There are just a few days left for firms and organisations
planning to enter this year's Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards
to submit their entries.
October 2nd is the deadline for entries to the awards, which are
being held for the second year and which celebrate and reward new
and improved ways of working in the East Midlands' food and drink
industry.
The winners will be announced by entertaining writer, presenter
and foodie Hardeep Singh Kohli at a glittering awards ceremony on
November 17th at Athena, Leicester.
The event is expected to be one of the highlights of the
region's food and drink sector calendar, and tickets are now on
sale for the gala dinner.
"There are some excellent projects in terms of innovation and
research going on in the food and drink sector in the East
Midlands, so we're expecting some very interesting entries, but we
would urge firms and organisations to get their entries in as soon
as they can," said Richard Adlington, Food and Drink iNet interim
project director.
Organisers are searching for worthy winners from across
Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire,
Northamptonshire and Rutland. Entry is free.
Hardeep, a Celebrity Masterchef finalist, the author of Indian
Takeaway, and a passionate food fan, will reveal the winners of
five categories, plus the Food and Drink Forum Innovation Champion
2009, at the awards ceremony.
Last year's champion was Belper-based fledgling food producer
Rico Mexican Kitchen, run by Marcela Flores Newburn.
Entries are being encouraged for the following categories:
• University of Lincoln National Centre for Food
Manufacturing Award for Most Innovative SME Food and Drink
Manufacturer
This award will recognise small to medium-sized food and drink
manufacturers within the East Midlands that have championed
innovation projects in order to improve their business.
• Campden BRI Award for Most Innovative Business across the
Food and Drink Supply Chain
This award will recognise businesses working in the food and
drink supply chain within the East Midlands that have undertaken an
innovation project that has benefited the food and drink
manufacturing sector.
• Award for Most Innovative Research Project
This award will recognise the most successful research projects
undertaken by universities and any other organisations conducting
research within the East Midlands that have made a significant
beneficial impact on the food and drink sector.
• Food Processing Faraday Award for Most Innovative Large
Food and Drink Manufacturer
This award will recognise large food and drink manufacturers
within the East Midlands that have championed innovation projects
in order to improve their business.
• Nottingham Trent University Award for Most Innovative
Business in the Wider Food Sector
This award will recognise innovation in a food or drink business
that is not a manufacturer. Examples of businesses eligible to
enter this award include primary producers, restaurants, caterers,
delicatessens and local food retailers
• The Food and Drink Forum Innovation Champion Award
2009
The Innovation Champion 2009 will be selected from the winners
of each of the above categories.
For the purposes of the awards, innovation is defined as
creating value out of new ideas, new products, new services or new
ways of doing things. This does not have to be "new to the world"
but must be "new to you".
The Food and Drink iNet aims to foster innovation in the
region's food and drink sector by encouraging businesses to turn
new ideas into new business through the development of new
technologies and products. It also hopes to stimulate new
processes, services and ways of working in the industry to help
boost the sector in 2009 and beyond.
Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and
Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink
Forum and including The Food Processing Faraday Partnership,
Nottingham Trent University, The University of Lincoln, and The
University of Nottingham.
Sponsorship packages are available for firms who'd like to
promote themselves to the East Midlands food and drink sector.
Individual tickets to the Innovation Awards Ceremony and Gala
Dinner cost £65 plus vat.
Any business, organisation or individual interested in entering
one of this year's categories or in sponsorship, or who would like
tickets to the awards ceremony, should contact Jo Stevenson on 0115
975 8810 or enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk
Information and entry forms are available at
www.eminnovation.org.uk/food