Thank you for joining us at this year’s FDF Awards!
This year we have more awards than ever before, and more winners. Our wide range of awards reflects our ever evolving and innovative sector. The excellence you’ll hear about this evening in our individual awards, in the brand launches and business initiatives, illustrates once again the depth, dynamism and determined hard work of the UK’s food and drink sector.
The strength of our sector is important because food and drink is at the heart of our daily lives – in our homes, schools, workplaces and communities, on our high streets, cinemas, leisure centres and more. What we eat and drink sustains us, and – just as importantly – brings joy and pleasure.
And it’s not only the critical role that the UK’s 12,000 food and drink manufacturing businesses play in providing safe, nutritious and affordable food everywhere across the country – those businesses also run right through our economy, the lifeblood of communities everywhere. Collectively, the businesses in our industry contribute £37 billion to the economy nationally, drive research, innovation and investment, and support great jobs and long-term careers in the diverse disciplines we need to run everything from factory kitchens to science labs.
I’m looking forward to celebrating with everyone this evening – with our winners, our runners-up, and with all everyone here – because everyone here plays a part in the industry’s continued success. In leading the transition to environmental sustainability, in developing pioneering technologies and innovative new products, in championing new talent and embracing diversity, in finding ways to counter inflationary pressures – in short, in shaping the future of food and drink.
I’m know you’re as proud as I am to work in food and drink, and dedicated to ensuring our sector continues to excel in what we do – led and inspired by this evening’s award winners. Have a great evening!
Karen Betts
Linda Ellett Head of Consumer, Retail & Leisure
KPMG
WELCOME FROM OUR HEADLINE SPONSOR
It’s a cliché to say that the level of change has been unprecedented, but with unforeseen tariffs just one of many headwinds, the Food & Drink industry has continued to show resilience over the last 12 months. Businesses have had to navigate macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, all while keeping up with the rapid pace of change in technology, specifically the rise of AI. Figuring out how to embed it meaningfully into day-to-day operations has been no small feat.
The industry has faced growing threats, whether cyber-attacks, or conflict zones, and more. Consumer behaviour continues to evolve, with continued focus on price, as well as a rise in use of weight-loss drugs. However health and wellness trends have gained momentum, increased budgets mean quality, convenience and experience will be paid for. At the same time, business continue to juggle the expectations of customers and investors while striving to “do the right thing” - for the planet, their people, and society at large.
And yet, despite all this change, we continue to see food and drink businesses turn challenge into opportunity and demonstrate their ability to successfully innovate and stay agile – the reason we’re all here tonight.
KPMG is proud to be part of this evening once again, recognising the incredible talent and achievements across the industry. Congratulations to all the shortlisted nominees - we wish you the very best of luck and we look forward to celebrating the success of our winners.
We invite you to scan the QR codes on your table to download our newly launched Global Food Resilience paper. For every download, KPMG will donate £5 to our charity partner, FareShare - helping to fight hunger and reduce food waste across the UK.
MENU
STARTER
Cider cured smoked mackerel, crab aioli, spiced pear and celeriac
If you have an allergy or intolerance please inform a member of the waiting staff who will do their best to advise you.
Please order the complimentary beverages listed above at the bar or via your waiter. All other beverages are chargeable.
PROGRAMME
6.00pm Drinks reception
7.00pm Welcome speeches
Karen Betts, CEO, Food and Drink Federation
Linda Ellett, Head of Consumer, Retail & Leisure, KPMG
Ravneet Gill, Host
7.30pm Dinner service (90 minutes)
9.00pm Awards ceremony (approx 60 minutes)
10.00pm Networking
11.30pm Bar closes
12.00am Carriages
Please note that timings are approximate and subject to change.
To uphold the highest professional, ethical and legal standards whilst ensuring everyone has a great time, we kindly ask all guests to be mindful of their behaviour and follow our code of conduct by showing respect to fellow attendees, staff, and the venue at all times. https://www.fdf.org.uk/fdf/events-andmeetings/event-code-of-conduct/
Menu and Beverages sponsored by:
TONIGHT’S HOST
When Ravneet Gill was 14 an astrologer told her mother she would work in the food industry. Ravneet was a fussy eater and at the time it seemed ridiculous, but after completing a psychology degree her passion for pastry and cooking led her to study at Le Cordon Bleu. She went on to work her way up the ranks in different sections all over London - most notably, St. JOHN, Llewelyn’s, Jamavar, Black Axe Mangal and Wild by Tart.
