Food & Drink Federation Awards winners announced

Over 500 guests gathered to celebrate the food and drink manufacturing industry’s contribution to the UK at The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Awards 2019 at the Royal Lancaster, London.

The Awards also payed special recognition to John Lea, chairman of Morning Foods and Oakes Millers, for his outstanding contribution to the industry.

The FDF Awards 2019 winners are as follows:

Special Recognition – John Lea, Morning Foods and Oakes Millers:
John Lea is the chairman of Morning Foods and Oakes Millers, companies that represent the largest independent milling, food and feed production companies in the UK. Through technological advancement, product innovation, and continuous reinvestment, John has evolved the group to be at the forefront of these disciplines.

Apprentice of the Year – Kyle Constable, OAL

Brand Launch of the Year – Britvic Plc (sponsored by Ipsos MORI):
Britvic Plc have worked on relaunching and revitalising Robinsons Fruit Creations and Robinsons Fruit Cordials.

Campaign of the Year – Fare Share:
Fare Share’s Feed People First campaign called on government to introduce financial incentives to food businesses to make the cost of charitable food retribution equal to that of sending food, which is still good to eat, to waste. This helps ensure that the annual 270,000 tonnes of surplus food goes to those in the UK who are struggling to afford to eat.

Community Partner – Bags of Taste (sponsored by University of Lincoln):
Bags of Taste’s Bags of Taste, Combatting Food Poverty helps motivate otherwise disinterested participants to change their habits in favour of regularly cooking food at home.

Diet & Health (Joint Winners) – Kellogg’s:
Kellogg’s significantly reduced the amount of sugar found in Kellogg’s Coco Pops, without using artificial sweeteners.

Diet & Health (Joint Winners) – Kerry Taste & Nutrition:
Kerry Taste & Nutrition’s work in Optimising in Beverage Menus in Foodservice has helped address the consumer demand for health and wellness without compromising on taste.

Education Initiative – PepsiCo International:
PepsiCo International’s The PepsiCo Beaumont Park STEM Initiative or ‘The Curiosity Club’ was created to increase STEM engagement in young people.

Environmental Leadership – Raynor Foods Ltd (sponsored by Food Matters Summit)”:
Raynor Foods commissioned and up-scaled its on-site hydroponic, vertical, self-contained farm, utilising third generation LED grow-light technology, in-built UV water filtration systems and fully programmable lighting and irrigation systems.

Exporter of the Year – Millennium Group (sponsored by Santander):
Millennium Group has become the biggest UK supplier by volume of FMCG to cross-border retailers in China, with over 1,000 containers shipped in 2018.

Food and Drink Engineer of the Year – Alexandra Agg, Mondelēz International (sponsored by Sheffield Hallam University):
Alexandra Agg, senior process engineer at Mondelēz International, has successfully reviewed and improved process control and training of operators on how to run lines in the optimum way.

Food and Drink Scientist of the Year – David Clark, KP Snacks (sponsored by IFST):
David Clark, development manager at KP Snacks, has played a key role in new product and process development work.

HR Initiative – KP Snacks:
KP Snacks has implemented a company-wide mental health strategy in-line with Making mental health a priority at KP Snacks, placing mental wellbeing on an equal footing with physical wellbeing.

Innovation – Company Shop Group (sponsored by Santander):
In the last year, Company Shop Group have made significant strides in helping the industry unlock the full potential in surplus – commercially, socially, and environmentally.

Rising Star – Jessica Kelly, Premier Food (sponsored by PepsiCo UK):
Joining originally on the Premier Food’s commercial graduate programme, Jessica Kelly has quickly progressed within the company, demonstrating the skills and potential required to excel in the industry.

Emerging Business – The Meatless Farm Co. (sponsored by RSSL):
The Meatless Farm Co’s mission is to make plant-based eating simple, allowing families and individuals to swap out meat a couple of days a week.

Registered Nutritionist/Dietitian of the Year – Meg Longworth, Chartwell, Compass UK&I (New for 2019):
Meg Longworth, head of nutrition and public health, Chartwells, Compass UK&I, has made a huge contribution to the health of young people, with programmes such as Nudge Nudge, sat on All Parliamentary Groups, made keynote speeches as well as writing a topical column in Educatering Magazine.

Santander Special Recognition Award – Ramsden International:
Ramsden International is the UK’s leading wholesale exporter of British grocery brands, exporting favourites such as PG Tips and Cadbury’s chocolate to 100+ countries worldwide.

A silent auction at the event was held for industry benevolent charity GroceryAid. Prizes were generously donated by Redtooth Memorabilia.

Ian Wright, chief executive, Food and Drink Federation, said: “Many congratulations to each of the winners at the FDF Awards. Thanks to our diverse and vibrant industry, each of the applicants in every category all had something distinct to offer. Every entrant should be proud of their contribution to UK food and drink.

“The FDF Awards prove that despite the uncertainty we have been facing in these difficult times, the UK food and drink industry is increasingly versatile and dynamic and in the best possible shape to face the challenges to come.”

The 2020 FDF Awards will launch in November 2019. For more information on the FDF Awards visit: http://www.fdf.org.uk/fdf-awards.aspx.