Garbutt+Elliott Yorkshire Food & Drink Business Awards Announce Shortlisters

Garbutt + Elliott 2020 Yorkshire Food and Drink Business awards go virtual
and shortlisters announced

York and Leeds based Chartered Accountants, Garbutt & Elliott, have announced the shortlisters for the 2020 Yorkshire Food and Drink Business Awards with plans for a virtual celebration and announcement of the winners on 21st October 2020.

The awards, now in their third year, celebrate Yorkshire’s growing food and drink industry and businesses from across the region who are making a real impact by supporting its growing position in the national and international food and drink market place. This year’s awards are made up of 15 categories with a total of 57 shortlisters. The winners of each of the categories are entered into an Overall Winner category which is judged by the Garbutt & Elliott team and Chef Consultant, Stephanie Moon.

Over 150 businesses entered the awards and shortlisted entrants include businesses from across the region including those based in York, Harrogate, Malton, Leeds and Skipton.

Skipton-based dairy farm and Skyr yoghurt producer, Hesper has been nominated for two awards in the ‘Business Innovation’ and ‘SME below £500k’ categories. The plant-based desserts company, Freaks of Nature, based in Ossett has also been nominated for two awards in the ‘Yorkshire Brand of the Year’ and ‘Business Innovation’ categories.

Harrogate-based producers are shortlisted across a variety of categories, including ‘SME above £500k’, for Ripley’s Harrogate Tipple distillery, ‘Yorkshire Brand of the Year’ for The Wild Plum restaurant and authentic Indian food producer, Saffron Tree for ‘Young Business of the Year’ and healthy food producer, Kirsty’s has been shortlisted for the ‘Business Innovation’ award.

Four businesses from Malton are also hopeful of winning including the Visit Malton Food Lovers Festival which has been nominated for the ‘Spirit of Yorkshire’ award and Yorkshire Wolds Apple Juice who are nominated for the ‘Quench Yorkshire’ award. Yorkshire Tonics are also nominated for ‘Young Business of the Year’.

York-based shortlisters are in the running with Galtres Lodge Hotel nominated for ‘Young Business of the Year’, York Gin for ‘SME above £500k’ and restaurants Ambiente Tapas and Partisan both nominated for the ‘Nourish Yorkshire’ award. York Food Festival is nominated for the ‘Spirit of Yorkshire’ award.

Both the Leeds Cookery School and Church Fenton Cookery School are in the running for the Social Enterprise award, a new category created this year to showcase the important work of the Social Enterprise industry.

A celebratory awards evening had been planned for September, however the coronavirus restrictions have meant that instead, shortlisters are being invited to be part of an ‘awards roadshow’ ahead of the winner’s announcements on 21st October. Chef Consultant and ‘Overall Winner’ category Judge, Stephanie Moon, and members of the Garbutt & Elliott team are visiting their premises to take a ‘behind the scenes’ tour and interview the shortlisters. As part of the celebrations, the roadshow will be shared across Garbutt & Elliott’s social media pages to showcase the shortlisted businesses far and wide in the build-up to the winner announcements.

Tony Farmer, Partner, Garbutt & Elliott said: “We are delighted to celebrate our annual Yorkshire Food and Drink business awards with alternative celebrations this year. It has been a difficult time for the Food and Drink industry with the challenges faced as a result of COVID-19, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to be able to showcase and celebrate the achievements of the region’s finest food and drink producers.”

Stephanie Moon, Category Judge & Chef Consultant said: “The Garbutt and Elliott Yorkshire Food and Drink awards going virtual is fantastic because it’s taking the Food and Drink awards and making it accessible to everybody. It gives the winners the chance to have their moment, tell their family and friends and everyone can see their success which is brilliant”.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE…

October Restaurant & Hotel Offers in Yorkshire