29 June 2009
Northwest businesses scoop top food awards
A Cheshire ice cream farm that attracts more than 250,000
visitors a year; a preserve maker behind the first ever National
Jam Week; a Liverpool delicatessen which promotes local and
regional products; a Lancashire cheese specialist; a Cumbrian food
and drink company, which makes diabetic friendly products and a
Manchester ready meal company, are some of the winners in the
prestigious Food Northwest Awards 2009, it was announced yesterday
(June 25, 2009).
Organised by Food Northwest, the organisation set up by the
Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to lead the food and
drink industry, and to help to grow the Northwest regional economy,
the annual awards are in their fourth year.
The awards recognise the innovation and achievements of
businesses across Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside and
Greater Manchester. They acknowledge companies from all areas of
the industry, including food retail and service, wholesale,
catering, distribution, food processing and agriculture, with
winners in eleven categories.*
Cheshire Ice Cream Farm in Tattenhall scooped the Food Northwest
Excellence Award. The company has been producing award winning
“real dairy ice cream” and sorbets at its Drumlan Hall Farm since
1986. Free from artificial colours and flavours, the produce
is now found in over 800 pubs, hotels, restaurants and retail
outlets all over the Northwest. In the last 12 months the team has
created a ‘new look’ ice cream farm with an extensive refurbishment
programme.
Jonathan Fell, co-owner, said: “ Winning this award is a real
honour for us. We have had a very busy year and we have an exciting
time ahead of us. The team has worked hard to create the ‘new look’
Ice Cream Farm and this award gives everyone the recognition they
deserve.”
Preserve maker, Clippy’s Apples, which this week launched the
first ever National Jam Week, was Highly Commended in the Food
Northwest Award for Small and Medium Size Enterprises, alongside
Warrington’s Transfresh, which helps small food and drink growers
and producers to sell their products to some of the largest
retailers in the region, and has tripled the size of its business
in the last 12 months.
Michelle McKenna, founder of Clippy’s Apples, said: "Blimey what
an appletastic week for Clippy’s Apples. We are delighted to be
recognised in these awards. This has been a very busy year for us,
and we have achieved a great deal, from launching a new range of
products and establishing a robust supply chain, to launching the
first ever National Jam Week, just this week. Tomorrow
who knows where the Clippy’s Apples brand will take us. Having our
hard work acknowledged by the industry is a huge incentive to
continue our mission to make Clippy's a UK household name."
David Jefferis, director of Transfresh, said: “Being
acknowledged by the industry in these awards is fantastic. It is
recognition of our passionate support for the concept of local food
and our commitment to giving the large retailers the opportunity to
meet customer demand, and at the same time, support great British
products.“
Delicatessen, Delifonseca in Liverpool’s Stanley Street won the
Food Northwest Award for Small and Medium Sized Businesses. Candice
Fonseca, proprietor, said: “We are thrilled to win this award. It
has been an exciting year for us and we are delighted to be
recognised for our achievements by our industry peers, and are
looking forward to a successful year ahead.”
Lancashire cheese specialist Dewlay won the Food Northwest Award
for Environmental Sustainability. This time next year the company’s
dairy will be powered by its own wind turbine.
Ian Coggin, sales director, said: “It is an honour to win this
prestigious industry award, which recognises the commitment of the
whole team. We understand the importance of sustainability and our
achievements will see Dewlay at the forefront of green energy
production. Our staff and customers have been hugely supportive and
we are delighted to be acknowledged in this way. “
Friendly Food and Drink in Staveley won the Fine Food Producer
of the Year Award 2009 and the Best New Northwest Speciality
Product 2009, for its Chocolate and Orange Curd, after winning the
chutneys and preserves category in the Fine Food Northwest
Awards,** which recognise the best fine foods in the region.
Lorraine Stobbart, co-owner of Friendly Food and Drink, said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised in all of these
awards. Our business continues to go from strength to strength and
we pride ourselves on the quality of our products, and the
ingredients we select to produce them. We have worked hard to
produce our winning Chocolate and Orange Curd and are delighted
that it has been so well received. The curd is made with diabetic
chocolate, so it is a real achievement to stand up to other
chocolate sauces, let alone win a whole category and the overall
product award.”
