Winners of Chefs' Choice Awards announced

Hundreds of professional chefs from across the restaurant and pub sectors voted in the annual awards, which are now in their seventh year. The awards recognise 21 categories, ranging from Best Pan Brand and Best Cooking Range to Best Meat Supplier and Best Equipment Distributor.
Rational was this year’s big winner, picking up both Best Equipment Brand and Best Combi-Oven. Thermal blender Thermomix has been named Best Gadget for a fourth consecutive year while butcher Aubrey Allen has proved it is a cut above the rest by holding on to the top spot as Best Meat Supplier for three years in a row.

The award winners in full:

Best Meat Supplier
Winner: Aubrey Allen   
Highly commended: Donald Russell, Fairfax Meadow

Best Fish Supplier   
Winner: M&J Seafood
Highly commended: Flying Fish, Direct Seafoods

Best Equipment Distributor   
Winner: Nisbets   
Highly commended: Alliance, Lockhart

Best Foodservice Company   
Winner: Woods Foodservice   
Highly commended: Bidvest 3663, Turners Fine Foods

Best EPoS Supplier   
Winner: Micros    
Highly commended: PointOne, Zonal

Best Fruit & Veg Supplier    
Winner: Reynolds   
Highly commended: Covent Garden Supply, Fresh Direct

Best Drinks Supplier   
Winner: Matthew Clark   
Highly commended: Bibendum, Liberty Wines   

Best Beer Brand
Winner: Peroni
Highly commended: Estrella Damm, Meantime

Best Coffee 
Winner: Illy   
Highly commended: Lavazza, Nespresso

Best Bottled Water 
Winner: Hildon   
Highly commended: Evian, Highland Spring

Best Soft Drink 
Winner: Coca-Cola   
Highly commended: Fentimans, Schweppes

Best Combi-oven 
Winner: Rational
Highly commended: Lincat   

Best Cooking Range 
Winner: Falcon   
Highly commended: Blue Seal, Buffalo   

Best Knife Supplier
Winner: Global   
Highly commended: Wusthof, I.O.Shen

Best Pan Brand
Winner: Vogue
Highly commended: Bourgeat, De Buyer   

Best Tableware Supplier
Winner: Churchill
Highly commended: Goodfellows, Dudson

Best Gadget 
Winner: Thermomix   
Highly commended: Robot Coupe, Kitchen Aid   

Best Equipment Brand 
Winner: Rational   
Highly commended: Vogue, Thermomix    

Best Stock
Winner: Knorr   
Highly commended: Essential Cuisine, True Foods   

Best Chocolate
Winner: Valrhona   
Highly commended: Callebaut, Cadbury

Best Frozen Brand 
Winner: Birds Eye   
Highly commended: Brakes, McCain