Meat Management Industry Awards – Categories

Product entry category guide

Britain’s Best Sausage

Whether you are a retail butcher or a manufacturer, the only rule is that the sausages must be manufactured in the British Isles. There is no entry charge and you may enter as many products as you like.

Britain’s Best Burger

Whether you are a retail butcher or a manufacturer, the only rule is that the burgers must be manufactured in the British Isles. There is no entry charge and you may enter as many products as you like.

Britain’s Best Charcuterie Product


All kinds of preserved meats are welcome in this category. The only rule is that your charcuterie products must be manufactured in the British Isles. There is no entry charge and you may enter as many products as you like.

Britain’s Best Meat Pie

Both retail and catering butchers, plus manufacturers supplying both foodservice and retail can enter. The product can contain red meat, poultry and game or a mixture. There is no entry charge and you may enter as many products as you like.

Best Lamb Product

For these three red meat categories (Best Lamb / Best Beef / Best Pork) you can be a manufacturer, catering or retail butcher or supermarket. The product must be manufactured in the British Isles. There is no entry charge and you may enter as many products as you like.

Best Beef Product

For these three red meat categories (Best Lamb / Best Beef / Best Pork) you can be a manufacturer, catering or retail butcher or supermarket. The product must be manufactured in the British Isles. There is no entry charge and you may enter as many products as you like.


Best Pork / Pigmeat Product

For these three red meat categories (Best Lamb / Best Beef / Best Pork) you can be a manufacturer, catering or retail butcher or supermarket. The product must be manufactured in the British Isles. There is no entry charge and you may enter as many products as you like.

Best Red Meat Product

The winner of each of the three red meat categories (Lamb / Beef / Pork) will be entered into the prestigious Best Red Meat Product award.

Best Poultry Product

Whole birds with added value aspects, ready meals, frozen dishes, ethnic meals and convenience dishes all come within this category. The only rule is that products must be manufactured in the British Isles and be poultry meat based – that includes duck and other less mainstream product areas. You can be a manufacturer, catering or retail butcher or supermarket. There is no entry charge and you can enter as many products as you like.

Best Bacon Product

Retail and catering butchers, as well as manufacturers, can enter into this. The only requirement is that the bacon product is manufactured in the British Isles. There is no entry change and you may enter as many products as you like.

Best Free From Product

Retail and catering butchers and manufacturers can enter any ‘Free-From’ meat product as long as it’s manufactured in the British Isles. It can be gluten, dairy or wheat-free. There is no entry charge and you may enter as many products as you like.

Voting category guide

The Catering Butcher Award

This can be a dedicated manufacturer or wholesaler to the foodservice sector or a retail butcher with a catering arm to the business. Who do you rate as a first class supplier? Product innovation, modern distribution, excellent service and quality are key and important criteria in making your vote count.

Manufacturer of the Year

You can vote for any manufacturer of meat or poultry products in the British Isles, which you believe sets a benchmark in product development and product range. There are a great many success stories out in the market, with ground breaking product developments or perhaps products that consistently stay in the forefront because of quality, convenience and good marketing.

Best Equipment / Machinery Supplier

Quality, cost effectiveness, payback, reliability and service come to the forefront when voting for Britain’s best equipment and machinery supplier. Who does a great job for you? Who can you rely on to deliver on its promise? Who do you trust when it comes to meeting production targets, utilising the equipment you rely on to do just that? Now is your chance to vote for the supplier that does a great job for you.

Best Trade Organisation

Which trade organisation champions the cause of the meat and poultry industry? Does it challenge the Government or Government agencies when necessary? And does it actively help its members, together with the wider industry, to face the issues with a clear, authoritative voice?

Best Online Business

Love it or hate it, the internet is part of the fabric of everyday life. Who has ‘grasped the nettle’ and made the most of the opportunities that the internet provides? There is substantial business to be gained, so let us know what you think.

Supermarket / Multiple Meat Retailer of the Year

The business can be nominated by a third party or put forward by the multiple group itself. A cross-section of nominated stores will be visited and assessed on various attributes.

For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum number of retail outlets needed to qualify and be included in potential judging after nomination is a minimum of 40 separate retail shops, and all these retail outlets must offer both fresh foods, meat, seafood and bakery products and chilled or frozen manufactured / processed foodstuffs. This category does not recognise online businesses, and is specifically for walk-in retail businesses only.

Britain’s Best Butchers Shop

Independent retail butchers can nominate themselves or readers can nominate retailers they know to be just that little bit special! Secret visits then take place and finalists will receive visits from expert judges before the accolade is awarded.

Training Scheme of the Year

Does your company have a training scheme to be proud of? Do you know of industry schemes that should be recognised and rewarded? We all know the value of good training. Let’s make sure it is recognised.

Young Manager of the Year

We are looking for outstanding candidates who have achieved qualifications or made exceptional progress as a young meat manager. This can be through an industry scheme or via a business which wants to recognise the progress of an individual. Finalists will be required to attend an interview with a panel of judges prior to the awards dinner. Please note there is an age limit of 32 years for this category at the time when the original nomination is supplied.

The Excellence Award

This very special award will be made to a manager or senior executive who has made an outstanding contribution to the UK meat industry. Who do you know that will merit such recognition? Make sure you vote today.

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