Northwest Awards Launch To Spot Talent

This year’s programme has been expanded and two new award categories added, aimed at regional fine food producers.

Organised by Food Northwest, the NWDA cluster organisation set up to lead the food and drink industry and to help to grow the Northwest regional economy, the awards celebrate the successes of Businesses across Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. They acknowledge companies from all areas of the industry, from farm to fork, including food retail and service, wholesale, distribution, food processing and agriculture.  This year, the awards will include two new categories to recognise regional speciality food producers; ‘Fine Food Producer of the Year 2009’ and ‘Best New Northwest Speciality Product 2009’.

The addition of the two new awards and the expansion of the programme to include a new daytime event, is the continuation of Food Northwest’s support for the region’s speciality producers, following the voluntary liquidation of North West Fine Foods Ltd in June 2008. Food Northwest has created a new special interest group ‘Fine Food Northwest’ to work proactively with fine food producers as part of its work championing the whole of the food and drink sector.

This year’s Food Northwest awards will focus on the theme ‘Inspiration and Innovation’ and will highlight the innovation and dedication of companies excelling in their sector, across the Northwest. The winners will be announced at a Gala Awards dinner, hosted by Lucy Meacock of ITN and Granada TV, on Thursday 25th June, 2009, at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel. The awards’ dinner menu will be created to highlight the best of the region’s specialities by chef, David Gale. Entry to the Food Northwest Awards 2009 is free and businesses have the chance to submit applications in ten categories. The closing date for award entries 6th May, 2009.

Pat Foreman, chief executive of Food Northwest, says, “The awards celebrate the energy, enthusiasm, innovation and sheer hard work of companies large and small operating within the region. This year we are delighted to be working with the region’s fine food producers and have extended our awards programme to recognise and further support this dedicated group of businesses. This is the fourth annual awards programme and as ever, we are anticipating high quality applications from world-class companies across the region.”

Organisations can nominate themselves, or be nominated by another party. To register for an application form contact Darren Hill on 01928 511011.  Further details of the award categories can also be found at this address, along with information on how to obtain tickets for the Gala Awards Dinner and how to get involved in the business clinic. Those interested in sponsoring an award or the business clinic should contact Darren Hill at Food Northwest on 01928 511011.