In May 2018 she set up Countertalk; a platform designed to help connect chefs, provide education and promote equality and positive, nurturing working environments in the hospitality industry. Through Countertalk, Ravneet holds much-lauded food-based events and industry talks. In 2019 she was voted one of the 100 most influential people in the hospitality industry. She set up the pop-up bakery and online bakery school PUFF which delighted Londoners and saw queues around the block from their temporary location. The online cookery courses had over six thousand students signing up.
‘Everything we love in the world of food right now.’
The Observer Food Monthly
“Desserts are fundamental, and for this reason there should be a little room for a pastry chef to flap their wings like a butterfly, a little leeway for culinary cheekiness. Rav has this in spades.”
- Fergus Henderson, St.JOHN, London
Her first book, The Pastry Chef’s Guide: The secret to successful baking every time, was published by Pavilion in 2020 and is aimed at chefs and home bakers alike who FEAR baking. The message: pastry is easy. This is a straight-talking no-nonsense manual designed to become THE baking reference book on any cookery shelf. Ravneet has now published her second book, Sugar: I Love You, and her third, Baking for Pleasure: Comforting recipes to bring you joy, which was released December 2023.
Ravneet is a judge on Channel 4’s Junior Bake Off (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) as well as joining the esteemed Michel Roux Jnr as a judge on 5 Star Kitchen, which launched on Channel 4 and Netflix in Summer 2023. Most recently she featured on the hit series, Remarkable Places To Eat, hosted by Fred Sirieix on Channel 4.
In January 2025, Ravneet announced she will be opening her first restaurant alongside her husband Mattie. GINA will be opening in Chingford later in 2025.
Ravneet Gill Host
How UKEF is helping the food and drink sector to grow:
Our Export Insurance Policy has helped UK food and drink businesses to enter into markets such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Columbia, Chile, Brazil and man y more.
UKEF guarantees ha ve been used behind bank trade finance facilities to help exporters build the working ca pital required for interna tional trade.
Speak to one of our Export Finance Mana gers: Jo.archer@ukexportfinance.gov.uk
FULFIL ORDERS GET PAID
Our Small Export Builder gives SMEs the confidence to take on smaller orders overseas. WIN CONTRACTS ukexportfinance.gov.uk
CATEGORY SHORTLISTS
Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored by: Powerstar
There are more apprentices than ever in the food and drink supply chain. These are the potential industry leaders of the future. Our Apprentice of the Year will have shown exceptional progress in both their skills development and studies or have made an exceptional contribution to the business through a one-off project.
Nominees -
Alexander Austyn
- Unilever and The Magnum Ice Cream
Rosie Barnes
- Unilever and The Magnum Ice Cream
Gabby Dineen
- Unilever and The Magnum Ice Cream
Freya Leigh Shields
- Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Daniel Piaskowski
- Samworth Brothers Cornwall
Annabelle Talbot
- Mondelēz International
Joshua Wiley
- Weetabix Food Company
Brand Launch of the Year
Sponsored by: IFE, International Food & Drink Event
This category looks at food and drink manufacturers launching a new brand, launching a new initiative to strengthen an existing brand, or launching a rebrand. In all three cases, the brand may relate to a single product or a range of products.
Judges look at the brand positioning, communication, differentiation, protectability and the initiatives taken to build consumer engagement, whether rational, emotional or both.
Nominees -
Birds Eye - Birds Eye Chicken Shop
Cheez-It - Cheez-It
Higgidy - Best Ever, New Recipe, 200g Higgidy Pies
PepsiCo UK - Extra Flamin’ Hot pladis UK & I - McVitie’s Signature pladis UK & I - Jacob’s Bites
Wall’s Pastry - When Hunger Calls, Grab a Wall’s
Campaign of the Year
Companies are becoming evermore innovative in communicating with their audiences. This category is for in-house or agency teams to enter campaigns centring on sales, driving behaviour change, launches, research or increasing awareness. The campaign can utilise a variety of media including digital, PR or marketing.
The judges look for a campaign that is creative, achieves its objectives, is clearly evaluated, and robustly demonstrates its value for money evaluated against their original aims.
