IGD’s Food Industry Awards shortlisted entries announced

Now in its 21st year, the awards provide an opportunity for companies and individuals to gain recognition for excellence across a variety of categories, ranging from sustainability and supply chain excellence, to consumer understanding and social innovation. Shortlists: The Emolyability Award by ASDA - New for 2011 This award seeks to recognise a company that has introduced the most outstanding employability initiative over the last 12 months. This may be through creating opportunities for individuals to prove their capability as potential employees of the industry; helping individuals grow their confidence and employability skills; or by raising their profile and attracting new talent to help secure the future success of the industry. • DHL • Kraft Foods (Cadbury) • Sainsburys • The Co-operative Group • Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc Boxwood Award for Business Transformation This award recognises an initiative that demonstrates how organisations have significantly transformed their business to achieve top line growth, operational excellence or sustainable improvements in profit. • Allied Bakeries • Burton's Foods Limited • Thatchers Cider Ltd The Co-Operative Award for Ethical Responsibility - New for 2011 This award recognises positive initiatives developed by food and grocery companies with regard to their ethical responsibility. The award will also look at companies that demonstrate best or improved ethical practice towards suppliers, workforce or ecology. • Due South Restaurant • Mars Chocolate UK Ltd • Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate Ltd • Tesco Stores Ltd ECR Award for Sustainable Distribution The ECR award is presented for a step change initiative which demonstrates how an organisation has made a real and lasting difference in their supply chain, resulting in the running of 'fewer' or 'friendlier' miles. • Brakes • Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland • Nestlé UK Ltd and Stobart Group General Mills Award for Consumer Understanding This award is presented to a company that has demonstrated how it has truly understood its end consumer and utilised new insight to deliver an innovative business solution such as a new product, service, promotional or information campaign. • ASDA Stores Ltd • Kraft Foods • Premier Foods Group PLC • Sainsburys • The Co-operative Group Ian Maclaurin Award for Supply Chain Excellence This is awarded to a company that has had a real quantifiable impact on the supply chain. Entries must demonstrate a major step change over and above everyday trading requirements, with innovative, sustainable initiatives. • Allied Bakeries • ASDA Stores Ltd • Bakkavor • Marks and Spencer plc John Sainsbury Award for Learning and Development This award recognises real commitment to people development. It is awarded for an initiative which has achieved demonstrable business results, people development, sustained learning and on-going performance improvement. • Dairy UK Ltd • Tesco Stores Ltd • The Co-operative Group • Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc Kraft Foods Leading Edge Leading Light Award This award is presented to an individual who is the industry's up and coming leading light. Designed to help celebrate remarkable talent in the food and grocery industry, this award recognises those that have gone the extra mile and made a real difference to their company, the industry or to Leading Edge (IGD's development network) during the past year. The winner also receives £2,000 prize money. • Finalists to be announced on 13 September Morrisons Award for Outstanding Business This award recognises the important contribution that small businesses make in the food industry and is awarded to a small business that has demonstrated excellence, for example in a local sourcing or new business initiative, in innovation, people development or marketing. • Liberation Foods CIC • Lincolnshire Herbs • Natural Balance Foods • Wye Valley Brewery Nestle Wellness Award This is awarded to a company that has made a real impact in making h