The third annual Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards took place on 11 September at Olympia London, with inspirational retailers, sustainability champions, innovative products and an outstanding industry champion celebrated at a ceremony in the Fair’s Networking Hub.  

The awards were launched to celebrate the individuals, products and business that make the fine food & drink sector so remarkable: driving change and innovation at every turn and putting community and sustainability at the heart of what they do.  

The awards ceremony was hosted by Speciality & Fine Food Fair Event Manager Nicky Woods, who commented: “We had a fantastic number of entries into the awards this year and some truly amazing products, retailers and initiatives shortlisted. Huge congratulations to all today's winners, who represent the best of the best in the world of food & drink and independent retail.” 

Awards judge Laura Robert, Owner of Laura’s Larder and 2022 winner of Small Independent Retailer of the Year, commented: “It was a wonderful experience being a judge for the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards, the session was emotional and opinionated - as it should be! We were challenged and excited in equal parts by an array of interesting, fun, and purposeful products. Congratulations to all the winners.” 

Paul Hargreaves (pictured), CEO of speciality wholesaler Cotswold Fayre, was surprised with an award for Outstanding Contribution to the industry. He commented: “It was a complete surprise but also huge honour to win this award. Of course, I am really pleased that my efforts and those of my team have been recognised as we continue to encourage others to raise the bar on sustainability, making our businesses better for people and planet.” 

• Large Independent Retailer of the Year, in partnership with BIRA – Grasmere Gingerbread  

• Small Independent Retailer of the Year, in partnership with BIRA – Drapers Lane Delicatessen 

• Not Yet on the Shelf – Cornwall Pasta Co. 

• New Product of the Year - International – Pure Chocolate Jamaica 

• New Product of the Year – UK – Golden Hooves 

• Sustainability Pioneer of the Year – Two Farmers 

Samantha Morgan, Director, Drapers Lane Delicatessen, commented: “It’s such an honour to win this national award, it was even fantastic to be a finalist and we’re so happy to win. I can’t believe that just happened!” 

Leona McDonald, Director, Golden Hooves added: "We're over the moon to have won the New Product of the Year trophy at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards 2023! It's been an incredible team effort to launch Golden Hooves this year and it means a lot to us to know that the judges were excited by what we're doing. It’s been great fun seeing everyone’s reactions to our new look and there’s nothing quite like watching people enjoy tasting the cheese for the first time, but the show has also given us a wonderful opportunity to talk to people across the industry about regenerative farming and what our co-op's farmers are doing.

"Using grazing cows to work the land with their magic hooves, our farmers are taking steps to encourage plant and wildlife biodiversity, protect the soil and maintain living roots, in the process removing carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering it into the soil. There are so many brands doing great things for the planet right now, and we're delighted to be among them."

The judges for this year’s awards were Steve Walpole, Chef & Consultant; Adrian Boswell, Food Buyer, Selfridges; Stephen Minall, Owner, Moving Food; Laura Roberts, Owner of Laura’s Larder; and Vhari Russell, Managing Director, The Food Marketing Expert. 

Find out more about this year’s awards at specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk/speciality-fine-food-fair-awards-2023.