Award News 2024
Save the Date! New Northamptonshire Food & Drink Week 1-9 June
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Exciting plans are taking shape for a new Northamptonshire Week of Food & Drink, taking place for the first time this year, from 1st to 9th June.
Organised by Made in Northamptonshire and the Northamptonshire Tourism Business Network, the county’s first ever Food & Drink Week raises a glass to the people, places and producers that make up the county’s growing food and drink scene, with special events, menus that shine a spotlight on local produce, pop ups, collaborations, tours, tastings and more, at locations all around Northamptonshire.
Kevin Rogers is a Partner at Wilson Browne Solicitors, who are proud sponsors of the initiative. The firm hopes to encourage visitors and residents alike to support the county’s fantastic independent foodie businesses, and find new favourites. Kevin adds; “Whether pubs, restaurants, food or drink products - we are excited to help put the county’s home grown firmly on the food and drink map of England.”
Chef James Peck
Award-winning Chef James Peck, owner at Ember and No.13 bar in Wellingborough, and the Four Pears in Little Houghton, is looking forward to heading up the kitchen for the Best of Northamptonshire Long Table Banquet at the Tollemache Arms in Harrington on June 7th.
James says; “The Northants food scene is getting really exciting! And this brand-new Food & Drink Week is a great way to celebrate our amazing chef and hospitality skills, and the brilliant produce we all have on our doorstep. Let’s get behind it!”
Richard Gordon, director of Greedy Gordons Pub Group, says; "We are really excited to be part of the first Northamptonshire Food & Drink Week, which is a brilliant initiative. We are proud to champion many of our county's quality food and drink producers every day in our pubs, farm shop and cafe, but this new week is an excellent way to celebrate them and the range of wonderful eateries we are so lucky to have in Northants."
He adds: "A range of must-attend events will be taking place across our three pubs, farm shop and cafe to celebrate the week, including producer showcases, local beer and cider tastings, a paella masterclass and a restaurant takeover. We can't wait to welcome both existing and new customers to our wonderful venues during this week and beyond."
Delapre Food Festival
Rachel Mallows, director of Made in Northamptonshire, is thrilled with the response so far. “It’s our first year so we expected to start small, but we’ve got a fantastic line up already. From a local produce market and showcase at Whitco on June 1st, to The Best of Northamptonshire Long Table Banquet on June 7th, a new Food and Drink Festival at Delapre Abbey on June 8th-9th, student take overs, coffee and baking demonstrations, product tastings at hotels, gin discounts, and special menus at the County Cricket Ground and at pubs and restaurants all around the county. There’s something for everybody, so please do join us in celebrating our very own county Food & Drink Week”.
Jeyes of Earls Barton & Mee Blueberries Collab
Full details can be found here:
https://northamptonshiresurprise.com/june-food-and-drink/
To get involved, or to include an event you are already planning for that week that includes local food and drink, please get in touch on info@northamptonshiresurprise.com.
Awards Celebrate Producers who keep Northamptonshire firmly on the Foodie Map of England
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Jo Rutherford, Your Cool
Gold Award Winner
Coffee Ice Cream, Artisan Local Product of the Year
The sixteenth year of the Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards are picking up pace, with more people nominating more food businesses, and entries closing soon for college student and artisan product categories.
Recognising and celebrating excellence in the sector’s brilliant local people, products and places, the competition relies on the support of the sector, which is going strong. And as the awards grow bigger and better each year, the awards organisers need more mystery shoppers to review nominees and see if the proof is in the pudding.
Rachel Mallows MBE, Awards Director said “It’s been a brilliant start to the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink awards season, with entries in from all around the county, representing our excellent regional offering. Producers sustain our families and communities year-round, and need our support now more than ever, due to rising costs and spending pressures”.
Previous winners know how much this competition can mean to a producer. Jo Rutherford, founder, Your Cool ice cream comments; “Being the Gold winner in the Artisan Local Product category last year was brilliant for me personally. I started artisan ice cream making about four years ago switching from a completely different non-food based career, so winning was not only a huge surprise, but also gave my self-confidence a real boost. The fact that the products are taste-tested and judged gives the accolade so much weight - and being a winner with such high-quality competition was quite overwhelming - Northamptonshire really does have some fantastic artisan food and drink producers!
I have used the award to promote my business and it definitely helps with corporate and event clients, who may otherwise think twice about using a small business for their events. Whether you are a winner or not, the awards team provides some really valuable feedback, which definitely helps with product development; and the fantastic awards dinner is the icing on the cake. A fabulous evening with the industry’s best from across the county.
