achieving Together: Creating and Embedding KP’s Values and Behaviours’ project in Slough, UK
Health
Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition’s ‘Taste, Texture and Transparency: Revolutionising the C&G jars portfolio’ project in London
Innovation (sponsored by Omron)
Trowbridge-based Apetito’s ‘Puree Petite’ range of smaller meals suitable for those suffering from dysphagia
Rising Star (sponsored by PepsiCo UK)
David King, marketing manager at Bidfood in Slough, UK recognised for his passion to deliver and impressive results.
Regional Growth Business (sponsored by Grant Thornton UK LLP)
Central & Northern England: The Yorkshire Wagyu Company Ltd, a meat producer in East Yorkshire, UK
Scotland & Northern Ireland: Loch Duart Salmon in Sutherland, UK, an independent Scottish salmon farming business
South East England: Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn, a family business from London
South West England: Friska, based in Bristol, an ethically minded, quality, quick service restaurant in the food-to-go market
Wales: Tiny Rebel, a family-run brewery in Newport, South Wales
Special Recognition Award (sponsored by Santander)
Radnor Hills Mineral Water Company, a soft drinks manufacturer in Powys, Wales that showed impressive growth, commitment to community development, and strong environmental ethos.
Ian Wright CBE, director general of the Food and Drink Federation, says, “The winners of the FDF Awards are the stars of our industry. I congratulate all of them and our shortlisted contestants and entrants.
“They demonstrate the vigour and brilliance of everyone who works so hard to provide the nation’s food and drink.
“I also thank our judges and sponsors for making this event possible, and everyone who attended the ceremony for coming together to celebrate our winners.”
The 2018 FDF Awards will launch in November 2017.
