In The Press

Meet the Winner – Do Goodly Foods
Meet the winner – Ben Roberts
Meet The Winner – Hilltop Honey Ltd
Meet the Winner – Tiny Rebel
Meet the Winner – Danny Curtis of Lobster and Môr
Meet the Winner – In The Welsh Wind Distillery
Meet the Winner – Llaeth y Llan Village Dairy
Meet the Winner – The Gower Gin Company
Meet the Winner – The Lobster Pot
Winners Videos 2022
Winners of the Inaugural Wales Food and Drink Awards Announced
Top Tips on How to Enter an Awards Ceremony
10 Reasons Why you Should Enter the Wales Food & Drinks Awards
New Awards to Shine a Spotlight on Food and Drink Industry in Wales

2022 AWARD CATEGORIES

Start-Up of the Year
  • The Wales F&D start-up award aims to celebrate and support the food and drink industry’s newest businesses. Entrants to this award must be independent and have been trading for up-to a maximum period of three years on 13th May 2022.
  • The judges will be looking for real passion, a strong plan, an innovative product or service and exceptional forecasts for further growth.
Entrepreneur of the Year
  • The Wales F&D Entrepreneur award will recognise those individuals who have shown the desire to succeed with their own ideas and have had the ambition to turn those ideas into a successful business.
  • The judges will be looking for an outstanding individual who can best demonstrate exceptional vision and leadership and personality in the development of their own business.
Exporter of the Year
  • The Wales F&D Exporter of the year award is open to any Welsh food or drink business that is trading overseas.
  • The judges are looking for evidence of a detailed internationalisation strategy, growth in overseas markets and a commitment to improving export performance.
Apprentice of the Year
  • The Wales F&D Apprentice award is open to individuals who are currently on an apprentice scheme in the F&D sector.
  • The judges are looking for individuals who demonstrate ambition, energy, skill and vision, as well as tangible business success. The nomination can be made by a line manager, HR representative or college tutor.
Innovation Award
  • The Wales F&D Innovation Award recognises those businesses that have achieved growth through innovation driven entrepreneurship.
  • For this category, innovation is broadly defined and could include technology, product or process innovation.
Sustainable Values Award
  • The Wales F&D Sustainable Values award will recognise and celebrate industry change-makers and brands that focus on eco-friendly food and drink production.
  • The Businesses will be judged on their sustainable approach to the supply chain and look for ways to demonstrate an environmental and socially aware attitude.
Rising Star of the Year
  • The Wales F&D Rising Star of the Year award is made to individuals in their first 5 years in the Food and drink industry.
  • The judges are looking for individuals who demonstrate ambition, energy, skill and vision, as well as tangible business success.
Scale up Company of the Year
  • The Wales F&D Scale up Company award recognises those Welsh businesses that can demonstrate high rates of growth and industry-leading innovations, while making a significant impact in the food and drink sector.
  • The judges are looking for food and drink businesses that have achieved growth and strong financial performance through innovation, exceptional customer experience and are focused on future business success.
Local Community Award
  • The Wales F&D local Community award recognises those Welsh businesses that have made a real difference to their local community.
  • The judges are looking for examples of making a difference; by volunteering, by overcoming adversity, by raising awareness of a particular issue, or by organising an event that has improved the quality of life for the residents in the community.
Food Producer of the Year
  • Are you the Food Producer of the year in Wales? This award recognises a Welsh Food producer that has consistently made a real impact in the welsh food sector.
  • The judges are looking in the following areas; Quality of product and provenance of ingredients, How you tell your story through branding and presentation, Originality of product and innovation, Sustainability. How much your product stands out from the competition.
Drinks Producer of the Year
  • Are you the Drinks Producer of the year in Wales? This award recognises a Welsh drinks producer that has consistently made a real impact in the welsh drinks sector.
  • The judges are looking in the following areas; Quality of product and provenance of ingredients, How you tell your story through branding and presentation, Originality of product and innovation, Sustainability. How much your product stands out from the competition.
Artisan business of the Year
  • The Welsh Artisan Business category recognises a Welsh artisan food or drink producer who has the wow factor.
  • The judges are looking in the following areas; Quality of product and provenance of ingredients, How you tell your story through branding and presentation, Originality of product and innovation, Sustainability. How much your product stands out from the competition.
Covid-19 Resilience Award
  • This award recognises those companies which have reacted quickly and strongly to the COVID-19 pandemic to survive and indeed thrive.
  • The judges are looking for; Evidence of how their business model has been adapted to achieve results, Evidence of a flexible business model already in place which enabled them to absorb the impact of COVID-19, Accessed funding streams and used these in an inventive way, Strongly motivated and empowered staff, Embraced technology in an innovative way

