Speciality-Food-Magazine-September-2024

60 @specialityfood Nicola Woods, Event Manager for Speciality & Fine Food Fair, comments, “We were overwhelmed by the volume and quality of the award entries this year, with our judges deliberating hard to select the shortlisted products and businesses. “It’s so exciting to see the innovation in the UK and international speciality food sector, and to read about the amazing work independent retailers are doing to serve their communities and champion artisanal food and drink. Congratulations to everyone shortlisted, we can’t wait to celebrate with you at the Fair!” The shortlist for the 2024 Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards is: NOT YET ON THE SHELF • Fowlescombe Rare & Pasture Ltd Rare @ Pasture Smoked Beef Pastrami • Persian Kitchen Foods Ltd Baba Ganoush • Hensol Castle Distillery Hensol Castle Welsh Vodka • SUPERKEEN Organic Cereal powered by Tiger Nuts Caragh Keane, founder of SUPERKEEN, comments, “I am so incredibly grateful to hear that SUPERKEEN is shortlisted for a Speciality & Fine Food Fair Award 2024! Specialty & Fine Food Fair is an amazing event that I have wanted to be a part of since starting the brand. We are ‘Super Keen’ to hear the results and to hear all about the wonderful brands involved.” NEW PRODUCT OF THE YEAR - INTERNATIONAL • Asilia Limited Asilia Salt • The Happy Pear Dip & Snack Red Pepper Hummus • Be Truffle Sweet Truffle Chilli • Be Truffle Truffle Soy Sauce 25 RISINGSTARS Speciality & Fine Food Fair has joined forces with Speciality Food to celebrate 25 inspiring founders in the world of artisan food and drink. SPECIALITY&FINE FOODFAIRAWARDS 2024 The shortlist has been unveiled for the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards 2024, sponsored by the Federation of French Charcuterie Catering Companies (FICT), which recognise quality artisan products and inspiring independent retailers. NEW PRODUCT OF THE YEAR - UK • Golden Hooves Red Leicester • House of Theobroma Cacaolasses • The Matcha Yaad Matcha Ginger Refresher • Golden Hooves Smoked Cheddar BEST DEI INITIATIVE • NEMI Teas Ltd. • The Biskery LARGE INDEPENDENT RETAILER OF THE YEAR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BIRA • Low Sizergh Barn • The De Beauvoir Deli • Cobbs Farm Co Ltd • Priory Farm Estate Alison Park, owner, Low Sizergh Barn, comments, “We’re so pleased this shortlisting celebrates our approach to speciality food. Our farm shop has always been about bringing our customers together with the people who grow and produce their food. “Customers love saying hello to the cows at milking time and buying a litre of the herd’s organic rawmilk from the vending machine opposite our milking parlour. It’s such an immediate connection and really brings the farm-to-fork ideal to the fore. We are all so thrilled to have reached this level in these national awards.” SMALL INDEPENDENT RETAILER OF THE YEAR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BIRA • Cheese Etc. The Pangbourne Cheese Shop • The Norfolk Deli • Forest Deli • The Cheese Lady Andrew Goodacre, CEO of BIRA, and awards judge, comments, “In my role as CEO for BIRA I am lucky to be invited to judge many awards. I see this as a privilege as I read about some of the fantastic retail businesses on our high streets throughout the UK. These awards were no different, with all the entrants showing their real passion for their business and their customers. In my mind they are all winners.” Stefano Cuomo, CEO of Macknade and awards judge, adds, “Showcasing the very best of our peers, as chosen by the communities that use them, these awards highlight the innovation and hard work that goes on in our independent businesses, up and down our nation, to not only provide incredible service and experience, but illustrating how we, as a sector, are leading the shift to progressive and sustainable supply chains and consumption – reading my peers’ entries for these awards makes me so proud to be part of this vibrant sector!” The initiative was launched with the intention of looking ahead to the future of speciality food and drink, and to recognise some of the products, brands and individuals that might play an important role in that future. "It's amazing to think that Speciality & Fine Food Fair is celebrating its 25th birthday this year,” says Speciality & Fine Food Fair event manager Nicola Woods. “The world of fine food and drink has changed so drastically in that time, with the explosion of innovative and delicious products mirroring the growing consumer appetite for new and diverse food & drink. "Over the past quarter century, Speciality & Fine Food Fair has been a platform for passionate entrepreneurs to get their start, network with the industry and grow their brand, and we're so excited to be celebrating 25 Rising Stars in this year in partnership with Speciality Food . "We'll be recognising these inspiring foodie founders at the Fair this year, and to further celebrate our 25th anniversary we'll be introducing new features, tasting stations, networking opportunities and chances to hear about the latest industry trends. We can't wait to welcome you to the Fair and take a look ahead to the next 25 years of speciality food and drink. See you in September!" Commenting on becoming one of the 25 Rising Stars, Tom Palmer, founder of Yep Kitchen, said, “I am unbelievably excited and honoured to have been chosen as one of 25 Rising Stars in the UK food & drink industry! Sitting in