Judges shortlist industry's rising stars

The shortlist for the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards has been announced.
Contenders include Cambridge Manufacturing Company, H J Heinz Company, KTC Edibles and Premier Foods in the Ambient & general groceries category and Fruitapeel, Giles Foods, Ginsters and Rich Products in Bakery & confectionery.
GSK Slough, Framptons and Universal Beverages are competing in Hot and cold beverages, while Greencore Food To Go, Nom Dairy UK and Samworth Brothers go head to head in Chilled ready meals & prepared foods.
RB Organic, Stubbins Marketing and Willowbrook Farm are up for Fresh produce, while Aunt Bessie's, Hain Frozen Foods UK, R & R Ice Cream and Young's Seafood face off in Frozen.
Finally, The Big Prawn Company, Lossie Sea Foods and The Seafood Company contend in the Seafood category.
Alara Wholefoods, Burts Potato Crisps, Mash Direct and Yorvale are vying for Small Company of the Year.
Shortlisted firms from the main categories are also eligible for the Judges' Special Award and one of the category winners will be named Company of the Year.
Stefan Barden, chief executive, Northern Foods; John Foster, md, Fosters Bakery; Martin Glenn, chief executive, Birds Eye Iglo; Robert Schofield, chief executive, Premier Foods; Salman Amin, president, PepsiCo UK and Ireland; or Stewart Houston, chairman, BPEX, will win the Food Manufacture Personality of the Year Award.
In the Skills Excellence Awards, Martyna Zelazek and Matthew Duerden (from Poultec Training) and Jack Sidebottom (Reaseheath College) are shortlisted for the Apprenticeship Award. Aunt Bessie's, Ginsters and The Seafood Company are competing for Productivity Through Skills. The winner of the Diversity in Recruitment Award will emerge from a shortlist comprising KTC Edibles, Nom Dairy UK, R&R Ice Cream and Rodda's creamery.
Winners will be announced on November 11 at The Marriott Hotel in London. To book a table, call Emma Hooper on 01293 610431 or email emma.hooper@william-reed.co.uk.