Food Management Today Industry Awards 2026: unveiling your finalists

The finalist shortlist for this year’s FMT Food Industry Awards have been unveiled across 15 different categories, as excitement builds for the annual awards lunch and ceremony taking place on 12th June.

The FMT Food Industry Awards is an annual awards programme that recognises the best of the best in the British and Irish food manufacturing and retailing industries, rewarding innovative products as well as people, training providers, ingredient companies, machinery and equipment suppliers and trade bodies.

The products shortlisted this year were entered from a wealth of companies and retailers and have been judged to exacting standards, with entries also submitted across a variety of voting and nomination categories.

The 2026 finalists are:

Best Trade Organisation

FDF (Food & Drink Federation)
PTF (Provision Trade Federation)
AIMS (Association of Independent Meat Suppliers)
BMPA (British Meat Processors Association)
BFFF (British Frozen Food Federation)
AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board)

Best Ingredients Supplier

Ulrick + Short Ltd
Bosse Interspice Ltd
Unbar Rothon Ltd
Kerry Taste & Nutrition
Prosur
Scobie & Junor Group

Best Machinery/Equipment Supplier

Reiser UK
GEA Group
Handtmann Ltd
Multivac
JBT Marel
Interfood Technology Ltd

Best Training Initiative

ABP Talent Academy/Graduate Scheme
Cranswick Graduate Development Programme
Pilgrim’s Europe Graduate Programme
Food Standards Agency – Food Allergy and Intolerance (Online) Training
Avara Foods Graduate Scheme
Food & Drink Training & Education Council Ltd (ftc) – Meat Managers Hygiene and HACCP Workshop

Best Free From Product

Waitrose No.1 Extra Succulent Smoky Hot Honey Pork Sausages – Pilgrim’s Europe (Gluten Free)
Cock & Bull Chilli Non Carni – Grant’s Foods (Meat Free)
Lidl Deluxe Aberdeen Angus Beef Burgers – Dunbia (Gluten Free)
Cumberland Sausage – Aubrey Allen (Gluten Free)
M&S Only 3 Ingredients British Beef Meatballs – ABP UK (Free from Gluten & Sulphites)
Gills Premium Lincolnshire Sausage (Gluten Free)
Asda Tender Chilli & Mint Lamb Rump Steaks – Dunbia (Gluten Free)

Best New Product Development

Waitrose No.1 Free Range Pork Short Ribs with Honey Glaze – Pilgrim’s Europe
Grant’s Butter Chicken – Grant’s Foods
M&S Collection Rolled Sirloin & Ribeye Roast – ABP UK
Exceptional by Asda Miso Burgers – ABP UK
Chef’s Menu Tiramisu – Booker
Waitrose No.1 Pork Soft Set Scotch Eggs – Pilgrim’s Europe

Best Frozen Product

Chef’s Premium Super Crispy Straight Cut Fries – Booker
Co-op Frozen Lasagne – Pilgrim’s Europe
Aldi Specially Selected Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream
Iceland Luxury Perfect Aberdeen Angus Rump Joint with Garlic & Rosemary Seasoning – Dunbia
Chef’s Premium Potato Gratin Dauphinois – Booker
Korker Gluten Free Sausages – Korker Sausages Ltd
Lidl Deluxe Aberdeen Angus Beef Quarter Pounders

Best Bakery Product

Beef and Vegetable Pasty – The Tartan Butchers
Wrights Limited Edition Centenary Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie – Wrights/The Compleat Food Group
Aldi Specially Selected White Sourdough Loaf
M&S Collection Beef Wellington – ABP UK
Chef’s Premium Panettone Bread & Butter Pudding – Booker
Ploughman’s Sausage Rolls – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
Steak & Ale Pie – James Kittow Butcher & Grazier

Best Ready To Eat Product

Stilton & Broccoli Quiche – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
JUGGLE Citrus Kick Confectionary – Juggle Confectionary
Spicy Chickpea and Mediterranean Veg Salad – Fresh Kitchen From Fresh Direct
Tesco Finest Deli Wild Garlic & Pancetta Soft Set Scotch Egg – Pilgrim’s Europe
Unearthed Spanish Spinach Tortilla – The Compleat Food Group
Waitrose Ploughman’s Hock – Pilgrim’s Europe

Best Seafood Product

Aldi Specially Selected Lightly Smoked Salmon Fillets
Campbells & Co Smoked Salmon – Campbells Prime Meat Ltd
Aldi Specially Selected Cheese & Spinach Salmon Wellington
Smoked Salmon & Crème Fraiche Quiche – The Original Baker
Aldi Specially Selected Yellowfin Tuna Steaks
Aldi Specially Selected Garlic & Herb Argentinian Prawns

Best Red Meat Product

M&S Collection Rolled Sirloin & Ribeye Roast – ABP UK
Co-op Irresistible British Aberdeen Angus Thick Cut Ribeye Steak – Dunbia
French Trimmed Lamb Rack – Campbells Prime Meat Ltd
Lidl Deluxe Dry Aged Aberdeen Angus Rump Steak – Foyle Food Group
Exceptional by Asda Aberdeen Angus Grass & Forage Fed 10oz Ribeye Steak – ABP UK
Aldi Specially Selected Aberdeen Angus Scotch Ribeye Steak 40 Days Matured

Best Poultry Product

Yorkshire Christmas Cockerel – Soanes Poultry
Cornfed Chicken Supreme Wrapped in Bacon – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd
Aldi Specially Selected Sourdough Breaded Wild Garlic & Jersey Butter Chicken Kievs
Red Tractor Chicken – Kings Fine Cooked Meats
Free Range Turkey Bacon – Ambry Foods
Cajun Spiced Chicken Schnitzel – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd

Best Dairy Product

Aldi Specially Selected Baked Camembert French Cheese
Gelato Lusso Chocolate Jaffa Cake Orange Ice Cream – Suncream Ice Cream
Heavenly Honeycomb – Simply Ice Cream
Aldi Specially Selected Barber’s Cave Aged Cheddar
Brown Bread Ice Cream – Simply Ice Cream
Gelato Lusso Dubai Chocolate Ice Cream – Suncream Ice Cream

Food Retailer of the Year

Aldi
Morrisons
Asda
Tesco
Lidl
Sainsbury’s
Marks & Spencer
Waitrose
Co-op

Food Manufacturer of the Year

Premier Foods Plc
Pilgrim’s Europe
Arla Foods
Dunbia
ABP UK
Samworth Brothers