Sam Rees, Estate Manager at Boughton Estate, adds; "We were thrilled when our honey received a silver award for Artisan Local Product of the Year. This recognition was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the natural beauty of the gardens at Boughton House, often called the 'English Versailles' and recently a film location for Ridley Scott's epic 'Napoleon.' The award also provided an opportunity to share the broader activities happening across the Boughton Estate, and we feel they are a great way to support local business and raise awareness of the excellent produce from our county”.
Likewise, college students go from strength to strength when the sector shines a spotlight on their exceptional talents. Phil Martin, Curriculum Manager Culinary Arts and Travel, Northampton College encourages his students to enter; “The awards provide a fantastic platform to enhance job prospects and attract young talent into the industry. The popular and hugely successful Food and Drink College Student of the Year award, alongside the Booker Young Chef of the Year award and the Canapé Competition, undoubtedly inspire the next generation. They provide a great platform for local young people to embark on successful and rewarding careers in hospitality. It is heartening to see the enthusiasm and energy the awards continue to generate for food and drink in the county.”
Entries for this year’s Food and Drink College Student of the Year, Artisan Local Drink, Local Product and Local Vegetarian/Vegan products all close on 10th May. All Gold award winning products are offered the exceptional opportunity to be entered into the Great Taste Awards.
The free-to-enter categories in this year’s Awards (with their respective sponsors) are:
Artisan Local Drink of the Year (Warner’s Distillery)
Artisan Local Product of the Year (Heygates Flour and Animal Feed Millers)
Artisan Local Vegetarian / Vegan Product of the Year (Daily Bread Cooperative)
Booker Gastro Pub of the Year (Booker)
Booker Young Chef of the Year (Booker)
Canapé Competition (Portfolio Events)
Community Café of the Year (West Northamptonshire Council Public Health)
Farming Environment Award (Weetabix)
F&B Achiever of the Year (J Sweeney Accountants)
Food and Drink College Student of the Year (University of Northampton)
Healthy Food and Wellbeing Award (Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust)
Local Food Hero of the Year (Howes Percival)
One To Watch (Whitworth Bros. Ltd Flour Millers)
Outstanding Contribution to Food & Drink (All Things Business)
Restaurant of the Year (Greedy Gordons)
Weetabix Sustainability Award (Weetabix)
Whitco Chef of the Year (Whitco Catering & Bakery Equipment Limited)
World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year (British Pepper & Spice Co. Ltd)
The results of the competition, which will again see finalists awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze, will be announced at the Awards celebrations taking place on 17 October 2024 at The Royal & Derngate Theatre, supported again by caterers Portfolio Events.
For more details on all the categories in the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2024/25, including entry and nomination forms call the Awards team on 01933 664437 or email awards@northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk
You can also follow the Awards on Facebook at @foodawards or Twitter and Instagram at @foodawardsHQ or on LinkedIn at @weetabixnfadawards
Awards Night Culminates the 15th Year of the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards 2023/24
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Image of the launch event at the Snooty Fox, Lowick, showing Awards Director Rachel Mallows MBE interviewing Oliver Nesbitt, Director, Santina’s Wood Fired Pizza, Gold Award Winner, Ones to Watch
The Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards are back for a sixteenth year of shining a spotlight on local culinary excellence. Recognising and celebrating the county’s brilliant people, places and producers, the Awards fly the flag for buying and supporting local, and as spending pressures continue, that support for independent and local is more important than ever.
With a sensational set of sponsors, and eighteen categories, this year’s Awards are a toast to all that is great about the county’s experiences, produce and drink; a reward for those who work so hard locally – rising to not insignificant challenges facing the hospitality sector – and keep Northamptonshire firmly on the foodie map of England.
Headline sponsor, Weetabix, who last year committed to supporting the competition for another three years, will once again be joined by category sponsors including All Things Business, Booker, British Pepper & Spice Co. Ltd, Daily Bread Co-operative, Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust, Greedy Gordons, Heygates Flour & Animal Feed Millers, Howes Percival, J Sweeney Accountants, Portfolio Events, West Northamptonshire Council Public Health, University of Northampton, Warner’s Distillery, Whitworth Bros. Ltd, and Whitco Catering & Bakery Equipment Limited.
Stuart Branch, Group People and Technology Director at Weetabix said “Five years ago we talked about how proud we were to become the headline sponsor of the Awards, and today is no different, the Awards continue to make us feel very proud of the businesses, the people, and the effort that goes in to making this a county to be reckoned with! Our first-hand involvement and seeing the positive impact these awards have is humbling and we remain extremely impressed with the vast range of businesses and organisations that the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards celebrate.”
