MPs’ Choice Award – Food and Drink Manufacturer of the Year
The MPs’ Choice, Food and Drink Manufacturer of the Year Award, is a celebration of the extraordinary small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that that make up 97% of the UK’s food and drink manufacturing sector.
Across every corner of our nation, at the centre of towns and villages, these remarkable businesses are driving the transition to environmental sustainability, developing pioneering technologies or new, healthier products, and championing new talent and embracing diversity.
This industry is far more than just products on shelves; it is about people - the passionate entrepreneurs and skilled workers who create the safe, nutritious, and affordable food and drink we enjoy every day.
We are inviting Members of Parliament to shine a spotlight on their local businesses by nominating outstanding SME food and drink manufacturers in their constituency - whose dedication not only fuels local economies but also shapes the sustainable future of the entire UK food and drink sector.
What makes an SME outstanding
The nominated business should show its effort and successes, using the organisation to make a genuine impact through:
Growth and innovation
Achieved through any of the below
- Expanding, adding new product lines, entering new overseas markets or opening a new site
- Started using a new technology in the manufacturing process to improve productivity
- Launched a new healthier product
- Changed an old recipe to remove salt, sugar and calories
Commitment to Sustainability
Achieved through any of the below
- Changing the manufacturing process to be more energy efficient
- Investing in renewable energy
- Improving the carbon footprint of their supply chain
- Using less plastic in their packaging
Enhancing the Local Community
Achieved through any of the below
- Running programmes in the community
- Partnering with charities
- Running a successful apprenticeship or trainee programme
- Boosting the local economy through providing good jobs and supporting other local businesses in their supply chain
Criteria
Each nominated business must:
- Be located within the nominating MP’s constituency
- Fulfil the official SME definition - fewer than 250 employees and turnover under £50 million
- Be a food and/or drink manufacturer - (excluding alcoholic beverages; includes no/low alternatives)
How to nominate:
Email the following details to parliament@fdf.org.uk
- Business name, website (if available), address, and contact details.
- A short statement (maximum 350 words) highlighting why you have nominated the business for this award, including delivering against both what make this SME outstanding and business criteria outlined above.
Parliamentary Reception
The winner of this inaugural award will be revealed at a Parliamentary Reception in January 2026, by a panel of food and drink industry champions.
This will bring together nominees, MPs, FDF members, and industry leaders, to celebrate the finalists and the winning entry.
Judging Process
- Nominations open: Monday 13 October
- Deadline: Thursday 20 November at 23:59
- Finalists announced: Friday 5 December
- Winner announced: January 2026
Nominate an SME in your constituency
Know an outstanding food and drink SME? Nominate them by emailing parliament@fdf.org.uk with their details and a short (max 350 words) statement on why they deserve to win.