Customer expectations are rising, competition is fierce and food service operators need a point of difference in their offering. Sourcing the right products is paramount, and at the Caterer and Hotelkeeper Excellence in Food & Drink Awards, we're proud to shine a light on products that deliver that bit extra in terms of taste, appearance and usability.

Provenance and authenticity are now key words in our industry, with the origin of ingredients increasingly loudly declared on menus. Additionally, there has never been a greater demand on kitchens to cater for those with allergies and other dietary requirements. We have therefore introduced a new category Food Intolerance Products. The awards are open to well established products as well as new products.

There are 20 categories and 20 opportunities to win one of the prestigious Excellence in Food & Drink Awards trophies which will denote your product as the best in its category. 

From these category winners (except the Kids’ awards), one product will be chosen to take the hospitality industry’s highest product accolade – the coveted Gold Excellence Award.

All the products in the competition will be prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions on the pack, and in addition to tasting each product the judges will consider nutritional values and success in achieving the supplier’s own objectives for the product.

The overriding criteria, however, are quality in terms of taste,
texture, aroma and appearance. But to be a winner the
product must have something extra special about
it that sets it apart from the rest.

This year Croydon College Hospitality Department
will be hosting the judging from week commencing July 26.