Food Manufacture Excellence Awards finalists revealed: Arla and Hovis among shortlisted companies

The finalists of this year’s Food Manufacture Excellence Awards — dubbed the "Oscars of the food and beverage industry" — have been revealed. The crème de la crème of the food industry have been selected across sixteen different categories, spanning from sustainability awards, to recognition for apprenticeship and training schemes, to accolades for the best plant-based businesses.

Geoff Eaton, the chairman of the expert panel of judges, commented: "This year we had a good number of entries for all categories in the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards. This is heartening given the demanding nature of the current economic environment.

The stand-out features of this year’s entries were the impressive commitment to sustainability; the creative investment in training and wide support for apprenticeships; and the scale of investment in manufacturing, efficiency and NPD."

The award ceremony, which is supported by head sponsor Menzies, will be held at the London Hilton Bankside on February 9th 2023, with tickets available to purchase here. Other sponsors of the event include the software company Aptean, the supply chain tech company Nvolve and the IT service Columbus.

Chris Lowe, publisher at Food Manufacture, said: "In a year of so many challenges, it is great to see so many positive stories and innovative businesses entering in every category. This year we saw a host of entries and it was the hard work of the judges to bring together this finalist list which recognises everyone from food manufacturers to industry initiatives to people. These awards celebrate the latest innovations and greatest achievements within the industry and this year we’re planning our biggest celebration yet."

The finalists are as follows:

Ambient Manufacturing Company of the Year

• Fudge Kitchen

• Simply Doughnuts

• Sleaford Quality Foods

Bakery Manufacturing Company of the Year

• Baker & Baker

• Ginger Bakers

• Regal Bakery

Chilled, Fresh & Dairy Manufacturing Company of the Year

• Charlie Bigham’s Quarry Kitchen

• Crust & Crumb Bakery

• Raynor Foods

• South Caernarfon Creameries

Free-From Manufacturing Company of the Year

• Ginger Bakers

• Just Love Food Company

• Moo Free

Frozen Manufacturing Company of the Year

• Birds Eye

• The Ice Co

Ingredients Manufacturing Company of the Year

• Carr’s Flour Mills

• I.T.S

• Sleaford Quality Foods

• Synergy Flavours

Meat, Poultry & Seafood Manufacturing Company of the Year

• ABP

• Dunbia

• Westaway Sausages

Pet Food Manufacturing Company of the Year

• Butternut Box

• WHM Pet Group

Plant-Based Manufacturing Company of the Year

• Finnebrogue Artisan

• Moo Free

Industry Initiatives​

Export Award

• Kent Crisps

• Princes

• Simply Doughnuts

Partnership Award

• AFOS and Seafish

• Foods Connected and Hilton Food Group

• Klüber Lubrication and Tunnocks

• Raynor Foods

Sustainability Award

• Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

• Freshpak Chilled Foods

• Moy Park

• Nestlé UK and Ireland

• Pilgrim’s UK

• Princes

Training Award

• Arla Foods

• Bakkavor

• Charlie Bigham’s

• Moy Park

• Princes

People Awards​

Apprentice of the Year

• Daisy Abson, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

• Caitlin Bolton, Prima Cheese

• Ellie Edmonds, ABP

• Liam Harker, Hovis

Future Talent Award

• Atif Alam, Moy Park

• George Fenn, Hovis

• Patrick Jackson, Raynor Foods

• Daisy Thompson, Nestlé UK and Ireland

• Lois Williams, South Caernarfon Creameries

Site Team of the Year

• AM Fresh Group

• Dunbia

• Hovis

• Pilgrim’s UK – Corsham

• The Ice Co