Last call for entries for Food & Drink iNet Innovation awards

The deadline for entries to the awards, which celebrate and reward new and improved ways of working in the East Midlands' food and drink industry, is October 2nd. Organisers are searching for winners from across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland. Entry is free. Any business, organisation or individual interested in entering one of this year's categories or in sponsorship, or who would like tickets to the awards ceremony, should contact Jo Stevenson on 0115 975 8810 or enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk Hardeep, a celebrity masterchef finalist will reveal the winners of five categories, plus the Food and Drink Forum Innovation Champion 2009, at the awards ceremony on November 17 at Athena, Leicester. The categories include; University of Lincoln National Centre for food manufacturing award for most Innovative SME food and drink manufacturer, Campden BRI Award for most innovative business across the food and drink supply chain, award for most innovative research project, food processing faraday award for most innovative large food and drink manufacturer Nottingham Trent University award for most innovative business in the wilder food sector. The awards will be presented by entertaining writer, presenter and foodie Hardeep Singh Kohli. Richard Adlington, Food and Drink iNet interim project director, commented: "We've heard from some really interesting companies and organisations already, so we're looking forward to going through the entries." "From our work with food and drink firms in the region, we know that there is a tremendous amount of innovation and research going on. The Innovation Awards are the perfect way to highlight and reward that work, which is so important to a vibrant and successful food and drink sector in the East Midlands." Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including The Food Processing Faraday Partnership, Nottingham Trent University, The University of Lincoln, and The University of Nottingham.