The Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards’ F&B Achiever Award shines a light on the people who help shape Northamptonshire’s food and drink scene through their everyday work and commitment.
Rather than focusing purely on business performance, the award recognises individuals whose wider contribution stands out – through leadership, creativity, innovation and long-term commitment to the industry.
Entrants come from across Northamptonshire’s hospitality and food and drink landscape, including restaurants, pubs, hotels, producers and more. Together, they reflect both the richness of the county’s offer and the shared challenges it continues to face.
In recent years, those challenges have become more pronounced. Rising costs, recruitment pressures and changing customer expectations are now part of everyday life for food and drink businesses of every size. As a result, success is increasingly defined not just by growth, but by resilience – keeping standards high, supporting teams, working closely with partners and adapting quickly in a changing market.
Against this backdrop, the F&B Achiever Award highlights individuals whose impact is often felt over time. Some are recognised early for fresh thinking and creativity; others for steady, long-term leadership that strengthens both their business and the wider community they support and serve.
Shortlisting is carried out by a panel of local judges, who review supporting material, nominations where applicable, compliance history and feedback from customers and colleagues. Finalists are then invited to interview, with an external panel assessing both submissions and performance before deciding the Gold, Silver and Bronze recipients.
Ultimately, the award is about more than individual achievement. It reflects the reality of Northamptonshire’s food and drink scene, where success is just as much about consistency and integrity as it is about commercial performance – and where the people behind the businesses often make the biggest difference.
Supporting talent
Joseph Skinner, Director at J Sweeney Accountants, is looking forward to meeting this year’s finalists.
He said: “As a proud sponsor of the F&B Achiever of the Year award, we are delighted to support and celebrate the exceptional talent, innovation and resilience that continue to drive the hospitality and food and beverage sector forward. These awards recognise the individuals and businesses who consistently go above and beyond to deliver outstanding experiences, inspire others within the industry and raise standards across the sector. Over the years, we have seen first-hand the positive impact these awards have in acknowledging hard work, celebrating success, and bringing the industry together to showcase its very best.
“The hospitality industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, from the lasting effects of the pandemic and staffing shortages to rising operational costs and economic uncertainty, not to mention the continued VAT battles. Despite this, the sector has continued to demonstrate remarkable determination, adaptability and passion. It is more important than ever to recognise those who continue to innovate, lead and make a positive contribution to the industry, and we are incredibly proud to support an award that celebrates the resilience and achievements of F&B professionals across the sector.”
A view from the past
For past recipients, the award is both recognition of achievement and a moment of wider validation. Emily Mee from Mee Blueberries, was thrilled to receive a Silver Award. She said: “Winning silver was such an honour for me, especially as the other nominees brought a wealth of experience and were all fantastic examples of innovation. The recognition continues to motivate me to give my all to the sector and has made me even more excited about what the future might hold.”
For many, the impact extends well beyond the evening itself, reinforcing the value of consistency and commitment in a demanding and fast-moving environment.
Dan Coshan, General Manager, Tap & Kitchen received a Bronze Award, added: “It’s always an honour to be well thought of by the Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards, as we have been over our 12-year history. We are committed to our ethos of freshly prepped, locally sourced food served with passion, knowledge and enthusiasm. We have a wealth of amazing local produce. Our team are everything to us, and any recognition for us as individuals simply underpins us as a collective”
It also serves as a reminder of the central role people play in shaping the county’s food and drink story, and the contribution made beyond commercial performance alone. Tom McManus, Commercial & Operations Manager at McManus Managed Pub Co Limited said: “It was a great surprise and very humbling to be nominated and considered for the F&B Achiever Award. The Bronze Award has given me confidence that the work we’re doing to build the business amongst the local business community is the right one.
“The Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards is a fantastic celebration with so many great local people and businesses recognised and celebrated and I’d encourage everyone to get involved.”
For more details on all the categories in the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2026/27, including entry and nomination forms, visit their website or call the awards team on 01933 664437 or email awards@northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk
