Hundreds of professional chefs from across the restaurant and pub sectors voted in the annual awards, which are now in their seventh year. The awards recognise 21 categories, ranging from Best Pan Brand and Best Cooking Range to Best Meat Supplier and Best Equipment Distributor.
Rational was this year’s big winner, picking up both Best Equipment Brand and Best Combi-Oven. Thermal blender Thermomix has been named Best Gadget for a fourth consecutive year while butcher Aubrey Allen has proved it is a cut above the rest by holding on to the top spot as Best Meat Supplier for three years in a row.
The award winners in full:
Best Meat Supplier
Winner: Aubrey Allen
Highly commended: Donald Russell, Fairfax Meadow
Best Fish Supplier
Winner: M&J Seafood
Highly commended: Flying Fish, Direct Seafoods
Best Equipment Distributor
Winner: Nisbets
Highly commended: Alliance, Lockhart
Best Foodservice Company
Winner: Woods Foodservice
Highly commended: Bidvest 3663, Turners Fine Foods
Best EPoS Supplier
Winner: Micros
Highly commended: PointOne, Zonal
Best Fruit & Veg Supplier
Winner: Reynolds
Highly commended: Covent Garden Supply, Fresh Direct
Best Drinks Supplier
Winner: Matthew Clark
Highly commended: Bibendum, Liberty Wines
Best Beer Brand
Winner: Peroni
Highly commended: Estrella Damm, Meantime
Best Coffee
Winner: Illy
Highly commended: Lavazza, Nespresso
Best Bottled Water
Winner: Hildon
Highly commended: Evian, Highland Spring
Best Soft Drink
Winner: Coca-Cola
Highly commended: Fentimans, Schweppes
Best Combi-oven
Winner: Rational
Highly commended: Lincat
Best Cooking Range
Winner: Falcon
Highly commended: Blue Seal, Buffalo
Best Knife Supplier
Winner: Global
Highly commended: Wusthof, I.O.Shen
Best Pan Brand
Winner: Vogue
Highly commended: Bourgeat, De Buyer
Best Tableware Supplier
Winner: Churchill
Highly commended: Goodfellows, Dudson
Best Gadget
Winner: Thermomix
Highly commended: Robot Coupe, Kitchen Aid
Best Equipment Brand
Winner: Rational
Highly commended: Vogue, Thermomix
Best Stock
Winner: Knorr
Highly commended: Essential Cuisine, True Foods
Best Chocolate
Winner: Valrhona
Highly commended: Callebaut, Cadbury
Best Frozen Brand
Winner: Birds Eye
Highly commended: Brakes, McCain