Wyke Farms boss collects Oscars on film

The horsemeat crisis sparked consumers’ growing interest in local food, says Wyke Farms' boss Richard Clothier, in this exclusive video filmed at the Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards (FMEAs) at the London Park Lane Hilton, last month.

Filmed after collecting two FMEAS – the title Dairy manufacturing company of the year award and the FMEA Personality of the Year award – Clothier said: “The horsemeat crisis highlighted how shoppers want to buy foods with local provenance – such as Wyke Farms Cheese.”

‘A fantastic boost’

Winning the two awards would be “a fantastic boost” for the 200-strong Somerset team, he added. “These are the Oscars of food manufacturing for us. It is fantastic for the team, for the brand and for our green initiative.”

Also shortlisted in the Dairy manufacturing company of the year category were: Dairy Crest and Windyridge Cheese Co.

In the Personality of the year award, shortlisted candidates were:

•Mark Allen, chief executive, Dairy Crest

•Simon Baldry, md, Coca-Cola Enterprises

•Richard Clothier md, Wyke Farms

•Fiona Kendrick, chairman and chief executive, Nestlé UK and Ireland

•James Lambert, chairman, R&R Ice Cream

•John Stevenson MP, chairman of the House of Commons All-Party Parliamentary Group for Food Manufacturing

The full list of winning companies is available here.

Meanwhile, could your food or drink manufacturing business challenge Premier Foods for the crown next year? Register your interest for next year’s FMEAs here.