It’s an exciting year for the Artisan Local Drink category, with new sponsor J Sweeney Accountants – a modern accounting firm based in Pitsford – confirmed to champion the category.
The team of knowledgeable and friendly accountants and tax advisors with over 50 years of experience said:
“We are delighted to be sponsoring the Artisan Local Drink Award. The Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards is well known and, as our business has grown, we have established ourselves as accountancy leaders within the hospitality sector, so when the opportunity came up to sponsor this category we were delighted to support it. We encourage the food and drink community to enter and look forward to celebrating with finalists and sponsors at the awards evening.”
Rachel Mallows, Awards Director toasted the exciting new collaboration, saying:
“We are so delighted to welcome James and the team at J Sweeney Accountants on board for our 15th year of the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards. Local producers need our support more than ever, with soaring ingredients and staff costs. We not only nourish and treat ourselves through our food and drink consumption, we build friendships, families and communities through this sector, from our home cooking to eating out. We need to recognise and celebrate this.”
Previous award winners know how much this competition can mean to a business or producer. John Folliott-Vaughn, from Stonyfield Wines in Blisworth, one of last year’s Gold Award winners with its English Quality Sparkling Rose 2018, said:
“You don’t realise until afterwards how much difference it can make to your business.”
Towcester-based Wharf Distillery was a Silver Award winner in the Artisan Local Drink 2021/22 with its Old Silson Gin, and Gold in the F&B Achiever category, as well as securing Gold and Bronze in last year’s Artisan Local Drink of the year with Lactodurum Gin and Solstice Malt Whisky. Laurence Conisbee, from Wharf Distillery, said:
“Winning Gold has been fantastic for raising the profile of the distillery and our spirits, especially to a local audience. It has also led to a few collaborations with other local businesses which again is great for increased brand awareness.”
Entries for this year’s Artisan Local Drink of the Year, Artisan Local Product of the Year and Artisan Local Vegetarian/Vegan Product of the Year close on May 19. All Gold Award winners are offered the exceptional opportunity to be entered in the Great Taste Awards.
The results of the competition, which will again see finalists awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze, will be announced at the awards celebrations taking place on November 1, 2023 at The Royal & Derngate Theatre, supported again by caterers Portfolio Events.
For more details on all the categories in the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards 2023/24, including entry and nomination forms, visit the awards’ website – www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk – or call Sophie on 01933 664437
or email sophie@themallowscompany.com
You can also follow the Awards on Facebook at @foodawards or Twitter and Instagram at @foodawardsHQ or on LinkedIn at @weetabixnfadawards
