Food excellence awards: just one week left for entries

By Rod Addy

- Last updated on GMT

Geoff Eaton, chairman of New England Seafood, is chairing the judging panel this year
Geoff Eaton, chairman of New England Seafood, is chairing the judging panel this year
There is now just one week to go to submit entries to the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards (FMEAs) – widely regarded as the Oscars of the UK food and drink manufacturing industry.

The final entry deadline is 11.59pm on 12 August, so if you believe your staff deserve recognition and reward for their labours over the past year, ensure your entry is received and completed by then.

The awards are designed to highlight and benchmark excellence in food and drink manufacturing and are open to all UK food and drink processors, including ingredients suppliers, no matter how large or small. They provide an independent accolade to enable your business to stand out among your competitors.

There are 15 categories​, including the new main category award Free-From Manufacturing Company of the Year. This is open to manufacturers that have demonstrated operational excellence in one or more free-from sectors, including the production of meat-free and allergen-free products.

Benefits of winning

  • Raised business profile
  • Independent, national recognition of excellence, enabling companies to stand out from the crowd
  • Networking at the awards evening on 13 February 2020
  • Coverage following the event in print and online
  • Opportunity for continued editorial coverage throughout the following year

In addition to the winners of our Industry Initiative and People Awards, all winners of the nine main food and drink categories qualify as contenders for the overall Food Manufacture​ Company of The Year Award. Meat giant ABP claimed the crown last year​. The other main category winners were: Sleaford Quality Foods, SK Chilled Foods, Davison Canners, The Ice Co, Finsbury Food Group and Synergy Flavours.

Entries are completely free and are now simpler and easier than ever before, with applications made purely online and no need for lengthy submissions. To find out more, drop Rebecca.george@wrbm.com​ a line, call her on 01293 610422 or visit the awards website directly at www.foodmanawards.co.uk​.

Finalists will be announced in October and winners will be announced at a stunning rock-themed, black-tie gala dinner at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square on 13 February 2020.

Chairman of judges

Food Manufacture​ is pleased to announce that our chairman of judges this year is Geoff Eaton, chairman of New England Seafood International and executive chairman of Butcher’s Pet Care.

Geoff Eaton is chairman of New England Seafood International, a fast-growing quality producer of speciality fresh fish, sourced sustainably from around the world, and executive chairman of Butcher’s Pet Care, an international branded business supplying affordable, natural and nutritious food for pets. He was previously CEO of Uniq, a leading supplier of prepared foods and was briefly COO of Premier Foods and CEO of Isis Research, a pharmaceutical market research agency. Eaton built his early career at Tomkins, the guns to buns group, worked in corporate finance at Hill Samuel and gained an Association of Chartered Accountants qualification at Arthur Andersen.

The entire judging panel for the awards commands the collective experience of more than 150 years working with and in the food industry.

Food Manufacture​ has now also announced the six finalists for our Business Leader of the Year Award, which recognises the individual who embodies the spirit of excellence at the heart of the FMEAs. Unlike the champions of the other categories, the winner of this award is chosen based on online reader nomination, so take a look at the shortlist and cast your vote now​.

There’s still time to boost your business and connect with new and existing clients by sponsoring the awards. Email Alix Hunter at nyvk.uhagre@jeoz.pbz​ or call her on 01293 846568.

Award sponsors

Dawn Foods

Fowler Welch

Menzies

Michael Page

Systems Integration

Associate sponsors:Markel​ and KDH

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