Mars Food UK, Unilever and Coca-Cola Enterprises were among the winners at the Food and Drink Federation’s Community Partnerships Awards, which took place at Shakespeare’s Globe in London yesterday.

A total of 25 trophies were awarded across a range of categories, with Mars Food UK picking up the FDF Presidents’ Award. The company’s ‘Wellness Food Enterprise Week’ was selected by FDF president - and managing director of General Mills UK - Jim Moseley for demonstrating community engagement and for harnessing the creativity of its young talent.

The awards also highlighted the work of a number of apprentices, with Unilever’s Sam Roberts winning the apprentice of the year title. Roberts, a fourth-year apprentice engineer based at Unilever’s Trafford Park site, works with the production engineering team and is responsible for the lines that make PG Tips’ Pyramid tea bags. The CPA highlighted his “exemplary work ethic and his dedication to his role, seeking out every opportunity to learn and better himself and putting his new skills and fresh ideas to good use at Unilever”.

Mars Food UK also took the gold prize for education, while Coca-Cola Enterprises was recognised for its environmental leadership, and Morrisons and William Jackson Food Group won gold awards for developing skills.

FDF director of communications Terry Jones said: “Our Community Partnership Awards are an important opportunity to recognise the positive impact food and drink businesses have across the country and to celebrate their economic success.

“Whether it’s working with local schools, sourcing ingredients sustainably or showcasing British products on the global stage, the food and drink sector is full of great examples of how businesses can be both successful and responsible.”

A Mars Food spokeswoman said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the FDF’s prestigious President’s Award as well as the gold award in the education category for Mars Food’s inaugural Wellness School Enterprise Week. For us, the week is about bringing together associates from across the food business who are passionate about the importance of healthy, active lifestyles to share their knowledge with young people and engage students, teachers and parents in local communities.”

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