Nominees -
Birds Eye – Birds Eye Chicken Shop – The Ultimate Fakeaway solution straight from your Freezer without the hassle
Branston Baked Beans –#5STARBEANS
Carlsberg Britvic - Robinsons
Wicked Partnership
Ginsters – Taste the Effort
Mondelēz International - Cadbury ‘Yours for 200 Years’ Campaign
PepsiCo UK – No Walkers, No Game pladis UK & I - Jaffa 2024 Campaign: ‘It’s A Cake’, ‘You Biscuit’ and ‘The Pairing No One Asked For’
Note: KPMG is not
Better Decisions on Risk Capital and Human Capital for Food, Agribusiness and Beverage Organisations
Better Decisions on Risk Capital and Human Capital for Food, Agribusiness and Beverage Organisations
At Aon, we believe the time for better decisions is now. Our experienced teams support clients in the UK food and drink industry to navigate risk & insurance, employee benefits and workforce challenges, helping you stay resilient and uncover new opportunities in a fast-changing market.
At Aon, we believe the time for better decisions is now. Our experienced teams support clients in the UK food and drink industry to navigate risk & insurance, employee benefits and workforce challenges, helping you stay resilient and uncover new opportunities in a fast-changing market.
Find out More
Find out More
CATEGORY SHORTLISTS
Community Partner
Sponsored by: SLR
Many food and drink supply chain companies work closely with their communities. This can either be a physical community, such as those living close to the factory, a specific sector of society, or even an online community.
Judges look for companies that have carried out outstanding work with their chosen community and made a positive difference.
Nominees -
AB World Foods - Project SPICE – supporting farming communities in India
This award is aimed at projects that have focused on:
• Product reformulation; changing recipes to help people achieve dietary goals, for example by reducing salt, fat and sugar content or increasing fibre or vegetable composition.
• Portion sizes; offering a range of smaller or more adaptable products to encourage appropriate consumption.
• Creating new products; helping people achieve dietary goals by NPD which focuses on improved nutrition for the targeted eating occasion.
The category is open to all sizes of companies and is aimed at recognising where companies are helping their customers achieve dietary goals by changing products or introducing new products.
Judges consider the UK dietary guidance for both nutrients (e.g. salt, sugars, saturated fat, energy, fibre) or foods (fruit & vegetables, oily fish).
Nominees -
Birds Eye - Adding millions of portions of veg onto the nation’s plates, through the goodness of frozen
Danone UK & Ireland - Activia Kefir
Hip Pop - HIP POP Probiotic & Prebiotic Soda: Fibre, Flavour & Functionality
Lidl GB - Quality Development 2024
PepsiCo UK - Crunch time as Doritos go non-HFSS
Saltire Patisserie Ltd - Saltire Patisserie: Reduced Salt Bakery Reformulation for Better Health
Tempo Tea Bar - Creating healthier bubble tea for the UK market
Education Initiative
The Education Initiative award recognises a company’s commitment and support to schools and colleges either locally or nationally.
Nominations can be for a one-off event, or for an ongoing contribution to lessons or schemes to experience the world of work and develop employability skills.
Nominees -
Mondelēz International - ProFSET Food Engineer Student Launchpad
Müller UK & IrelandMüller UK & Ireland – Early Careers
pladis UK & I – The pladis International Work Experience programme
Scottish Sea Farms - Into Aquaculture
CATEGORY
SHORTLISTS
SME Emerging Business
Sponsored by AON
This category is for dynamic SMEs who have demonstrated outstanding growth over the past 18 months. Growth can be through increased sales, capacity and resource expansion, developing new and innovative product lines or even impressive first-year achievements after starting from scratch. Our judges also look at the sustainability and ambition of growth.
This category is open to SMEs with an annual turnover of less than £50m.
Nominees -
Gnaw Chocolate
Over the Moo UK
Popcorn Kitchen
Realfoods Organico
The Gym Kitchen
The Scottish Bee Co vybey (Strive Products Sco Ltd)
Environmental Leadership
Sponsored by Water Plus
Food and drink manufacturing has a core interest in creating sustainable food systems, that minimise the impact on our environment, with climate change and the environment recognised as key global challenges of the 21st century. Companies are looking to the future and implementing creative and resourceful sustainability strategies, and this Environmental Leadership category is for companies that meet either of these criteria:
• Embedding sustainability throughout a product from development right through to customer use and disposal
• Ground-breaking initiatives to reduce their impact on the planet
Nominees -
Mondelēz International - Introducing Double Deck Truck Deliveries to Tesco Taking Trucks off the Road
Quorn Foods - Net Positive Objectives for All
The Bread and Butter Thing - TBBT & Wellocks – Slicing through food waste
Valpak Limited - Zero Waste to Landfill Certification Programme
Exporter of the Year
Sponsored by UK Export Finance
This category is for companies that are entering new markets, creating targeted products, or growing sales in established markets. It is open to manufacturers but also to intermediary companies. The judges look at achievement and ambition relative to the size of the company, not just the largest sales figures!
Nominees -
Foods of Europe
GU Desserts
Lionel Hitchen Limited
Ramsden International
Note: KPMG is not in any way involved with the judging and selection of nominees with respect to the FDF Awards 2025.
CATEGORY SHORTLISTS
CATEGORY SHORTLISTS
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative
Promoting and embodying equality, diversity and inclusion is increasingly important for businesses. This category is for businesses to show how they have provided opportunities for under-represented groups to thrive in the workplace, or how they have embedded an ED&I initiative – such as a recruitment initiative, training scheme or programme with a local charitywithin their company.
Nominees -
Browne Jacobson - Leading conversations on diversity and inclusion
Danone UK & Ireland - Danone Employee Network Groups
Mondelēz International - Pride Engagement in National Field Sales Team
Premier Foods - Premier Foods
EDGE Sponsorship Programme
Weetabix Food CompanyInclusion Without Exception at Weetabix
Food and Drink
Technologist/Scientist of the Year
Sponsored by IFST
Note
Technical and scientific developments help to give our industry its competitive edge and we are fortunate to have many talented technologists / scientists working within our sector. This award will recognise someone who has made an exceptional contribution to the food and drink sector.
Nominees must:
• Be currently employed within the UK food and drink manufacturing sector
• Have contributed to product development over a sustained period or be a promising new entrant to the industry who has led at least one significant project
• Be a positive role model/ambassador within the company and externally
• Go ‘above and beyond’ as an exceptional employee in both their work and behaviours
Nominees -
Robert Griffiths - Reading Scientific Services Ltd.
Dr. Driando Ahnan-Winarno - Better Nature Ltd
Joe McGurk - Mondelēz International
Ryan Carter-Hadley - Mondelēz International
Food and Drink Engineer of the Year
Engineering skills are essential for our industry to grow.
Nominees must:
• Be currently employed within the UK food and drink manufacturing sector
• Have contributed to product development over a sustained period or be a promising new entrant to the industry who has led at least one significant project
• Be a positive role model/ ambassador within the company and externally
• Go ‘above and beyond’ as an exceptional employee in both their work and behaviours
Nominees -
Dr Laura Malhi - Mondelēz International
Jerry Mead – Elopak
Fiona Stafford - Lionel Hitchen Ltd
CATEGORY SHORTLISTS
Food Waste Initiative
Sponsored by Company Shop Group
This award celebrates companies’ initiatives in food waste reduction supporting the transition to a circular economy and the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goal of a 50% reduction in food waste per capita. The Food Waste award is open to companies that demonstrate impact such as:
• Initiatives that prevent and reduce food waste in manufacturing environments or along the supply chain
• Supporting the food and drink waste hierarchy by actively reducing surplus and redirecting edible food and drink to those in need, including local communities.
• Creating consumer-facing programmes that support households to reduce waste, from clear labelling to educational campaigns that encourage food use and storage
Judges look for entries with a clear emphasis on maximising environmental and social impact through creative solutions.
Nominees -
Albert Bartlett - Albert Bartlett and FareShare 15 million meals
The Bread and Butter Thing - TBBT & Papilo: Turning Surplus Into Solution
The Felix Project - The Felix Project & Western International Market
HR Initiative
Employee recruitment and retention is important to a successful company, so we invited companies to tell us why they are such a great place to work.
Initiatives under this category must specifically benefit employees and could include employee support, innovative training, workplace wellbeing or an ‘above and beyond’ approach to flexibility.
Nominees -
Mondelēz International - Playing to Win Together
PepsiCo UK - She Is PepsiCo celebrates women in manufacturing
SLR Consulting - SLR Global Learning –Change Leadership Programme
Note: KPMG is not in any way involved with the judging and selection of nominees with respect to the FDF Awards 2025.
CATEGORY SHORTLISTS
Manufacturing and Digital Transformation
Sponsored by KPMG
At a time of critical labour shortages, soaring energy prices and rising commodity costs, innovation has never been more important to ensuring your business remains competitive. Implementing digital and automation manufacturing processes into your production line can be challenging project, but it is often a necessary step to maximise efficiency, reduce waste and minimise operating costs.
Entrants must show significant and impactful development achieved from the implementation of a technology or improved manufacturing process. This can be in terms of energy usage, production efficiency, waste reduction, product cost or quality.
This award is open to any business that is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and will award entities pushing the boundaries to reduce and/or eliminate emissions to the greatest extent possible.
Our Net Zero Initiative category covers emissions reductions achieved through a variety of approaches and will look at the degree of innovation and risk to achieve industry best practice; the use of awareness raising to promote carbon reduction efforts amongst staff; and will include wider systemic efforts to bring wider stakeholder and consumer behavioural change.
Nominees -
apetito & Wiltshire Farm Foods Ltd - Driving Towards a Sustainable Future: apetito innovates with its EV Fleet
Cereal Partners UK - CPUK wheat regenerative agriculture program
Eurest - Cutting carbon at Porsche’s head office
Glebe Farm Foods - A Commitment to Carbon Reduction at Glebe Farm Foods
SSP UK & Ireland - Decarbonising our menus with Klimato
Unsworth - Redefining Freight for a Net Zero Future
Note: KPMG is not in any way involved with the judging and selection of nominees with respect to the FDF Awards 2025.
CATEGORY SHORTLISTS
Product Innovation
Sponsored by KPMG
Rising Star
Sponsored by PepsiCo
Trends in UK Food & Drink are constantly evolving and to stay competitive companies must be continuously innovating.
Entrants must show significant development achieved in product research and/or development over the past three years, this can be through an entirely new product or improvements to an existing product.
Nominees -
Diversey – A Solenis CompanyDiverclean Sonic - a unique preclean technology.
Glebe Farm Foods - PureOaty Tearrific Oat Drink
Root Mylk Ltd - Root Mylk
Mondelēz International - Dairylea Plant-Based Dunkers
Potina Plant Based NutritionPotina Banana Oat Drinks
Presto (Kanes Foods) - Presto Noodle Pots
Vadasz - Vadasz – creating a new superfood category
We’re looking for the bright sparks of the food and drink industry with this award category.
Open to entrants within their first five years in the industry at any academic and training level, the Rising Star category is for the people with the potential to go far.
Nominees -
Urmimala Bose - Shicken Foods Ltd
Frances Chatto - Mondelēz International
Kalim Yasin-GuilfoyleMondelēz International
Will James - Premier Foods
Vlad Racins - British Sugar
Hannah Wareing - Aunt Bessie’s
Registered Dietitian/ Nutritionist of the Year
Nutritionists and dietitians support our industry in improving the health of the nation, and are crucial to innovative new product development. We are fortunate to have many talented nutritionists and dietitians working in our sector. This award will recognise someone who has made an exceptional contribution to the food and drink sector.
Nominees must:
• Be currently employed within the UK food and drink manufacturing sector.
• A Registered Dietitian or Registered with the Association for Nutrition (as a Registered or Associate Nutritionist).
• Have contributed to the company’s efforts to support diet and health initiatives over a sustained period or be a promising new entrant to the industry who has led at least one diet and health related project.
• Be a positive role model/ambassador within the company and externally for the nutrition / dietetics profession.
Nominees -
Dr Marietta Sayegh - Tate & Lyle PLC
Dr Sue Gatenby - PepsiCo UK
CATEGORY SHORTLISTS
Sustainable Packaging Initiative
Sponsored by OPRL
This category looks at how food and drink producers have moved towards more sustainable packaging solutions particularly in respect of plastics. Entrants are food and drink producers implementing their own internal packaging strategies or researchers and innovators developing innovative solutions to benefit the industry.
Entries are based on:
• Researching and developing new packaging solutions which deliver improved environmental outcomes and contribute to overall product sustainability.
• A strategy of demonstrably addressing the sustainability of packaging for products/brands.
The Compleat Food Group - Trayless Pork Pie Initiative
Vinarchy - The Mud House Sauvignon Blanc Mini Box
1.5L
Note: KPMG is not in any way involved with the judging and selection of nominees with respect to the FDF Awards 2025.
Celebratory bottles of English Sparkling for the winners, generously donated by:
Opulence of England and
Woodchurch Wine Estate
FOOD MANUFACTURING .LIVE
Meet with us and discover the latest innovations in food packaging, processing, production and manufacturing
Wednesday 15TH October 2025 • 09:00 – 15:00
NAEC · Stoneleigh Park · Warwickshire
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
▲ 200+ exhibitors ▲ New tech debuts ▲ Safety insights
▲ 400+ experts ▲ FREE breakfast ▲ FREE parking
FREE entry! Reserve your VIP Visitor badge at www.foodmanufacturing.live or scan the QR code
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS
ADAS are independent and trusted experts offering applied research and evidence-based consultancy for sustainable food production as part of a healthy natural environment. We design and deliver practical, effective, and profitable solutions that enable their clients to grow their businesses and address the world’s food, climate, land, water and energy challenges.
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.
Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.
Stay up-to-date by visiting Aon’s newsroom and sign up for news alerts here
Company Shop Group is the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus products, partnering with the industry to transform waste into opportunities for positive change and doing good for people and planet. Its network of Company Shop ‘surplus supermarkets’ sell discounted surplus from over 800 brands, retailers and manufacturers to members who meet specific criteria. A percentage of the profit is re-invested in Community Shop, a social enterprise tackling the root causes of
food insecurity in communities experiencing social inequality. The Group supports the industry in managing surplus throughout the product lifecycle helping reduce waste and recoup value for businesses.
Returning to Excel London on 30 March - 01 April 2026, IFE, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week is the ultimate business event for food & drink product discovery. For more than 40 years, retailers, wholesalers and hospitality professionals have relied on IFE for product sourcing and valuable industry insights.
Taking place alongside IFE is IFE Manufacturing, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, the ultimate business event for food & drink product development. IFE Manufacturing covers everything from ingredients and packaging solutions to processing technologies and manufacturing services.
Food, Drink & Hospitality Week unites IFE Manufacturing, IFE, HRC, The Pub Show, Hospitality Tech360 and International Salon Culinaire, bringing together 25,000 buyers and 1,500+ suppliers to connect and do business.
IFST is the leading professional body for those involved in all aspects of food science and technology and provides evidence-based science information to support our members and the public understanding of these subjects.
Our members are based in business, research, education, and government; across the food sector from agriculture to manufacture, retail and foodservice. Members are individuals who benefit from knowledge resources, our professional and social network, as well as career and professional development opportunities
including events and conferences and our online community. Members demonstrate their professionalism by joining our professional registers and accreditation schemes that are widely recognised and valued throughout the sector. IFST works for food technical professionals to develop their knowledge, community, and career progression.
FOOD MANUFACTURING LIVE is the UK’s only specialist event dedicated exclusively to companies involved in manufacturing, packaging or processing food and drink products. Hosted on 15th October 2025 at the NAEC, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, it offers a highly efficient one day format that’s free to attend. Visitors benefit from live demonstrations, complimentary breakfast, expert engineering sessions, and discovery of the latest innovations in food and drink production technology—all designed for engineering professionals and decision makers in the food and drink industry. Find out more at www.foodmanufacturing.live
OPRL is a not-for-profit helping consumers recycle more effectively. We work with brands, retailers, and the packaging supply chain to provide expert recyclability guidance and trusted on-pack recycling labels. Independent research confirms labels remain the main way people know how to recycle, with two-thirds preferring brands that use clear labels. Members gain access to exclusive recycling labels, tools, resources, and technical expertise, as well as representation in key industry discussions. Plus, our Recyclability Assessment Tool helps simplify pEPR assessments.
KPMG rank Gold for Consumer Goods and Retail in the 2025 Financial Times Leading Management Consultants. Their global network of multidisciplinary experts partner with a range of businesses, from large CPG, grocery and omnichannel retailers to digital platform businesses and start-ups, helping them to navigate challenge and complexity to enable sustainable growth.
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue in 2024, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, PepsiCola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-toend transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS
With rising energy costs, strict carbon targets, and growing pressure from regulators and consumers, energy has never been more critical. Powerstar enables you to take back control with smart power solutions tailored to your site. Trusted by the UK’s leading manufacturers and retailers, our dynamic Voltage Optimisation (VO) systems and behind-themeter Battery Energy Storage solutions are driving electrification, helping food and drink businesses cut carbon emissions, protect margins, and strengthen their energy resilience.