Sharston-based Authentic Food Company won the Food Northwest
Award for Corporate Social Responsibility for its commitment to the
local community and its efforts to reduce its impact on the
environment.
Commercial director Andy Underwood, said: “We are delighted to
win this award. We understand the importance of investing time and
money in our people and our local community and this award provides
our team with the recognition they deserve for giving something
back.”
The winners of all eleven categories of the Food Northwest
Awards 2009 were announced at a Gala Awards dinner, held last night
and hosted by presenter Lucy Meacock, at Manchester’s Hilton
Hotel.
The ten winners of the Fine Food Northwest Awards were also
announced yesterday, during a daytime event at the Manchester
Hilton Hotel. This year there were nearly 400 entries in the Fine
Food Northwest Awards, which were judged by the region’s top chefs
and food experts. Fifty sub category winners were announced earlier
this month.
The Northwest has one of the largest food and drink sectors in
the UK, contributing £9.5 billion to the local economy, employing
over 450,000 people and providing more than 12 per cent of the
region’s income. The sector has been identified by the
Northwest Regional Development Agency, (NWDA) as a priority growth
sector within the Regional Economic Strategy.
Pat Foreman, chief executive of Food Northwest, said: “We are
proud to be able to recognise the achievements of the flourishing
food and drink companies in the region. This has been a year of
outstanding entries and we have been very impressed with the
continued innovation investment, dedication and hard work of
everybody involved in the industry”.
Vanda Murray, OBE, deputy chair of the Northwest Regional
Development Agency (NWDA), who was a speaker at the gala awards
dinner, said: “Despite the challenging economic conditions the
quality of the entries and the atmosphere at the awards this year
was outstanding. It is important during difficult times that we
still recognise and award talent and quality in our region.”
This year’s awards were sponsored by; Barclays Commercial; DWF
solicitors; Business Link, Northwest; Food Northwest; IGD; The
Manufacturing Institute; Northcote Manor; Nyman Whitfield;
Reaseheath College; UK Trade & Investment and Alma de Cuba
restaurant and bar.
More
For further information about the awards visit www.foodnwawards.co.uk.
Ends
For further media information, contact Jeanette Riley
Communications on 07740422996 or jeanette.riley@blueyonder.co.uk
Notes to Editors
Background information on all of the Food Northwest Awards and Fine
Food Northwest Awards winners is available upon request.
*The winners of the Food Northwest Awards 2009 are:
• The Food Northwest Award for Small and Medium Size
Enterprises
o Delifonseca – Liverpool, Merseyside – WINNER
o Clippy’s Apples – Sale, Cheshire – HIGHLY COMMENDED
o Moorhouses Brewery, Burnley – HIGHLY COMMENDED
• The Food Northwest Award for Supply Chain Solutions
o The Moody Baker – Alston, Cumbria - WINNER
o Transfresh – Warrington, Cheshire – HIGHLY COMMENDED
• The Food Northwest Award for Innovation
o Vimto Soft Drinks – Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside -
WINNER
• The Food Northwest Award for Skills
o Dunbia – Sawley, Lancashire - WINNER
• The Food Northwest Award for Environmental
Sustainability
o Dewlay – Garstang, Lancashire - WINNER
• The Food Northwest award for Corporate Social
Responsibility
o Authentic Food Company – Sharston, Greater Manchester -
WINNER
• The IGD Award for the Northwest Food Industry Rising
Star
o Katie Coleman, Victoria Foods – Leigh, Greater Manchester -
WINNER
• The Food Northwest Excellence Award
o Cheshire Farm Ice Cream – Tattenhall, Cheshire -
WINNER
• The UKTI Award for International Trade
o Thwaites Brewery – Blackburn, Lancashire
• Fine Food Producer of the Year Award
o Friendly Food and Drink, Staveley, Cumbria - WINNER
• Best New Northwest Speciality Product
o Friendly Food and Drink, Staveley, Cumbria -
WINNER