The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) is inviting all who are involved in trading fruits and vegetables, cut flowers and plants across the UK to submit their entries for the annual FPC Fresh Awards.
The FPC will be hosting its first reception to honour the best growers, service providers, marketers and “distinguished personnel” from across fresh produce in a black-tie ceremony on 8 July at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London. The FPC is encouraging those who are interested to submit multiple entries in the 16 various categories. Getting recognized by peers for the prestigious awards are among the industry’s highest accolades. The deadline is 2 June, and there also will be a supplier showcase for overseas suppliers to present their innovations to UK buyers during the evening ceremony.
“FPC Fresh Awards 2022 is an unparalleled opportunity to truly stand out from the crowd within the highly competitive UK marketplace,” says Nigel Jenney, chief executive of FPC. “Any international individual or business with UK trading links could be in with a chance of winning one of our highly-sought-after accolades.”
This year’s awards will focus on the internationalization of the fresh produce trade, and FPC hopes to see a more global representation in its categories across the supply chain, retail and other businesses. There are four new awards for 2022: International Grower Of The Year, UK Grower Of The Year, Team Of The Year, and HR Initiative Of The Year
“The UK marketplace is becoming ever more global in nature and FPC wishes to acknowledge the hard-workers and trailblazers who represent the driving force of this incredible trade,” Jenney says. “This year we are casting the net far and wide as we seek to celebrate the amazing people, outstanding achievements and exceptional best practices of all businesses that trade fresh produce, cut flowers and plants within the UK,” Jenney says. “That includes traditional as well as non-traditional businesses located both in the UK and abroad.”
Entrants must be in the UK market (fresh produce, cut flowers and plants) – a wide net as Jenney says that includes “overseas growers, local producers, global exporters, domestic importers, packers and packaging suppliers, local ports and international shipping or logistics providers, UK-wide wholesalers and foodservice distributors, science labs and chemical manufacturers worldwide, as well as marketers at home and abroad.”
A number of individual and business awards categories are open to entrants from across the UK and the world:
Individual Awards
- Rising Star Of The Year
- Manager Of The Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award
Business Awards
- Best Place To Work
- Sustainability Excellence
- Agritech & Innovation Excellence
- Wholesale Fruit& Veg Supplier Of The Year
- Wholesale Floral/Plant Supplier Of The Year
- Supermarket Fruit & Veg Supplier Of The Year
- Fresh Produce Consortium Supermarket Floral/Plant Supplier Of The Year
- Foodservice Supplier Of The Year
- Business Service Partner
- Best Marketing Campaign
Retailer Awards
Industry representatives, as well as consumers, can also show support for their favourite retailer operating in the UK by voting in the following categories:
- Multiple Fruit & Veg Retailer Of The Year
- Multiple Floral Retailer Of The Year
- Convenience Retailer Of The Year
- Online Retailer Of The Year
The event is being sponsored by IFCO, Total Produce, Freeths, Westfalia UK, Aptean, PML. IPP, ICL UK, New Spitalfields Market and ASDA (IPL).
