Food and drink companies up for community awards

The companies shortlisted for the 2009 awards are: AF Blakemore and Son Alara Wholefoods ASDA Stores Coca-Cola Enterprises General Mills UK Jordans & Ryvita Company Kellogg's Kingsmill Northern Region Bakery Kraft Foods UK & Ireland Mars Chocolate UK McDonald's Restaurants The Midcounties Co-operative Society Müller Dairy Nestlé UK Norseland (Ilchester Cheese Company) Pinneys of Scotland (The Seafood Company) Premier Foods Taylors of Harrogate Unilever UK The companies have been shortlisted for the following categories: Culture, Media and Sport: this category recognises initiatives in culture, media and sport undertaken with communities across the UK Education: this Award acknowledges local and/or national education specific initiatives Environment: this category highlights the leadership being shown by the food and drink sector in reducing its environmental impact Local Community: this Award pays tribute to a company's ongoing commitments to its immediate community Workplace Community: rewarding projects and initiatives that specifically benefit the company's employees – including projects that promote healthy living and lifestyles in the workplace Commenting on the judging of the Awards, FDF's Director of Communications, Julian Hunt, said: "We received a fantastic number of entries this year and our judges were extremely impressed by the range of inspiring initiatives being carried out by companies across the food and drink chain. "It's great to see so many companies committed to engaging with their local communities, helping to improve the health and wellbeing of their employees, making a difference to the environment, and encouraging young people to learn about our industry and to keep fit and healthy." The winners will be announced at a luncheon at the Institute of Directors, London on Thursday 15 October 2009.