AS the competition reaches the half way point in its tenth year, with a flurry of cook-offs, judging sessions and secret mystery shopping visits taking place this month alone, the team behind the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards is delighted to announce the support of yet another new sponsor.
It comes in the form of Northampton logistics firm C Butt Ltd, which joins the prestigious line-up of long-standing supporters, including Booker, Dawn Farms, Heygates Flour and Animal Feed and Moulton College, by becoming sponsor of the Healthy Eating Workplace category in the awards designed to celebrate all that is best about the county’s food and drink sector.
On the eve of the company’s centenary, having purchased its first vehicle in 1919 to transport goods to local markets, and following hot on the heels of its recent success in securing the coveted BRC Food Standard accreditation, this partnership was an obvious next step, as C Butt Ltd’s Managing Director, Jonathan Butt, explained: “We’re incredibly proud of our rich history within the county and, with our focus this year on Northamptonshire’s excellent food and drink manufacturers and distributors, we’re thrilled to be joining the awards as it marks its decade and to playing our part in helping the sector to thrive.
“We’re also incredibly proud to have to have gained the BRC’s prestigious standard and delighted, therefore, to have the opportunity to celebrate that success in this most of productive of ways through our sponsorship.”
The Healthy Eating Workplace of the Year category is one designed to recognise those workplaces which show real commitment to providing a healthy food offering for its workforce with dishes that are nutritious, good value – and tasty.
Last year the title was taken by Weatherbys Ltd in Wellingborough, a proud achievement as Catering Manager, Matthew Edwards, explained: “Winning the Healthy Eating Workplace award was fantastic as the publicity and recognition that came with our success really lifted the confidence and energy levels of the staff.
“The category also goes to show how much benefit to the employees a healthy food offering brings in terms of their personal wellbeing while our win also generated innovation and extra footfall through the staff restaurant.
“In addition, we had a superb night out at the awards ceremony so, in short, I can think of no reason not to enter.”
Those are sentiments echoed by the Awards’ Director Rachel Mallows MBE DL, who is hoping for entries to rival the standard of previous years: “Among the innovative ideas we’ve seen in the last four years of the category have been free-fruit Wednesdays, a loyalty card scheme which sees those buying four healthy meals getting the fifth free, to one canteen which charges more money, the more calories you have.
“Now, thanks to C Butt Ltd’s generous support, we can celebrate those companies which recognise the value in providing great tasting, nutritious food to keep their staff fit, heathy and productive and so I would urge businesses to get involved.”
If you think your staff restaurant or canteen should be praised for its healthy menu, call the Awards office on 01933 664437 or email rachel@themallowscompany.com Alternatively businesses can enter directly for free by downloading an entry form from the awards website – www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk The closing date is Monday, 3 September.
For latest details of finalists already selected in certain categories or for more information of the categories which remain open, including Community Pub and Weetabix Local Food Hero of the Year, visit www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk
You can also follow the awards on twitter at @foodawardsHQ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/foodawards
Meanwhile for more details about the range of logistics solutions offered by C Butt Ltd, visit www.cbutt.co.uk or email sales@cbutt.co.uk or call 07824 435341.
