FDBusiness.com

United Biscuits has received the top accolade at the prestigious Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Awards, which celebrate the successes and positive contribution of food and drink businesses. The company was commended by FDF President Jim Moseley for its success in exports, for which it won the Exporter of the Year (Large Company) Award.

The FDF Awards recognise the achievements of food and drink businesses across a number of categories including: Innovation, Community Partner, Good Employer, Exporter of the Year, Environmental Leadership, Health and Wellbeing Champion, Growth Business, Education Initiative, Food and Drink Scientist, Food and Drink Engineer, and Apprentice of the Year.

The FDF President’s Award winner is chosen by the FDF President from amongst the category winners.

Jim Moseley, FDF President, comments: “Winning an FDF Award is a real coup for any food and drink business. This year’s award entries were truly inspiring and reflect the hard work, passion and creativity of those working in our industry. I believe that United Biscuits deserves special recognition in this year’s Awards for its work to boost exports, its collaboration with others to address the looming skills shortage and the way it drives innovation in the industry.”

The judges recognised that UB has increased its sales outside of the UK and Northern Europe from just 5% of group turnover in 2006 to approximately 15% in 2013, with ambitions to make this 20% by 2016.

United Biscuits now sells its products in over 100 countries.  It is already one of the fastest growing biscuit businesses in West Africa, the Middle East and India and is now expanding its footprint into China. Sales in 2013 have risen by 22%. The company has also worked hard to adapt its products to the local markets. For example a biscuit sold in Nigeria is fortified with vitamins and minerals that have been identified as deficient in the local population.

Winners

President’s Award – United Biscuits

Food and Drink Engineer – Ian Rigby, PepsiCo UK and Ireland

Apprentice of the Year

Highly commended: Jordan Philips from Nestlé UK

Apprentice of the Year: Paul Morgan from Mondelèz International

Food and Drink Scientist – Tom Hollands, Raynor Foods

Education Initiative

(SME) Agrico UK Ltd – Tattie Tastic Project

(Large) Mondelez International – Taste of Work Programme

Growth Business – Charlie Bigham’s

Health and Wellbeing Champion – Mondelez International for ‘Health for Life’ in Primary schools

Environmental Leadership

(Large) Nisa and DHL – Go Green
(SME) Raynor Foods – Minimising Food Waste

Innovation – Apetito Ltd

Good Employer – Britvic Soft Drinks plc

Exporter of the Year

(SME) Elmgrove Foods
(Large) United Biscuits

Community Partner – Mid-Counties Co-Operative