Shortlist

Apprentice of the Year
  • Ben Roberts - M.E. Evans
  • Jaime Leigh Smith - Terry's Patisserie
  • Jordan Dean- Trailhead Fine Foods
  • Jordan Jones - Kepak
  • Joseph Hembrough - The Menai Seafood Co
Artisan Producer of the Year
  • Caws Tefi
  • Conwy Kombucha
  • Llanfairpwll Distillery
  • Pembrokeshire Chilli Farm
  • Trealy Farm Charcuterie
COVID-19 Resilience Award
  • Bang on Brewery
  • Glaslyn
  • In the Welsh Wind Distillery
  • Mallows Bottling
  • The Menai Seafood Company
Start-Up of the Year
  • Coffi Dre
  • Do Goodly Foods
  • EISA Tea
  • The Low Carb Food Companyy
  • Old Farmhouse Brewery
Drinks Producer of the Year
  • Aber Falls Whisky Distillery
  • Coaltown Ltd
  • Cotteswold Dairy - North Wales Depot
  • Glamorgan Brewing Company
  • Radnor Hills Mineral Water Co
  • White Castle Vineyard
Entrepreneur of the Year
  • Danny Curtis - Lobster & Môr
  • Gruffydd Williams-Rees - Gwenyn Gruffydd Ltd
  • Michael Beynon - Coalpit Welshcakes
  • Scott Otten - SO Coffee Trades
  • Yash C Dhutia - Nashville Food Group
Exporter of the Year
  • AU Vodka
  • Penderyn Distillery
  • The Lobster Pot
  • Radnor Preserves
Food Producer of the Year
  • Capestone Organic Poultry
  • Dunbia (UK) Llanybydder
  • Llaeth y Llan Village Dairy
  • South Caernarfon Creameries
  • The Authentic Curry Company
Innovation of the Year
  • Clydach Farm
  • Daffodil Foods
  • Ewenique Spirits
  • Halen Dewi
  • Vala Energy
Local Community Award
  • Castle Dairies
  • Daniel Jones & Sons
  • Mamgu Welshcakes
  • The Preservation Society
  • Tiny Rebel
Rising Star of the Year
  • Charlotte Clark - Pembrokeshire Gin Company
  • Dan Jones - Bragdy Cybi
  • Emma Morris - Trailhead Fine Foods
  • Lauren Price - Kepak
  • Tim Winstanley - Pendragon Drinks
Scale-Up Company of the Year
  • Cardiff Distillery
  • Lilo's Pasta
  • Hilltop Honey
  • The Pudding Compartment
  • Edwards, The Welsh Butcher
Sustainable Values Award
  • Bluestone Brewing Company
  • Micro Acres Wales
  • The Gower Gin Company
  • Pembrokeshire Lamb
  • Puffin Produce

Winners

Apprentice of the Year
  • Ben Roberts - M.E. Evans
Artisan Business of the Year
  • Caws Teifi
Covid-19 Resilience Award
  • In the Welsh Wind Distillery
Start-Up Business of the Year
  • Do Goodly Foods
Drinks Producer of the Year
  • Coaltown
Entrepreneur of the Year
  • Danny Curtis - Lobster & Môr
Exporter of the Year
  • The Lobster Pot
Food Producer of the Year
  • Llaeth y Llan Village Dairy
Innovation of the Year
  • VALA Energy
Local Community Award
  • Tiny Rebel
Rising Star of the Year
  • Charlotte Clark - Pembrokeshire Gin Company
Scale-Up Company of the Year
  • Hilltop Honey
Sustainable Values Award
  • The Gower Gin Company
Highly Commended
  • Old Farmhouse Brewery, MamGu Welshcakes, Bang on Brewery, Coalpit Welsh Cakes, Kepak, AU Vodka, The Authentic Curry Company, The Menai Seafood Company Ltd, Pembrokeshire Chilli Farm, Lilo's Pasta, Pembrokeshire Lamb, Cotteswold Dairy, Daffodil Foods
Welsh Food Champion of the Year
  • Colin Gray
Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Brian Jones MBE

2022 Sponsors