Food and drink manufacturing Oscars: the shortlist

Nearly 50 of Britain‘s leading food and drink manufacturing firms feature in this showcase of excellence. From modestly-sized businesses, with a few employees, to manufacturing giants employing many thousands – the best of British food and drink manufacturing is here.

From each of the category winners, listed below, our independent judging panel, led by Paul Wilkinson, chair of the National Skills Academy (NSA), will choose an overall winner – the Food Manufacture Company of the Year, sponsored by Oghma Partners.

Judges’ Star Performer​

In addition to manufacturing category awards, there will be Oscars too for Environment initiative of the year, Supply chain initiative of the year, Training programme of the year, Judges’ Star Performer and the Small and medium-sized enterprise innovation of the year.       

For the second year the FMEAs will feature the Young talent of the year award, designed to recognise next generation of youngsters likely to make a big impact on the food and drink manufacturing industry of tomorrow. The young talent business people listed below are already making a significant contribution to their respective business.

The identity of the Food Manufacture Personality of the Year will also be revealed. In contention for the title are: Kevin Brennan, chief executive, Quorn Foods, Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, founder, Genius Foods, Jeremy Hall, group technical director, Bernard Matthews, Christine Tacon, Groceries Code Adjudicator, Chris Thomas, chief executive, Tulip and Roger Whiteside chief executive, Greggs.

Personality of the Year​

Vote for your preferred candidate here​.

To be among the first to learn which of the companies and individuals listed below will win a highly prized Oscar, book your place​ at our glittering awards ceremony on Tuesday November 3 at the Lancaster Hotel in central London. Alternatively, email Wnar.Ebyyvafba@jeoz.pbz​ or telephone 01293 610439.

This year’s carnival-themed event will be hosted by TV star Mark Durden Smith.

Good luck to all the shortlisted candidates – and see you on the big night.

Meanwhile, don't miss this video interview​ with Waitrose technical manager Jonathon Bayne on the quality of this year's entries. 

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The Food Manufacture Excellence Awards​

Ambient              ​

• Chika's Food
• Essential Cuisine
• Fudge Kitchen
• Glanbia Performance Nutrition
• Kolak
• Sleaford Quality Foods

Bakery,​ sponsored by Alcontrol

• Butt Foods
• Deli Santé
• Finsbury Food Group
• Ginsters
• Premier Foods (Mr Kipling)
• The Village Bakery

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Beverages           ​

• Aston Manor Cider
• Coca-Cola Enterprises
• Fruitapeel Juice

Chilled, fresh and dairy​

• Mash Direct
• Samworth Bros (Kettleby Foods)
• Willowbrook Foods
• Worldwide Fruit
• Wyke Farms
• Yorvale

Meat and poultry,​ sponsored by Dasic

• Cargill
• Faccenda Foods
• Hannan Meats
• Moy Park
• 2 Sisters Food Group
• Tulip

Best new use of food ingredients            ​

• Appy Food and Drinks
• Moral Fibre Food
• Sidney B Scott & Sons
• Supergreen-Chips
• Tulip

Environment initiative of the year​         

• Aston Manor Cider
• Ginsters
• Moy Park
• Samworth Bros (Kettleby Foods)
• Winning Blend/Welsh pantry
• Wyke Farms

Supply chain initiative of the year           ​

• Coca-Cola Enterprises
• Fruitapeel Juice
• Ginsters
• Hannan Meats
• Tulip
• 2 Sisters Food Group

Training programme of the year,​ sponsored by The National Skills Academy       

• Essential Cuisine
• Sleaford Quality Foods
• Tulip
• Weetabix

Young talent of the year,​ sponsored by B3 Jobs                ​

• Michael Andrew – Tulip
• Alex Barton – ABP UK
• Seana Boyle – Willowbrook Foods
• Jack Hamilton – Mash Direct
• Caitlin Johnstone – The Welsh Pantry
• Amber Wild – Worldwide Fruit
• Robert Willatt – Freshpack

Judges' star performer, ​sponsored by Lauras International   

• Aston Manor Cider
• Deli Santé
• 2 Sisters Food Group
• The Village Bakery
• Willowbrook Foods

Small and medium-sized enterprise innovation of the year​

• Butt Foods
• Chika's Food
• Fudge Kitchen
• Hannan Meats
• Winning Blend/Welsh pantry

Book your place on Tuesday November 3 at the Lancaster Hotel, London for the best night out in the British food and drink manufacturing industry here​.