Food Drink Devon’s Sustainability Pioneer Award and Training School Award Are Now Open for Entries

Entries are open to all Devon-based food and drink businesses for Food Drink Devon’s Sustainability Pioneer Award and Training School Award.  Recognising strong and effective sustainable activities being practised by food and drink businesses across the county, the Sustainability Pioneer Award is open to both members and non-members of the organisation.  Producers, retailers and hospitality establishments are all able to enter the Sustainability Pioneer Award, which aims to shine a light on businesses that go the extra mile in their endeavours to be environmentally friendly.  

Due to high demand, Food Drink Devon is also delighted to reintroduce its Training School Award, which is open to those who offer a training or learning experience. Members and non-members are invited to enter.  Entry forms and details for both awards can be downloaded from fooddrinkdevon.co.uk/awards and must be received by 5pm, Friday 19th May.  

Launched in 2022, the inaugural Food Drink Devon Sustainability Pioneer Award received a staggering 27 entries.  Such was the calibre of the entries two awards were presented, the ‘Hospitality Sustainability Pioneer’ which was awarded to ethical organic pub, The Bull Inn, Totnes owned by Geetie Singh-Watson and the ‘Producer Sustainability Pioneer’, which was won by carbon neutral dairy farm, Langage Farm near Smithaleigh.

Now firmly a part of the annual awards scheme, the Sustainability Pioneer Award encourages entrants to consider how they, as businesses, act as a force for good by supporting the three dimensions of sustainability - environmental, economic and social (planet, people and profit).  Judging focuses on three main areas in which businesses are gearing up to become more sustainable.  Firstly, new initiatives and innovations which a business has put in place to achieve comprehensive benefits to the environment, with judges looking for cutting-edge ideas which are breaking new ground.  Secondly, the commitment to sustainability running through the business and thirdly, how the initiatives taking place are being shared within the business and beyond to inspire others.

Pete Falloon, Food Drink Devon’s new Sustainability Director and head judge of the Sustainability Pioneer Award comments on the launch; “The Sustainability Pioneer Award recognises food and drink businesses across the county that act as a force for good by supporting the three dimensions of sustainability – Environmental, Economic and Social (planet, people and profit).  We're looking for businesses that are committed to sustainability running right though the business, who implement cutting-edge ideas that break new ground, and share what they do, inspiring others to follow."

Food Drink Devon’s gold standard industry awards celebrate the very best Devon has to offer, recognising the county’s most respected, influential and passionate artisan food and drink producers and establishments.  This year’s winners will be announced at a glittering black-tie ceremony at Sandy Park, Exeter in October.  In addition to the Sustainability Pioneer Award, other categories in the esteemed awards include the 'Producer Awards' with a ‘Food Product of the Year’, ‘Drink Product of the Year' and 'Best New Product of the Year', 'Retail Awards' and ‘Hospitality Awards’ covering ‘Chef of the Year’, ‘Best Fine Dining Restaurant’, ‘Best Restaurant’, ‘Best Pub’, ‘Best Café’ and ‘Best Takeaway or Street Food’.

Food Drink Devon is a Community Interest Company with a focus on quality, sustainability and provenance.  It is committed to increasing the county’s profile, both nationally and internationally and represents a membership of Devon's leading food and drink producers, retailers, hospitality venues and related businesses dedicated to serving up the best produce from the county.  Food Drink Devon’s aim is to support and promote their members and raise Devon’s culinary profile as a whole.  Look out for the green heart logo which is carried by over 350 producers and businesses across Devon.  

Partners& are this year’s Food Drink Devon Awards Platinum Sponsor.  Gold sponsors include West CountryFruit Sales, M&B Oils, Caterfood, Bishop Fleming, Bays Brewery, Vale Labels. Harvey & Brockless is a Silver sponsor and Stephens Scown, Impact Design & Marketing and Sandford Orchards are Bronze sponsors.  inkREADible Labels and Hedgerow Print are this year’s print sponsors, PL1 Events  are the staging provider and Food Magazine is Food Drink Devon’s 2023 media partner.

For more information on Food Drink Devon visit www.fooddrinkdevon.co.uk or follow @FoodDrinkDevon on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.