The Country Durham-based manufacturer won praise from the FMEA awards’ independent judging panel – led by Paul Wilkinson, chair of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink. The judges highlighted SK Chilled Foods relentless attention to detail in carving out its place in the highly competitive UK snacks market, estimated to be worth £119M a year.
The firm was one of a host of food and drink manufacturers – large and small – recognised in the 17th FMEAs staged at the Hilton on Park Lane in London.
More than 60 manufacturers
More than 60 manufacturers and individuals competed for a host of trophies, designed to celebrate manufacturing excellence, with other awards for specific initiatives included in the line up.
This year’s 1920s-themed awards featured seven manufacturing categories. Those were: Ambient manufacturing company of the year, Bakery, Beverages, Chilled, Dairy, Fresh produce and Meat & poultry & seafood.
Manufacturing Oscars were also be claimed for the Best new use of food ingredients, Environmental initiative, Supply chain initiative, SME innovation, Training programme and Judges’ star performer.
Also included this year was a trophy for the Young talent of the year – the individual aged under 25 who promised to make the biggest impact on the food and drink manufacturing sector of tomorrow.
Me and my factory editor’s choice award
For the second year running, the awards featured the Me and my factory editor’s choice award. This manufacturing Oscar celebrated the achievements of one of the factory managers featured in the Me and my factory profiles, published each month in our sister title Food Manufacture.
This year’s gala award celebrations were hosted by Rugby World Cup winner and former England team captain Matt Dawson.
Meanwhile, we would like to thank our independent panel of judges, led by chair of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Paul Wilkinson.
We would also like to thank the sponsors of this year’s awards: Columbus, D R Newit, KDH, Lockton, Michael Page, Celsius, Sanderson, SA Partners, PPMA and Dawn Foods.
For more information about SK Chilled Foods double Oscar win, click here.
Read more about the FMEAs here. And, why not register your interest in entering next year’s awards here.
Meanwhile, watch out for more reports – in words, photographs and video interviews – detailing all the winners and the award highlights at FoodManufacture.co.uk and in the December edition of our sister title Food Manufacture.
Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2017: introducing the winners
Ambient Manufacturing Company of the Year
- Alpen (Weetabix)
- Fudge Kitchen
- Kendal Nutricare WINNER
- Purely Pickled Eggs
- Sleaford Quality Foods
- Tommy Tucker
Bakery Manufacturing Company of the Year
- Addo Food Group
- American Muffin
- Eric Richmond
- Great British Biscotti Company
- The Bread Factory WINNER
- Warrens Bakery
Beverages Manufacturing Company of the Year
- Coca-Cola European Partners WINNER
- Savse
Chilled Manufacturing Company of the Year
- Bakkavor (Hitchen Foods)
- Davison Canners
- Egmont Foods
- Mash Direct
- SK Chilled Foods WINNER
- Troy Foods
Dairy Manufacturing Company of the Year
- Langage Farm
- Norseland WINNER
- Yorkshire Dama Cheese
Fresh Produce Manufacturing Company of the Year
- Fourayes Farm
- Nature’s Way Foods
- PrepWorld
- Unimush Ireland
- Willowbrook Foods WINNER
Meat & Poultry Manufacturing Company of the Year
- ABP UK
- Dalehead Foods WINNER
- Dawn Meats
- Kettyle Irish Foods
- Moss Valley Fine Meats
- Walter Rose & Sons
Best new use of food ingredients
- Fudge Kitchen
- Kendal Nutricare WINNER
- Kettyle Irish Foods
- Sydney Scott & Sons
- Mr Lee’s Pure Food
Environmental initiative of the Year
- ABP UK WINNER
- Allplants
- Egmond Foods
- Moss Valley Fine Foods
Supply chain initiative of the Year
- Natures Way Foods WINNER
- Weetabix
Training Programme of the Year
- Alpen (Weetabix)
- Bakkavor Foods (Hitchin) WINNER
- Dawn Meats
- Norseland
- Weetabix
Judges’ Star Performer
- Fudge Kitchen
- Kettyle
- Mash Direct
- PrepWorld WINNER
Young Talent of the Year
- Amelia Browning, Prepworld
- Adam Buckler, ABP Shrewsbury
- Kodi Gledhill, Coca-Cola European Partners Wakefield WINNER
- Cordel Wickham, ABP Langport
SME Innovation of the Year
- Great British Biscotti Company WINNER
- Moss Valley Fine Meats
- Nim’s Fruit Crisps
- Walter Rose & Sons
- Yorkshire Dama Cheese
Me and My Factory editor's choice award
- Ramona Hazan, owner, Ramona’s Kitchen HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Ross McMahon, chief executive, Kendal Nutricare
- Nimisha Raja, founder, Nim’s Fruit Crisps
- Mark Bagwell, operations director, Wessanen UK (Clipper Teas) WINNER
- Melvin Glynn, md, Windyridge Cheese
- James Kempley, commercial director, Troy Foods
Overall Food Manufacture Company of the Year
- SK Chilled Foods