We are delighted to announce that five of our products have won accolades at this year’s Cash & Carry Management Chef’s Own-Brand Awards, which took place at The Royal Horseguards Hotel, in London, on January 9th2024.
The winning products were:
Children’s Selection: Fairway Assured MSC Minced Cod Fish Fingers
Egg Products: Fairway Assured Quiche Lorraine
Fish & Seafood: Fairway Assured MSC Luxury Coldwater Prawns
Sauces & Condiments: Fairway Assured 70% Premium Real Mayonnaise
Fork Buffet: Fairway Assured Southern Fried Chicken Breast Goujon
A panel of highly experienced chefs blind-tasted each product entered into the competition. The judges consisted of Andrew Green, chief executive of the Craft Guild of Chefs, Matt Owens, chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs and development chef of Alliance Group, and Jason Gordon, catering manager for the General Medical Council.
Our Quiche Lorraine was complimented for its ‘light filling, good rich flavour with distribution of ham, and nicely seasoned’. Meanwhile, our Southern Fried Chicken Goujons were said to have a ‘a good size and good kick from the seasoning’. Comments for our MSC Minced Cod Fish Fingers were ‘ it has a good light crumb and a good size which makes it fit for purpose’ and our 70% Premium Real Mayonnaise was deemed to have a ‘great taste, creamy thick set consistency and a good thickness to mayo’. Finally, the MSC Luxury Cold Water Prawns, reigned supreme with ‘ a plump sweet prawn, soft with a good colour’.
Troy McKee, purchasing manager at Fairway Foodservice, has expressed his happiness with the result. He said: “We are delighted to have won more awards for the 5th year running. Fairway Assured always focus on quality, consistency, and value for all our Fairway branded products and it’s nice that this has been recognised once again.”
Hosting the awards, Martin Lovell, managing director of Cash & Carry Management, told the guests that the awards have grown in status and size every year since their launch six years ago. “These awards raise the profile of own-brands by highlighting the best product in each category.”
He continued: “These awards have grown in status and size over the years, and this, along with the high standard of entries, clearly shows that foodservice is continuing to invest in own brand. Faced with cost pressures, foodservice operators are looking to their wholesalers to provide high-quality products at a good price.”
Recent research undertaken by TWC on behalf of a major foodservice supplier identified that ‘Price/affordability is the second biggest influencer on consumer choice of pub/restaurant – second only to location.
Held in partnership with the Craft Guild of Chefs, the awards are now in their sixth year, and aim to highlight and celebrate wholesalers who are clearly investing in the quality of their own-brand products.
