The 35th annual British Frozen Food Awards took place last week, hosted by the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) to celebrate the industry’s innovation and success over the past twelve months.
Fourteen independent consumer panels blind-tested and marked products for appearance, taste, and aroma before considering innovation, packaging, preparation instructions, likelihood of purchase and value for money. This was then complemented by a further panel of professional chefs who also judged all the products.
Crop’s Foods Ltd secured the Retail Product of the Year Award with its new Thai Green Chicken Curry produced for Aldi. Meanwhile, Farmyard Frozen Ltd bagged the Retail Innovation Product of the Year for their Farmyard Gold Bar which impressed judges with its technical innovation and premium quality.
Among the winners this year, Aldi and Farmyard Frozen Ltd scooped two Gold Awards each, with Heron Foods, Northcoast Seafoods Ltd and Freiberger UK Ltd also winning trophies for their products. Unconventional Taste took home the Gold Award in the Best New Meat Free Product category for their Unconventional Plant Based Burger.
In the foodservice categories, Pacific West Foods Ltd claimed the Foodservice Product of the Year Award for its Pacific West Lemongrass & Chilli Prawns, whilst apetito won the Foodservice Innovation Product of the Year Award for its Chicken Tikka Specialist Nutrition Finger Food Bites.
Rupert Ashby, chief executive of the British Frozen Food Federation, commented: “This is the first Frozen Food Awards I have experienced since starting my role as chief executive last year. I have been amazed to see how thorough the independent judging process is and I am delighted that such high-quality, innovative products have been recognised at this year’s awards.
“The innovation happening across frozen is impressive and incredibly encouraging, especially considering the important role the sector has to play as we look towards a future of increased value for the consumer, which has been illustrated recently with new market data showing that frozen food has been outperforming fresh and chilled during the cost of living crisis.
Ashby added: “Frozen food offers consumers excellent value for money without compromising on quality or taste, and I am confident that the industry will continue to go from strength to strength driven by the range and diversity of products entered into the awards this year.”
View the full results here:
