{"id":2962,"date":"2015-04-23T12:02:07","date_gmt":"2015-04-23T11:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/?p=2962"},"modified":"2017-05-20T11:35:34","modified_gmt":"2017-05-20T10:35:34","slug":"free-from-sponsors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/free-from-sponsors\/","title":{"rendered":"In praise of FreeFrom Food Awards 2015 sponsors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/sponsors-supporters.jpg\" alt=\"sponsors-supporters\" width=\"400\" height=\"364\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/sponsors-supporters.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/sponsors-supporters-300x273.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>Home again after a trip to London yesterday to go to the Awards ceremony for the FreeFrom Food Awards 2015 (yes, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/free-from-dilemmas\/\">I served as judge again<\/a> this year).<\/p>\n<p>And what a great evening it was\u2026 it gets bigger every year as the variety of free from food available grows. And the quality of the products is getting better every year too, as companies are having to up their game in order to compete in this growing market.<\/p>\n<p>You can <a href=\"http:\/\/www.freefromfoodawards.co.uk\/winners-15\/winners_all.html\">see the full list of winners here<\/a> but I want to tell you about the sponsors.<\/p>\n<p>Organising awards like the FreeFrom Food Awards is a complex (and costly) affair, and the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.freefromfoodawards.co.uk\">Awards team<\/a> do an amazing job. <\/p>\n<p>When I tell you that for just one of the categories I helped judge this year there were 55 entrants, and 11 judges, and that for another every dish had to be prepared separately to reach the table in its best possible condition, you\u2019ll begin to understand that the coordination required is huge. There are a panel of about 70 judges overall, and 17 categories, with many products in each&#8230; It\u2019s a lot of work, particularly since the number of categories and entrants grows every year.<\/p>\n<p>And it wouldn\u2019t be possible at all without the help of the companies who sponsor each category of award. Please do read to see who they are, and visit their own websites to learn more about what they do for the free from sector.<\/p>\n<p>This year, those companies are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tesco, who sponsored Breakfast Foods<\/strong>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/realfood.tesco.com\/our-food\/tesco-free-from.html\">Tesco<\/a> had a great night, winning Best Retailer overall, and with several successful products, including their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/gluten-free-christmas-tesco\/\">savoury party pack selection<\/a> and their haddock fishcakes. Tesco have really enhanced their product range recently, and we\u2019re delighted.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Genius, who sponsored the Bread category<\/strong>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.geniusglutenfree.com\/gluten-free-living\/about-gluten-free\">Genius<\/a> also had a winner, with their gluten free and dairy free pains au chocolat (yes, read that again: dairy free). These are not often to be found in the supermarket near us, because they get snapped up so quickly. They&#8217;re good &#8211; and to be honest, we hadn\u2019t even realised they were dairy free!<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sainsburys\u2019, who sponsored the Store Cupboard section<\/strong>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sainsburys-live-well-for-less.co.uk\/recipes-inspiration\/healthier-eating\/healthier-diets\/allergies-and-intolerances\/sainsbury%27s-freefrom-range\/\">Sainsbury\u2019s<\/a>, like Tesco, are one of the big four supermarket chains here in the UK, and have been a reliable source of gluten free products for us for years. Some of their products are staples in our house, such as the baguettes &#8211; and the mini chocolate logs are a good treat.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Integrated Food Projects Ltd sponsored Pasta and Pizza<\/strong>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.integratedfoodprojects.com\/\">Integrated Food Projects<\/a> are a new sponsor for the FFFA, and they project-manage the development of food factories.  They have an impressive client list, including the big supermarkets (and many others you\u2019ll have heard of). Have a look at the list of services they offer; I&#8217;d no idea how much goes into building a new food factory. <\/li>\n<li><strong>Tiana Fair Trade Organics sponsored Raw Foods and Superfoods<\/strong>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tiana-coconut.com\/\">Tiana<\/a> are experts in coconut products, which are becoming increasingly popular (have you noticed?). They import and manufacture a range of high quality organic and fair trade products in the food and beauty sectors. Their products are sold to retailers, wholesalers, the catering trade and the food production industry, as well as exported to other countries \u2013 and you can buy the products at their online shop.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Food and Drink Innovation Network sponsored Food to Go and Vending Machines<\/strong>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fdin.co.uk\/\">Food and Drink Innovation Network<\/a> organise food and drink industry conferences and webinars in the UK, with a particular interest in innovation \u2013 not just product innovation, but best practice and innovation across the industry. (I\u2019ve just subscribed to their newsfeed \u2013 there\u2019s all sorts of interesting information in there).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Udi\u2019s sponsored the \u2018Down the pub and the bar\u2019 category<\/strong>\n<p>My coeliac daughter loves <a href=\"http:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/gluten-free-bagels\/\">Udi\u2019s<\/a> bagels. Fairly new to this country, <a href=\"http:\/\/udisglutenfree.co.uk\/\">Udi\u2019s<\/a> seem to be adding new products to their range all the time. If you haven\u2019t tried their bagels, you should: the plain and the chocolate chip are the current favourites here.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Genon Laboratories sponsored the Meat\/Fish ready meals category<\/strong>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/genonlabs.co.uk\/\">Genon Laboratories<\/a> is a UKAS accredited testing lab, offering niche analytical services to the food (and feed) industries. Of course, we\u2019re mostly interested in their Food Allergen Testing service, but they offer a range of services to food producers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. This stuff matters!  (Have a look at their Test in A Box site, too).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Goodness Direct sponsored the Veggie ready meals category<\/strong>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.goodnessdirect.co.uk\/\">GoodnessDirect<\/a> is a long-established and successful online supermarket, selling a wide range of healthy, free from, eco and organic foods.  The thing we like best about GoodnessDirect is that you can <a href=\"http:\/\/www.goodnessdirect.co.uk\/cgi-local\/affiliate\/freefrom\/diet\/G-Gluten_Free.html\">filter the products by diet<\/a>, so you see only the products that are suitable for your needs.  And some products can only be found there (especially if you live out in the rurals, like me). They told me last night that their new mobile site is now live too \u2013 so go and check it out.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wellaby\u2019s sponsored the Foods for Treenut\/Peanut allergics category<\/strong>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wellabys.com\/?area=eu\">Wellaby\u2019s<\/a> produce a range of gluten free snacks, in a dedicated gluten free facility. Looking at their website, I can see that some of the products are chips+dips products; we\u2019ve got to try those. I\u2019ll see if I can find out where we can buy them\u2026<\/li>\n<li><strong>Delamere Dairy sponsored the Foods for Children category<\/strong>\n<p>I\u2019m assuming everyone in the country knows who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.delameredairy.co.uk\/home.aspx\">Delamere Dairy<\/a> are? They sell specialty dairy products, including goat dairy products and soya products, and you\u2019ll find their products on a supermarket shelf near you.  They\u2019re based very near me (not that I\u2019m biased).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mrs Crimbles sponsored the Tea Time category<\/strong>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mrscrimbles.com\/\">Mrs Crimbles<\/a> is probably best known for their macaroons, which are widely available. But they have a much wider range than that, including snacks, crackers and stuffing mix. Plus, I learn from the Food &#038; Drink Innovation Network (see above) that they\u2019ve recently launched a new range of pasta and sauce packets. Check them out\u2026<\/li>\n<li><strong>Romer Labs UK sponsored the Desserts and Puddings category<\/strong>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.romerlabs.com\/en\/home\/\">Romer Labs<\/a> are experts in food safety diagnostics, and run fully accredited service labs.  They help ensure the highest quality standards at all stages of the supply chain in the agricultural, food and feed industries \u2013 and they have a complete portfolio for gluten testing, both in the lab, and in factories.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Free-From Heaven sponsored the Confectionery and chocolate category<\/strong>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.worldfoodmag.co.uk\/\">Free-From Heaven<\/a> publish a series of magazines dedicated to free-from cooking and baking, so whether your interest is in dairy free, sugar free, gluten free, paleo or vegan cooking, there\u2019ll be recipes in their magazines that will suit you. The magazines are available in supermarkets and other magazine stockists, as well as available for subscription online.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Holland &#038; Barrett sponsored the Bars category<\/strong>\n<p>I expect you know who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hollandandbarrett.com\/\">Holland &#038; Barrett<\/a> are. They are a long established health food chain, with shops in high streets across the country. They sell a range of free from products in their shops \u2013 but they also have an online shop (which I didn&#8217;t realise until today). For a long time, high street health food shops were one of the few places you could find free from foods. Things are easier now, but they still play an important role.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Oakland International sponsored the Retailer of the Year category<\/strong>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.oakland-international.com\/\">Oakland International<\/a> are a food storage, picking, packing and distribution company, transporting food using ambient, chilled and frozen transportation. They deliver to retailers, convenience stores and food service outlets, but they will also help with trade shows and other events. They offer one of those services that consumers tend not to notice; but we wouldn\u2019t be able to have the variety of choice that we do, without these services.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Food Matters Live sponsored the Innovation Award<\/strong>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.foodmattersglobal.com\/\">Food Matters Live<\/a> conference will be in the ExCeL centre, London, in November this year, and is the first cross-sector event bringing together professionals from across the food and drink industry, nutrition and health to explore the relationship between food, health and nutrition. It should be fascinating&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These awards make a big difference to those companies, big and small, whose products were shortlisted, commended, highly commended or winners, creating new opportunities for the businesses and publicising their products to consumers. And as I said, it wouldn&#8217;t happen without the sponsors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home again after a trip to London yesterday to go to the Awards ceremony for the FreeFrom Food Awards 2015 (yes, I served as judge again this year). And what a great evening it was\u2026 it gets bigger every year as the variety of free from food available grows. And the quality of the products [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2972,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[166,1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2962","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-awards","8":"category-living-gluten-free","9":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2962"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2962\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.free-from.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}