Global cuisine and ‘wow’ moments on show at the 2025 British Frozen Food Awards

Marks & Spencer, Destiny Foods, Daregal Gourmet Ltd and itsu [grocery] were among the biggest winners at the 37th annual British Frozen Food Awards, held last in Thursday 19 June at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London.

Hosted by the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF), the awards celebrate the very best in frozen food innovation, quality and culinary creativity across retail and foodservice.

This year’s Retail Product of the Year went to Marks & Spencer for its M&S Collection Beef Wellington, while Daregal Gourmet Ltd triumphed in the Foodservice Product of the Year category with its Squeeze Professional Smoky Burger Sauce.

Innovation remained front and centre, with itsu [grocery] winning Retail Innovation Product of the Year for its chicken soup’dumplings, and Destiny Foods awarded Foodservice Innovation Product of the Year for its Royal Matcha Yuzu, described by the judges as a true ‘wow’ dessert.

Rupert Ashby, chief executive of the British Frozen Food Federation, said: “This year’s entries once again demonstrate that frozen food is at the forefront of affordable, exciting and sustainable food innovation. Our judging panels were once again blown away by the quality and variety of the products that entered. From North and South America, via the great food traditions of Europe to India and East and South-East Asia, the products entered truly span global cuisine.

“These awards are an opportunity to celebrate the phenomenal innovation that’s taking place in the frozen sector – something that is increasingly being recognised by consumers at large. Our latest consumer research shows that 89% of people believe the quality of frozen food is getting better—a resounding endorsement of the progress our industry continues to make.

“From reducing waste to locking in nutrition and delivering restaurant-quality food at home or in professional kitchens, frozen food is more relevant than ever. With the UK government’s anticipated food strategy on the horizon, our sector has a vital role to play. The calibre of this year’s winners gives me great confidence that frozen food will continue to flourish as part of the UK food industry in the years ahead.”

In the retail categories, COOK won Gold in Best New Dessert with its Cherry Bakewell Pavlova, while Heron Foods scooped Golds in the Best New Ice Cream and Best New Kids’ product categories with its Delizia Italiana Limoncello Meringue Ice Cream and Lolly Land 5 Sprinkle Lollies respectively.

Iceland took home Gold in Best New Side/Vegetable for its Cathedral City Cheesy Potato and Bacon Bake, and Freiberger UK Ltd won Best New Pizza or Savoury Bread with its Goats Cheese Flatbread for Aldi.

In foodservice, major winners included Sysco GB with golds for its La Boulangerie 4” Fully Baked Seeded Maple Flavoured Burger Bun (Best New Bakery) and its Premium Gluten Free & Vegan

Raspberry & Gin Cheesecake (Best New Vegan), Billington Foods with its Greene King Beef & Raclette Pie (Best New Meat Main), Sea Products International for its Ocean Pearl Katsu Marinated King Prawns (Best New Fish Main), and Bidfood for its Premium Selection Panettone Cheesecake (Best New Dessert).

Both the foodservice and retail awards are assessed by panels of professional chefs, while the retail categories are also judged by 24 consumer panels held in locations across the UK. Each entry is rigorously evaluated on taste, innovation, presentation, value for money and commercial viability.

Rupert Ashby said: “The frozen food industry continues to demonstrate its ability to evolve, inspire and deliver. With quality and innovation at an all-time high, the future of frozen food in both retail and foodservice looks incredibly bright.”