With hundreds of entries across 22 categories, taking in all the best that food and drink businesses, initiatives and individuals have to offer from the past 12 months, our expert judges certainly had their work cut creating the Grocer Gold shortlist for 2018.
But after days spent poring through entries and hours more in heated debate, here it is. Now all these finalists have to do is wait to find out if they’ll be crowned winners at a glittering ceremony at London’s Guildhall, to be held on 12 June. Book your tickets here.
Brand of the Year
Anchor - Arla Foods
Birds Eye - Birds Eye
Cadbury Confectionery - Mondelez International
Charlie Bigham’s - Charlie Bigham’s
Corsodyl - GlaxoSmithKline
Häagen-Dazs - General Mills
Harringtons - Inspired Pet Nutrition
Pukka Herbs - Unilever
Squashies - Swizzels Matlow
Yorkshire Provender - Hain Daniels
Business Initiative of the Year
Project Fresh - Aldi
English Tea Shop - English Tea Shop
We Are Lidl - Lidl
Shop-Based Ordering System - Morrisons
Women in Wholesale - New Era PR
Consumer Initiative of the Year
Christmas discount for NHS and emergency services - Iceland Foods
#WhiskySanta - Master of Malt
Best of our Counties range - Midcounties Co-operative
#Tescotampontaxoff - Tesco
19 Crimes - Treasury Wine Estates
Drink Brand of the Year
Budweiser - AB InBev
Robinsons - Britvic
Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola European Partners
Fanta - Coca-Cola European Partners
Gordon’s Premium Pink Distilled Gin - Diageo
Thatchers Cider - Thatchers Cider Company
Employer of the Year
Aldi
Belazu Ingredient Company
Blue Skies
Henderson Foodservice
Lily’s Kitchen
Weetabix Food Company
Green Initiative of the Year
World First in Carbon - Booker
Project Closed Loop - The Co-op
FairWild - Pukka Herbs
Purple Mission - Sambazon
Exporter of the Year
Atom Brands
Global Brands
Kettle Foods
Kiddylicious
Ramsden International
Entrepreneur of the Year
Alan & Juliet Barratt - Grenade
Denis Lynn - Finnebrogue Artisan
Martin Thatcher - Thatchers Cider Company
Pippa Murray - Pip & Nut
Sean Ramsden - Ramsden International
Steve Perez - Global Brands
Supplier of the Year - branded - what the buyers say
Alcoholic drinks - AB InBev “Quick to respond and always available to think up new and innovative ways to drive sales and the brands”
Ambient - Kraft Heinz “They understand our business completely and their support is the best across the ambient category”
Beverages - Britvic “Forward thinking, brilliant account management and collaborative in building future plans”
Bread & bakery - Warburtons “They continue to drive innovation and work proactively. Any issues are dealt with swiftly”
Chilled - Kerry Foods “Always active in trying to bring innovation to the category”
Dairy - Arla “Very strong brands coupled with superb above the line support”
Frozen - Birds Eye “Provide both fantastic support of their brands and excellent category growth too”
Fruit, veg, salad - Mash Direct “A well-run family business with great products, and always looking to innovate”
Health & beauty - Unilever “Top for availability, innovation, and category collaboration”
Household, laundry, paper - Procter & Gamble “A real willingness to develop a bespoke and joint strategic plan for our business”
Petfood - IPN “Experienced excellent growth from their brands and good future plans too”
Snacking - PepsiCo/Walkers “Excellent category support and insight coupled with a great vision for the future”
Online Supermarket of the Year
Aldi
Iceland Foods
Ocado
Tesco
Logistics Supplier of the Year
Fowler Welch
LPR
Independent Retail Chain of the Year
Blakemore Retail
Eros Retail/Greens
Specialist Online Retailer of the Year
Field&flower
Gousto
HelloFresh
Master of Malt
Mindful Chef
Muscle Food
SME Brand of the Year
Bio-tiful Dairy
Childs Farm
Grenade
Hippeas Snacks
Kiddylicious
Lily’s Kitchen
Manomasa
Moma Foods
Symington’s Naked Noodle
Own Label Range of the Year
Specially Selected - Aldi
Extra Special - Asda
Best-one - Bestway Wholesale
Luxury - Iceland Foods
One Stop - One Stop Stores
The Co-op - The Co-op
Supplier of the Year - own label - what the buyers say
Alcoholic drinks - Westons “A long-standing family business which delivers consistent good quality by balancing tradition with modern technology”
Ambient - LDH (La Doria) “Inclusive, transparent and genuine. The customer comes first.”
Beverages - Refresco “Collaborative solutions to problems and strong focus on sustainability”
Bread & bakery - Hovis “Collaborative and strategic approach, very proactive and customer focused”
Chilled - Greencore “First-class service across all areas, consistently good quality and good customer service with timely launches”
Dairy - Arla “Reactive to changing market conditions and provide great service with individual solutions to issues”
Frozen - Froneri “Excellent seasonal planning and very proactive in responding to changing market conditions”
Health & beauty - Perrigo “Exciting NPD and excellent sales growth opportunities”
Household, laundry, paper - Northwood & Wepa “Best value and provide complete category management”
Meat, fish, poultry - Hilton Foods “World-class operational performance. Aligned objectives and strong supply chain.”
Petfood - IPN “Highly collaborative and huge support for own label development delivering excellent figures as a result”
Snacking - Burton’s “Great innovation driven by strong insight and a collaborative approach”
Technology Supplier of the Year
Flux
Happen
JJ Food Service
Spoon Guru
Symbol Convenience Retailer of the Year
Best-one
Budgens
Londis
Nisa Retail
Premier
Store Manager of the Year
Warren Cook - Asda Coryton, Cardiff
Mike Dadge - Morrisons Shrewsbury
Matt Clarke - Sainsbury’s Swansea
Nick Carolan - Tesco Hull
Paul Taylor - Waitrose High Wycombe
The Grocer of the Year
Aldi
The Co-op
Iceland Foods
Lidl
Ocado
Tesco
Waste Not Want Not Award
Aldi - Aldi
Our Planet Matters - Belazu Ingredient Company in partnership with Veris Strategies
The Co-op Guide to Dating - East of England Co-op
Feed It Back - Lidl
Samworth Brothers 4R Plan - Samworth Brothers
Community Food Connection - Tesco
Wholesaler of the Year
Bestway Wholesale
Bidfood
Booker
Henderson Foodservice
JJ Food Service
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