WHERE’S THE BEST ARTISAN DRINK PRODUCERS IN WARWICKSHIRE? WHO PRODUCES THE BEST ARTISAN FOOD IN WARWICKSHIRE?
A celebration of the best of Coventry and Warwickshire’s food and drink scene is at the heart of a new awards program designed to support businesses as they re-emerge from lockdown. The first Foodie Awards 2021, in partnership with Visit Coventry, lists among its guest judges Birmingham-born Michelin star chef Glyn Purnell and chef-turned-restaurateur Andreas Antona, founder of The Cross in Kenilworth. Click here to read more about the judges. Entries are open now ahead of a finalists’ night on January 25th at the city’s new Telegraph Hotel – and a ceremony in May.
Judges and public votes will decide on winners in several categories that focus on quality, service and innovation with an emphasis on farm to fork, including best artisan food and drink producers, farm shop, independent food and drink retailer, newcomer, street food trader and chef or cook of the year.
Three further special awards will also recognise the extraordinary efforts of businesses and individuals throughout the coronavirus pandemic – including the COVID-19 Resilience Award sponsored by Visit Coventry and The Godiva Award, sponsored by Coventry BID. The Foodie Awards will also be raising money for The Trussell Trust network of eight foodbanks in Coventry and Warwickshire.
The second and third categories open to entrants are Artisan Drink and Artisan Food Producers. The winners of these categories will be selected based on the originality and popularity of their self-made product in this increasingly emerging marketplace.
Do you use local producers, are you sustainable, how do you use branding to your advantage and ultimately what makes you stand out from the crowd?
These categories also look for a producers that really have the wow factor. Open to food and drink producers from farmers, butchers, bakers, condiment-makers and cake-makers to gin distilleries, breweries and coffee makers, if you produce or make an artisan food product, this is the category for you.
The winner will be selected based on the originality and popularity of their self-made food or drink, or related product. Judges will be looking to identify what sets your food product apart from the competition – how you use top quality ingredients to create a stand-out product, how you use branding to tell your story, and how you wow customers with an excellent product that tastes great and shows off the very best Coventry & Warwickshire has to offer.
Co-organiser Jonathan Smith, of Talk Business UK, said: “We’re delighted to confirm that we have already had three breweries, two Cideries, two distilleries, a vineyard and a drinks mixer producer all enter the Artisan Drink Producer category. Who knew so many specialist drinks producers were in this region. But we know there are plenty more!
The Artisan Food producer category is just as exciting. With butchers, bakers and fabulous noodle makers and even the local producer of wonderful spices all competing for the award! There are some very lucky judges who get to assess these categories!”
For a full list of categories plus information on how to enter or become a sponsor, click here!
Written by Amanda Chalmers