SLR is a not-for-profit helping consumers recycle SLR is a leading global provider of advisory, sustainability, and environmental consultancy services. We work with clients to provide strategic support for some of the food and drink industry’s most complex sustainability challenges. We have experts who truly understand the complexities of industry processes, compliance obligations, cost pressures, safe work practices, and the need to build a sustainable supply chain.
From analysis delivering a £39,000 saving for a food manufacturer’s site on 2025 wholesaler water charges, to helping another’s application to secure a £170,000 annual trade effluent saving, our expert team are on hand to make smarter actions with water and effluent easy.
Our customer focus - and award-winning water and effluent efficiency services - unlocks greater potential and results, whether it’s powering progress on decarbonisation journeys or steps to reduce, re-use or recycle in processes and at sites, all whilst minimising risks.
With a bespoke response to our customers’ needs, expert knowledge of the food and drink sector and a track-record of successful projects, we’re long-term partners with leading brands and companies.
We also make the switch to us easy - and we provide site visits to explore more effluent and water saving opportunities, alongside other services like contingency planning to tackle future water scarcity risks.
Customer services and water management successes delivered for organisations has seen Water Plus recognised as the only water retailer with a UK Customer Satisfaction Award in 2025.
Speak to our team at the FDF Awards - or, to find out more and partner with us, go to: www.water-plus.co.uk/ or, email hello@water-plus.co.uk .
UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency and ministerial government department. UKEF exists to ensure that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance, while operating at no net cost to the taxpayer. It partners with private sector finance providers to grow UK exports and international trade. In 2024/2025, UKEF provided a record £14.5 billion in new financing, helping 667 UK companies and supporting up to 70,000 jobs.
OUR JUDGES
With thanks to our Judges this year:
Mike Adams Campden BRI Group
Claire Barker Association of Colleges
Carole Bingley RSSL
Chris Burns Company Shop Group
Silvana Centty Baringa Partners
Nick Claridge Odgers
Nick Cliffe Innovate UK
Derek Croucher Morning Foods
Federico Dellafiore International Food and Drink Event
Isabel DiVanna Carbon Trust
Esther Dixon DIT
Kate Dyer Birchwood Knight CEO Recruitment
Jen Emerton Wrap
Richard Fawcett Aon
Emily Field BSI Group
Lynn Furnival Weetabix
Chris Griffin Museum of Brands
Mark Helsby SLR
Tess Howe The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture
Glenys Jones Association for Nutrition
Martin Kersh Food Service Packaging
Jo Lewis British Dietetic Association
Ann Lloyd University of Lincoln
Lindsay Mann Ingeus
Barry McGovaney Water Plus
Natasha Medhurst IFST
Asli Ozen (Turhan) Pladis Global
Bhavnita Patel MTC
Dan Rice Grant Thornton
Nia Salisbury Levercliff Associates
Dick Searle Packaging Federation
Jane Staniforth RSSL
Sara Stanner British Nutrition Foundation
Louise Stone Communicore 4 Consulting
Chris Taylor Broadway Initiative
Nicola Thomas Food & Drink Exporters Association
Keith Thornhill Siemens
Zoe Thrush PepsiCo
Debbie Tully KTN
Paul Vanston INCPEN
Soeren Vonsild Tulip Ltd
Christine Walsh Food & Drink Training & Education Council
Simon Waring Greenseed Group
Luke Webster The Engineering Network
Richard Werran BSI
Peter Whitfield Appetite 4 Engineering
Sarah Wynn ADAS
Andy Young Achieve Goal 12
Science for Tomorrow’s Food
Wednesday 1 October 2025
09.15am - 13.00am
FDF, London
Join our Science for Tomorrow’s Food event for the opportunity to hear from Professor Guy Poppy on the role of science in delivering safe food that meets the needs of a future food system. There will be an interactive panel session looking further into some key areas of food innovation and the potential challenges. This is a great opportunity to network over lunch with industry colleagues and FDF’s Food Regulatory team.
Ticket prices:
FDF members: FREE
Non-members: £50 +VAT
Food Waste in the Circular Economy
Wednesday 15 October 2025
8.30am – 10.30am
FDF, London
Join us over breakfast for an engaging discussion Economy”. This event will bring together industry Chatham House discussions on sustainability and challenges, developments and ideas. Participants will hear updates from Government, collaboration, and the role of AI to reduce food waste economy. There will be ample time for networking impactful environment to enable collective action
Ticket prices:
FDF members: FREE
Non-members: £50 +VAT
Cool. Calm. Connected.