The full details of this year’s competition were shared by Awards Director, Rachel Mallows MBE, at the launch on Wednesday March 20 at The Snooty Fox in Lowick, home of sponsor Greedy Gordons.
Rachel reflected on what we have learned during the last fifteen years of coming together and celebrating the sector’s incredible successes and achievements. “Eating out and buying local makes a huge difference to the prosperity of the county’s communities, high streets, hospitality, food and drink businesses. In these trying times for hospitality, of rising business costs and spending pressures, let’s choose carefully where we spend our money locally, and continue to support these businesses and communities as much as possible. Through the Awards we’re shining a spotlight on brilliance – brilliant hospitality, communities and innovations - to make it easier for Northamptonshire to choose independent and local.”
Image of the launch event at the Snooty Fox, Lowick, showing Awards Director Rachel Mallows MBE interviewing Jade Walter, Rushton Hall, Gold Award Winner, Booker Young Chef of the Year
Multi-award winner Joe Buckley, owner of the Tollemache Arms in Harrington and awarded Gold in last year’s F&B Achiever and Booker Gastro Pub of the Year categories, added his perspective on the importance and impact of local Awards. “The Awards have always been a great benchmark for us, not only for our own standards, but also finding places to visit for food and drink. Winning last year was the icing on the cake after years of hard work, and being in a room full of hospitality legends is always great for networking and sharing. In the nine years we have been entering the Awards the food scene in Northamptonshire has gone from strength to strength, showing the value to local businesses. We have been blessed to win both national and local awards, but to be a finalist or a winner in a county with such great pubs, we see as a really fantastic achievement.”
Previous Award winners like Sol Haven, Weetabix Sustainability Award Gold winners and Healthy Food and Wellbeing Workplace Gold winners last year, were also able to reflect on the sense of accomplishment that is associated with the Awards. Natasha Caton enthused; “By participating, we can express gratitude towards all those who contribute to make dreams happen. This includes volunteers, local communities, supporters, the land and all that is grown. Creating a thriving, strong supportive community reinforces the idea that success is not achieved in isolation but through collective effort and support. By coming together to celebrate achievements, the community strengthens its bonds and unity. Winning or even being nominated for an award enhances visibility and establishes a reputation for excellence. This in turn can attract more customers, partners, and opportunities for collaboration, growth and expansion.
With greater visibility, we can extend what we offer, our reach and impact, helping more individuals and groups to improve their lives through healthier choices.”
The Health and Wellbeing team at West Northamptonshire Council reinforces the important link between good food and wellbeing, with Cllr Matt Golby, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health adding: “It is so important to recognise our local businesses and those that put the community at the heart of all they do. We know that good food produce has a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of our residents, so it is great to see categories that celebrate community cafes as well as put an emphasis on quality, locally produced food.”
The free-to-enter categories in this year’s Awards (with their respective sponsors) are:
Artisan Local Drink of the Year (Warner’s Distillery)
Artisan Local Product of the Year (Heygates Flour and Animal Feed Millers)
Artisan Local Vegetarian / Vegan Product of the Year (Daily Bread Cooperative)
Booker Gastro Pub of the Year (Booker)
Booker Young Chef of the Year (Booker)
Canapé Competition (Portfolio Events)
Community Café of the Year (West Northamptonshire Council Public Health)
Farming Environment Award (Weetabix)
F&B Achiever of the Year (J Sweeney Accountants)
Food and Drink College Student of the Year (University of Northampton)
Healthy Food and Wellbeing Award (Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust)
Local Food Hero of the Year (Howes Percival)
One To Watch (Whitworth Bros. Ltd Flour Millers)
Outstanding Contribution to Food & Drink (All Things Business)
Restaurant of the Year (Greedy Gordons)
Weetabix Sustainability Award (Weetabix)
Whitco Chef of the Year (Whitco Catering & Bakery Equipment Limited)
World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year (British Pepper & Spice Co. Ltd)
The results of the competition, which will again see finalists awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze, will be announced at the Awards celebrations taking place on 17 October 2024 at The Royal & Derngate Theatre, supported again by caterers Portfolio Events.
For more details on all the categories in the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2024/25, including entry and nomination forms call the Awards team on 01933 664437 or email awards@northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk
You can also follow the Awards on Facebook at @foodawards or Twitter and Instagram at @foodawardsHQ or on LinkedIn at @weetabixnfadawards
A Celebration and Recognition of Excellence within
Northamptonshire's Food and Drink Sector
Award News 2024
Weetabix Northamptonshire
Food and Drink Awards
The Mallows Company (07103621)
A Celebration and Recognition of Excellence within
Northamptonshire's Food and Drink Sector