The finalists for a new set of awards that aim to showcase the finest local produce from the Midlands will be revealed at the Food and Drink Expo on Monday.

The first-ever Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF) Diamond Awards will reveal its shortlist for nine categories next week, at the event in Birmingham.

The awards have generated more than 250 entries from more than 60 companies from Birmingham and the Black Country, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Shropshire.

The nine categories encompass prepared products, drinks, meat, poultry and game, bakery, confectionery, dairy, condiments and preserves, and desserts.

A set of four special awards - Grow, Innovate, Taste and Excel - will run alongside the main categories, with five finalists in each section.

HEFF chief executive Karen Davies said: “The aim behind the HEFF Diamond Awards is to give independent regional and national recognition to the very best food and drink producers in the Midlands.

“The standard of entries was of the very highest and we are very much looking forward to announcing the short list on our stand at one of the region’s largest and most significant food shows.”

The winners will be revealed at HEFF’s 10th anniversary Dinner of the Decade at the Ricoh Arena, in Conventry.

The HEFF stand at Food and Drink Expo will showcase products from 21 different producers from across the West Midlands, including some of the entrants for the Diamond Awards, as well as displays to promote HEFF projects.

Topics