FDF Industry Dinner Economy
Your Global Food & Drink Logistics Partner.
WTA Visibility Platform
Accurate, real-time location tracking and powerful analytics.
Condition Monitoring
Monitor tempertature, light, shock and humidity in transit.
Wednesday 25 March 2026
Fully Multi-Modal
18.00pm - 23.30 pm Guildhall, London
Air, sea, road or rail, reefer or ambient, we’ve got you covered.
discussion on “Food Waste in the Circular industry professionals to have informal and to discuss common issues,
Government, cross-supply chain industry waste and move towards a circular networking opportunities in an informal yet action toward a more circular approach.
The FDF annual networking event returns to Guildhall in 2026.
This popular black tie event provides the opportunity to catch-up with colleagues and clients, and network with prominent stakeholders, VIPs, and peers from within the food and drink industry. This event attracts the best known global brands and SMEs from around the United Kingdom.
In-House Customs Experts
Localised customs knowledge, from food and drink specialists.
Join us for pre-dinner networking drinks in the 11th century East and West Crypts, followed by a sumptous three-course dinner in the impressive, higharched, Gothic Great Hall.
This spectacular venue has a rich history, and is the setting for many state occasions, including the annual Lord Mayor’s Banquet, which has been held in the Great Hall since 1502.
Tickets on sale soon via the FDF website.
Supply chain management for people who like great customer service.
hello@wtagroup.com
Partner with FareShare to help get good food to the people who need it and build stronger, more connected communities.
“Through the winter months, when it’s really cold outside, our community are able to come in and feel the warmth.”
FareShare welcomes a huge range of products into their warehouses - from ambient to fresh produce, dairy to meat products.
Find out more: https://fareshare.org.uk/givefood
Contact the team, or make a food offer: givefood@fareshare.org.uk
UK FOOD & DRINK MANUFACTURING Powering communities
The UK’s food and drink manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of our national economy and a vital part of communities across every region of the country.
Find out more in our regional report
Food and drink manufacturing contributes £37bn to the UK economy
Supply chain employs 4.2 million workers across the UK 24.2% of total UK manufacturing turnover
12,195 food & drink manufacturers
Supply chain worth £155bn to the UK economy
£24.5bn of food & drink exports
Sponsorship enquiries events@fdf.org.uk
Look out for details at www.fdf.org.uk
Entries will open from January 2026
GUEST DIRECTORY
Michael Adams Campden BRI Group
Yemi Adio Siemens plc
Katie Adolphus Tate & Lyle Sugars Limited
Eva Agnew Lionel Hitchen Limited
Marta Ahijado Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) Ian Ainslie Unsworth
Segun Akinwoleola The Gym Kitchen
Rob Albon Food and Drink Federation
Jack Alderton Institute of Food Science & Technology
Debbie Aldred Unilever and the Magnum Ice Cream Company
Jude Allan OPRL Limited
Edward Allen Ashbury
Louise Allen Food and Drink Federation
David Amos Zeelandia Ltd
Rhys Anderson JDE Peets
Ellena Andrews Food and Drink Federation
Emma Anness Food and Drink Federation
Ancy Anthony Enel X
Lorna Appleton Fera Science Ltd
Jo Archer UK Export Finance
Paul Armstrong Walker Morris LLP Harry Atkinson Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Alexander Austyn Unilever and the Magnum Ice Cream Company
Sarah Babb Samworth Brothers
Mussa Bahadur Air Products PLC
Nathalie Bahama Pepsico UK & Ireland
Molly Bailey Samworth Brothers
Darren Bailey The Gym Kitchen
Tom Baker apetito Ltd
Jamie Baldwin Aon Ltd
George Barker National Flexible
Rosie Barnes Unilever and the Magnum Ice Cream Company
Carys Barriball Samworth Brothers
Tanya Barringer Food and Drink Federation
Steve Barton AB World Foods Ltd
Baxter Scotland Food & Drink
James Beard Valpak
Dan Beck Levercliff Associates
Lucianne Beddows Muller Yogurt & Desserts
Halil Bedevi Metir plc / Modern Water (U.K.) Ltd
James Beringer Food and Drink Federation
Karen Betts Food and Drink Federation
Lucy Bielby Food and Drink Federation
Christelle Billon Unilever and the Magnum Ice Cream Company
