The 2026 campaign to find and honour top women working in the UK and Irish meat industry is now fully underway and is offering the unique opportunity for companies and individuals across the meat and food industry to nominate candidates.
The annual Women In Meat Industry Awards is the biggest and most important initiative that recognises the significant and growing contribution that women make across the meat sector.
All winners will be revealed at a 5-star ceremony and dinner later this year, which once again is taking pride of place at the prestigious Royal Lancaster Hotel, London on Friday evening 20th November.
Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnel will host the much-anticipated event, which is expected to be another sellout occasion.
Nomination deadline
The online nomination process is open until Friday 26th June. After this initial deadline the selected finalists will go through to the online voting stage of the awards.
Editor of Meat Management magazine Gwen Mostyn commented: “The annual Women In Meat Industry Awards is a highlight in the industry calendar and is exclusively driven by company or individual nominations and votes, which subsequently highlight those people who really make a difference.
“The 2026 campaign is now underway, meaning that readers of Meat Management magazine and the Food Management Today website, plus those from the wider industry, can nominate candidates in a range of categories.
“You might nominate one person or several in different categories, however, the main thing is to get those names put forward without delay.”
Categories for 2026 are as follows:
- Meat Businesswoman Award – Foodservice (catering butchery sector)
- Meat Businesswoman Award – Manufacturing / Processing
- Meat Businesswoman Award – Craft Butchery
- Meat Businesswoman Award – Poultry
- Meat Businesswoman Award – Trade Body
- Meat Businesswoman Award – Wholesaling
- Meat Businesswoman Award – Livestock Procurement & Sustainability
- Meat Businesswoman Award – Multiple Retailing
- Meat Businesswoman Award – Independent Retailing
- Meat Businesswoman Award – Industry Supplier
- Meat Businesswoman Award – Training & Education
- The Rising Star Award
- Meat Businesswoman of the Year Award
If you have a colleague, manager, supplier, chief executive, butcher, trade body colleague or if you know anyone you’d like to see acknowledged for their contribution, then nominate them now online.
For details of partnership and sponsorship opportunities, email Michelle Ingerfield: michelle.i@yandellmedia.com.
The 2026 Women In Meat Industry Awards partners:
