The fresh produce industry turned out in force last night to celebrate the third annual Re:fresh Awards Dinner.
A sell-out 588 diners saw companies and individuals from all sectors of the industry fight off tough competition to win the awards, which celebrate outstanding performance in the field over the last year.
And the winner is…
• The Florette Lifetime Achievement award was presented to David Matthews, managing director at Bristol Fruit Sales. Retiring next week, Matthews’ career in the fruit trade has spanned 44 years, during which he has been instrumental in expanding the BFS business into the leading fruit and veg wholesaler in the south west.
• The title of Tesco Overall Produce Trader of the Year went to Kent-based company JP Fruit Distributors for its strong commitment to efficiency throughout the supply chain, and its approach to innovation and advancement at all stages of business.
• The company also took home the BA World Cargo Importer of the Year award, beating finalists A Gomez Ltd and Stubbins Marketing.
• Mack Multiples received the FPJ 5 A DAY Supporter of the Year award for its success in promoting the campaign to children with its dedicated website, www.thinkvegetables.co.uk. Also in the running were Westminster Produce and Foods From Spain.
• A Gomez took home the Chilean Fresh Fruit Industry Innovation of the Year award for bringing efficiency to its supply chain. Also competing for the title were Exosect, Anglia Business Solutions, Fruity Faces and MBM Produce.
• Reynolds Catering was crowned Carmel Foodservice Supplier of the Year after expanding its business over the last 12 months. Pauleys, Fresh Direct UK and Swithenbank Foods were finalists.
• Capespan Wholesaler of the Year went to Redbridge Produce & Flowers, with J Carmichael & Co and Bristol Fruit Sales finalists.
Flowerfete saw off finalists Donaldsons and Sunking Flowers to take home the FPC Floral Business of the Year.
• Rustler Produce won the World Grower Packer of the Year, and Newmafruit and A Gomez were runners up.
• Independent Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Foods From Spain, was awarded to EH Booth for the second year running, defeating finalists Arcade Fruits, Sofresh, Chapmans Farm Fresh, Crunchy Carrots and Strongs.
• Waitrose beat Tates, Tesco, Somerfield and Asda to take home the Foods From Spain Multiple Retailer of the Year award.
• Matthew Barton of Barton and Redman was named MorePeople Young Person of the Year. Adam Shaw from M&W Mack; Izabela Stendera, Produce Global Solutions; Adam Woodcock, Suncrop Produce; and Velina Buckley at Mansfield’s were all finalists.
• The Prophet Marketing Campaign of the Year went to Sputnik for its British Summer Fruits & Winter Berries Campaign. Finalists were Red Communications for its promotion of the Chilean Hass Avocado Association; The Bramley Campaign; Somerfield Stores; Cirkle Communications for the Jersey Royal campaign; and Red Communications for Norton Folgate Tesco Cherry Competition.
See next week’s FPJ for more news from Re:fresh 2006.
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