BPEX’s hunt for the ‘Foodservice Pork Product of the Year’ is now underway, with catering butchers, manufacturers and chefs producing speciality pork cuts, dishes and products being urged to enter.

There are six categories to showcase the diverse range of quality assured pork cuts and products being served up across the sector. They are:

Fresh Pork CutPork Ready MealBest Cold Eating ProductPork Bakery ProductBest Cured ProductBest Innovative Pork Product

Last year’s winners, Val and John Pettit with their innovative ‘Pork and Mushroom Stack.'

Last year’s winners, Val and John Pettit with their innovative ‘Pork and Mushroom Stack.'

BPEX foodservice trade manager,Tony Goodger, said: “When it comes to meals eaten out of the home pork meat has the largest share of the market, accounting for over 1.75 million servings and increasing year on year¹. Whether it’s a pie or a pâté, ribs or a traditional roasting cut – it is safe to say that pork is a firm favourite on menus.

“It is this incredible versatility, coupled with good value for money that makes pork an ideal catering option – particularly in the current economic climate. What’s more, diners are clearly choosing to eat tasty and innovative pork dishes all the more when eating out.

“Customers expect quality and what better way to show it by not only using pork produced to rigorous standards as part of an assurance scheme, such as Red Tractor, but also being crowned Pork Product Champion.”

The closing date for paper entries is Friday 15th February 2013, after which samples will be required for formal judging (by Wednesday 27th February 2013). All products are judged to strict guidelines by industry experts and can potentially receive a gold, silver or bronze award according to their final score.

First, second and third place in the six categories will attend a special awards lunch at Butchers’ Hall, London on Friday 12th April, where the 2013 champion will also be announced.

Entry forms and full terms and conditions are available to download from http://porkforcaterers.bpex.org.uk/. For any other information please call the competition hotline on 024-7647 8809 or e-mail info@bpexfoodsevice.com

Pictured: last year’s winners, Val and John Pettit with their innovative ‘Pork and Mushroom Stack’.

This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.