The winners of the 2024 Meat Management Industry Awards were named during a glittering awards ceremony Thursday 19th September at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.
Manufacturers, supermarkets, industry suppliers, trade organisations, catering butchers, independent retailers and outstanding individuals were amongst those recognised across a number of categories.
Broadcaster, actor and former England international rugby star Martin Bayfield co-hosted the evening and presented accolades to this year’s winners as top people from across the industry came together to recognise the creativity, innovation and excellence of the UK meat sector.
The coveted Meat Management Excellence Award, which goes to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the British meat industry, was presented to Katie Doherty, CEO of the International Meat Trade Association (IMTA).
Doherty’s work in supporting the industry and her IMTA members throughout a particularly volatile period for the international meat trade cemented her position as a worthy winner of the annual accolade.
Another of the night’s prestigious awards, the Young Manager of the Year Award, was won by Jonathan Hendry of Dunbia, Carnaby. The title of Best Red Meat Product went to ABP for its M&S 2 French Trimmed Lamb Crowns, and Britain’s Best Butchers Shop was awarded to Neil Powell Master Butchers situated in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.
Best Trade Organisation was given to National Craft Butchers, and Morrisons was voted Supermarket/Multiple Meat Retailer of the Year.
This year, a special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bob Bansback OBE. This is an occasional and exclusive award that is given in a surprise presentation to an outstanding candidate who has a record of long-service to the industry.
Amongst a myriad of previous and current meat industry executive positions, Bob Bansback is a highly regarded economist, a contributor to Meat Management and Food Management Today magazines and an honorary professor in agricultural economics at Harper Adams University.
Below is the full list of 2024 winners:
The Catering Butcher Award - Fairfax Meadow
Best Trade Organisation - National Craft Butchers
Best Online Business - James of Shepperton Ltd (www.butchers-shop.com)
Best Equipment / Machinery Supplier - Handtmann Ltd
Training Scheme of the Year - Butchers Trailblazer Apprentice Schemes (levels 2 and 3) - Food & Drink Training & Education Council (ftc)
Young Manager of the Year - Jonathan Hendry - assistant site operations manager, Dunbia, Carnaby
Britain’s Best Butcher’s Shop - Neil Powell Master Butchers, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Supermarket / Multiple Meat Retailer of the Year - Morrisons
Britain’s Best Sausage - Blackgate Signature Traditionally Linked Sausages - Booker
Britain’s Best Burger - Porky Whites Ultimate Steak Beef Burger - Porky Whites
Britain’s Best Meat Pie - Steak & Ale Pie - Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
Best Bacon Product - Co-op Irresistible Maple Bacon - Pilgrim’s Europe
Best Free From Product - ASDA Flavourful Seasoned Lamb Grillsteaks by Dunbia (Gluten Free)
Best Charcuterie Product - Yorkshire Chorizo - Mount Grace Charcuterie Ltd
Best Poultry Product - Aldi Specially Selected Sourdough Garlic Chicken Kiev
Best Beef Product - Waitrose No.1.British Beef Chateaubriand - Dovecote Park
Best Pork/Pigmeat Product - Lidl Deluxe Smoked Dry Cured Horseshoe Ham Fillet 2.5kg - Oakpark
Best Lamb Product - M&S 2 French Trimmed Lamb Crowns - ABP
Best Red Meat Product - M&S 2 French Trimmed Lamb Crowns - ABP
Lifetime Achievement Award - Bob Bansback OBE
Manufacturer of the Year - ABP Linden
The Meat Management Excellence Award - Katie Doherty, CEO of the International Meat Trade Association (IMTA)
Watch out for the October edition of Meat Management magazine which will include a full review of the annual event and more details about winners, plus a picture gallery of award recipients.
Take a look back at this year’s awards by watching the video highlights here.