Dunbia's Jim Dobson heads UK food awards for Northern Ireland
Three of the main awards in the prestigious Food Management Today Awards held recently in London came to Northern Ireland's Dunbia Group in Dungannon and Irwin's Bakery in Craigavon
writes Sam Butler https://www.businessfirstonline.co.uk/articles/dunbias-jim-dobson-heads-uk-food-awards-for-northern-ireland/)
Dunbia collected two awards including the coveted Food Industry Champion title which was awarded to Jim Dobson, founder and chief executive of the Northern Ireland company (pictured) which is now part of the Republic's Dawn Meats.
The second award to Dunbia was for Best Red Meat Product for its rib and ale burgers produced in association with the Coop.
The third award won by Northern Ireland went to Irwin's Bakery in Craigavon, the region's largest independent bakery, for a luxury sponge cake developed for Spar.
The Food Management Today Awards, held annually, is described as "a celebration of the creativity, innovation and excellence of the British food industry".
The awards were presented to the companies, associations, developments and personalities that have struck a chord with the high profile readers of Food Management Today magazine, the food industry's highly influential publication.
Winners for 2019 were announced at the FMT Food Industry Awards lunch in London at which celebrity chef John Torode was the key note speaker.
Awards organiser, Emma Cash, said: "The FMT Food Industry Awards are going from strength to strength every year. We always expect to receive hundreds of products, all of an extremely high standard."
The awards included several voting categories and product categories, ranging from Food Manufacturer of the Year and Best Training Initiative to Best Red Meat Product and Best Bakery Product.
Products are also nominated by the food industry into multiple categories, including: Best Dairy Product, Best Bakery Product, Best Red Meat Product, Best Poultry Product, Best Frozen Product, New Product Development and Best Free From Product.