The Food Manufacture Excellence Awards - set to take place on 5 February 2026 - are known as the Oscars of food and drink production.
This year 14 awards are up for grabs, including the prestigious Employer of the Year Award, which honours a company that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive and motivating workplace environment.
It recognises food and drink businesses that prioritise employee well-being, foster professional development and implement innovative HR practices that contribute to a thriving workforce.
Four companies are vying for the title of best employer - here we introduce you to each one and their commitment that won them a place in the final.
Dunbia (UK)
Dunbia UK employs over 5,600 people across the UK and is committed to fostering a culture of development, diversity, and wellbeing.
Its strategy focuses on empowering and engaging employees, helping them reach their full potential through collaboration and continuous investment in professional and personal growth.
Comprehensive Learning & Development programmes include the Trainee Team Leader Scheme, Butchery Academy, and other collaborative initiatives designed to support career progression.
Employee recognition is central to the company’s ethos, with site-based Employee of the Month awards, Long Service Awards, and the Perks at Work platform, which offers savings and wellness benefits.
Additional perks include free meat during summer and Christmas to support families, as well as opportunities to participate in community and charity initiatives, backed by matched funding for volunteering and fundraising.
Creative engagement is encouraged through initiatives such as the annual Staff Photography Competition, alongside regular activities offering prizes and fostering team spirit.
Fudge Kitchen
Fudge Kitchen is an employee-owned confectionary company that has its staff at the core of everything it does.
Every member of the Fudge Kitchen team shares directly in its success through an annual profit share scheme and it runs a generous bonus initiative across its retail shops.
Staff benefits include increased holiday allowance, paid volunteering days, and access to the Cycle to Work scheme, supporting both wellbeing and work-life balance.
Training blends tradition with professional growth, with employees gaining specialist confectionery skills in the company’s SALSA-accredited production kitchen.
HECK! Food
HECK! is a family-run, independent business with its offices and factory located on one site in North Yorkshire.
Employee wellbeing is a priority, with perks such as free, nutritionally balanced lunches, annual health checks, and unique facilities including an on-site dog hotel, running trails, and a fully equipped gym.
The company builds community through fitness classes, quizzes, family BBQs, sports days, and social events.
Benefits include flexible working, six months’ full maternity pay, above-average wages, bonuses, and monthly prize draws.
HECK! invests heavily in training and development, offering apprenticeships, extra qualifications, international travel opportunities, and personal development plans.
Office-based staff can access accredited courses in Excel, engineering, accountancy, data analysis, and creative skills such as Adobe Suite, photography, and styling.
Employees also attend conferences, talks, and site visits to stay connected to industry developments, with plans to expand apprenticeship opportunities further.
Pilgrim’s Europe
Pilgrim’s Europe is committed to putting people first.
With over 17,000 employees across four countries, the company offers diverse roles, a supportive culture, and varied career paths.
Future talent is nurtured through industry-recognised graduate and placement programmes, designed to develop tomorrow’s leaders.
Pilgrim’s leverages its size and scale to enabling employees to explore different geographies and skillsets and grow professionally.
The People First programme promotes wellbeing through 24/7 support, including mental health consultations, bereavement assistance, and resilience workshops.
Recognition is embedded in the culture via the peer-nominated STARS scheme, culminating in an annual celebration event with monetary rewards presented by the Executive team.
Learning and development opportunities include leadership, mentoring, and coaching programmes, alongside access to over 3,000 online courses and in-person workshops on topics such as inclusive leadership and communication.
Pilgrim’s currently supports 287 apprentices, including 57 upskillers, reflecting its commitment to lifelong learning. Additional benefits include life assurance, pension schemes, paid leave, advance pay, volunteer days, and subsidised meals.