Food Producer of the Year

This category is open to any business in Fenland who is producing top quality food for the public’s consumption either as part of a supply chain or direct sale to the public.

Entry criteria:

• What is the product?

• How and where are the ingredients sourced?

• What is the production process?

• What plans do you have to develop/improve over the next 5 years?

Last year’s winner was Allpress Farms Ltd. The judges said: “In an increasingly competitive market this family-owned company impressed though its high-quality controls matched by an ambitious, dynamic and adaptable approach to present and future challenges to its industry.

“Overall, this niche business demonstrated care and dedication to its craft in a demanding and highly-regulated business sector.”

The food producer of the year category is sponsored by Local Generation.

Local Generation is a pioneer in anaerobic digestion. Open since late 2011 they were one of the first facilities of their type in the country, diverting 30,000 tonnes of commercial and domestic food waste from landfill.

Now diverting 42,000 tonnes per annum they create biogas from the waste using a very similar process to a human digestion system, in turn this gas is used to generate electricity which is used to power the neighbouring potato factory as well as sending enough power to the national grid to power a further 2,000 homes.

Commercial manager Lee Dobinson said: “As sponsors of the Food Producer of the Year award, Local Generation is thrilled to be supporting the Fenland Enterprise Business Awards for another year.

“We are very interested in supporting best practice, innovation, growth and diversification in this area within the local economy.

“Within Fenland we have a wealth of food producers leading their relevant markets in all of the above areas. This award creates a platform whereby these companies can showcase their successes.

“Local Generation hope that this award will encourage businesses, no matter how large or small to think about how they can enhance their local economy as well as minimising the impact their business has on the environment.”