News and Features

Somerset celebrates it's vibrant food and drink industry as winners of the Somerset Business Awards 2010 are announced

The winners of this year’s prestigious Somerset Business Awards were announced at the annual Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony, with over a quarter of the winners – four out of fifteen – coming from within the food and drink industry!

The occasion was a great opportunity to celebrate the varied and vibrant businesses of Somerset, with the food and drink sector stealing the show with its impressive credentials.

Somerset is at the forefront of new development in the food and drink industry, and boasts one of the largest networks of farmers and food producers in the UK. The sector as a whole supports around 15,000 jobs in the county. It is a buoyant £508million industry. Somerset food and drink producers believe that quality and sustainability is vitally important and are constantly looking for eco-friendly solutions and ways of minimising food miles.

Rupert Cox, Chief Executive of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, commented, “It’s fantastic to see food and drink businesses doing so well.”

Carbon Reduction Award

Bridgwater based Gerber Juice Company, one of the UK’s largest producers and distributors of juice and juice drinks, were presented with the Carbon Reduction Award, sponsored by Somerset County Council. The company has the lowest carbon footprint per litre of juice produced in the juice market, and has invested in a state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution facility that meets the highest environmental standards.

Managing Director David Saint said, “Winning this award is an acknowledgement of the work undertaken by each of our 700. Together we have turned the site into the most advanced juice manufacturing facility in Europe, if not the world. We have attracted new customers by adopting a low carbon strategy and Gerber Juice now leads the juice industry in this very important area. I would recommend that everyone takes similar action within their own business.”

Waste Minimisation Award

Shepton Mallet based Framptons Ltd, a family run food manufacturer and contract packer that has been in business since 1898, won the Waste Minimisation Award, sponsored by Somerset Waste Partnership. The company processes and packs more than one million litres of fruit juices, smoothies and milks for brand owners, as well as manufacturing 500,000 omelettes and around 120-150 tonnes of chilled and frozen liquid egg for the food service market. It successfully halved its carbon footprint in 2009 and in the past year has reduced water usage by 32%, plus it is nearing its target of sending zero waste to landfill by the end of 2010. In addition, Framptons Ltd has donated more than £5,000 from waste minimisation and recycling activities alone to local charities since 2008.

Managing Director Ian Harvey said, “It’s absolutely great to win the Waste Minimisation Award, especially for the wider team of Framptons, who have worked so hard to reduce our waste to landfill.”

New Business of the Year Award

Despite the ongoing recession, there are a surprising number of successful new businesses in the county and the New Business of the Year Award, sponsored by ADPR Ltd, certainly brought some impressive entries. The judges awarded the title to Glastonbury based The Orchard Pig, an award-winning drinks company, familiar to www.somersetfood.org regulars, that has grown from a hobby between two friends to a well-known brand, being stocked in over 350 outlets across the South West, in London and overseas.

Managing Director Andrew Quinlan commented, “We’re chuffed to bits to win this award. I think more than anything it gives the team confidence that we’re doing the right thing.”

New to Somerset Award

The dynamism of the county is still managing to attract new investors despite the economic crisis, as more people recognise the outstanding opportunities for business development in Somerset thanks to its great location and excellent transport links, amongst other things. The New to Somerset Award, sponsored by Into Somerset, was presented to The Rusty Axe, a charming country pub and restaurant in Stembridge, Martock, which has already made its name as an active part of the local community and has seen its popularity increase due to the owners’ commitment to using only locally sourced products.

Proprietor Robert Banks was delighted to win the award, commenting, “Winning this award has been a marvellous accolade to the pub and to the staff who work with us. We hope this is going to improve the business no end, bringing more people into Stembridge to see where we are and what we do.”

The Somerset Business Awards are organised by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses, in conjunction with a wide range of sponsors from the private and public sectors.

www.somersetbusinessawards.org.uk