Awards ceremony to go virtual

Awards ceremony to go virtual

Organisers of the popular FMT Food Industry Awards ceremony have confirmed that the presentation has now been scheduled to move online this year and will take place on Thursday 1st July.

Product judging has reached record levels for 2021.

The continued impact from Covid-19 has resulted in a review to ensure the ceremony reaches the widest possible audience and is a success.

Graham Yandell, publisher of Food Management Today magazine which organise the Awards every year commented: “With the continued uncertainty surrounding the staging of physical events brought about by Covid-19, we felt it was right to review the options for the forthcoming FMT Food Industry Awards ceremony.

“Our test kitchen product judging has previously been postponed twice, but I am pleased to report that we are at last full speed ahead for judging week commencing 19th April. We are later in the year than usual. However, this does mean we can at last schedule the Awards ceremony.”

There are a range of product categories that directly recognise the meat industry sectors as follows:

  • Best Red Meat Product
  • Best Poultry Product
  • Best Frozen Product
  • Best New Product Development
  • Best Packaging
  • Best Free From Product

There are also a number of Awards presented following reader voting or nomination, including the prestigious Food Industry Champion Award. Voting and product entry deadlines have now passed for 2021.

Yandell continued: “It has actually been an excellent year for the Awards with record entry numbers and participation from all the major retailers and many leading manufacturers, reflecting the importance of these prestigious awards which go from strength to strength. Looking at all circumstances, we have now come to the conclusion that the sensible option is to stage and broadcast the ceremony online, which is to be scheduled for 1st July 2021.

“The simple fact is that we could actually risk staging a physical event, as in theory the government roadmap will facilitate that opportunity, but in the real world we have doubts about a sizeable amount of personnel from the food industry, in the shape of manufacturers and retailers, who might not be allowed to attend off site, or away from HQ. This has a serious potential to affect numbers and the character of a physical ceremony.

“Unfortunately, it is just a little too soon to stage a lunch or dinner with confidence, and we believe an online event offering new innovations, a slick format and the introduction of green screen technology, supported by comprehensive marketing will mean the ceremony will do full justice to the initiative and offer great value for our partners and everyone involved.”

Yandell confirmed that the company’s other Awards later in the year, including the Meat Management Meat Industry Awards and the Women In Meat Industry Awards, are currently still scheduled as physical events as things stand and prospects look positive. He also stated that if all goes to plan the FMT Food Awards ceremony will return to its more traditional format next year.

Contact Michelle Ingerfield by email: michelle.i@yandellmedia.com for details of how to become a partner for the 2021 FMT Food Industry Awards.

FMT Awards official partners

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