Brakes goes for gold
Foodservice supplier Brakes has won nine awards for new products in the British Frozen Food Federation 2008 awards and a Grocer Gold Award for green initiatives.
Brakes real French butter brioche loaf was named catering product of the year and won gold in the best bakery/pastries product category. Smoked haddock, spinach and gruyere pastry bites were named best buffet product and British maris piper beefsteak French fries were judged best potato product.
The company won four silver awards for Italian style cooked meat balls, Moroccan Chicken, cheese straws and Callestick Farm dairy clotted cream vanilla bean ice cream. A bronze award was also awarded for Welsh lamb shepherds pie.
The company won the Grocer Gold Award for green wholesaler for their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint; including using bio diesel in its fleet, electricity generated from renewable sources and initiatives to reduce packaging. Judges recognised Brakes' ongoing commitment to minimising its impact on the environment, whilst still ensuring it met the commercial needs of customers.
Frank McKay, group chief executive, said: "Winning Green Wholesaler of the Year is a fantastic achievement, underlining our commitment to deliver excellence to our customers in a sustainable and responsible way".
Other winners at the BFFF were black cherry, chocolate and ameretto trifle from D. Sidoli and Sons and the Authentic Food Company scooped a gold award for their aromatic Thai king prawn curry and a silver award for their sweet potato, chick pea and spinach curry.
Nik Barsan, managing director at The Authentic Food Company, said: "Our development chefs constantly strive to create innovative, high quality products that meet consumer demand. We take great pride in our heritage in Indian and Oriental foods so we are delighted to receive the awards, as we faced strong competition from entries from leading industry players."
Tortellini with blue Stilton and wild rocket pesto from Laila's Fine Foods won a gold, as did Compass spicy meatballs from Millifoods.
