Recognising the entrepreneurs behind the UK’s food and drink industries, there are winners

across 12 categories including Baked Goods Entrepreneur of the Year, Alcoholic Drink

Entrepreneur of the Year, Sustainability Entrepreneur of the Year and People’s Choice Award.

Launched by the creators of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Food & Drink Heroes

recognises and champions entrepreneurs within the UK’s food and drink industry.

The full list of winners are:

Alcoholic Drink Entrepreneur of the Year

Ralph Broadbent | The Greater Good Fresh Brewing Co

Baked Goods Entrepreneur of the Year

Harriet Hasting | Biscuiteers

Confectionery Entrepreneur of the Year

Helen & Simon Pattinson | Montezuma’s

Export Entrepreneur of the Year

Paul Baker | St. Pierre Groupe

Health Entrepreneur of the Year

Helen Burgess | Little Cooks Co

Innovation Entrepreneur of the Year

John Fisher | Firepot

Non-Alcoholic Entrepreneur of the Year

Ed Taylor & Robyn Simms | Square Root

Restaurant Entrepreneur of the Year

Neil Potts & Rachel Hugh | The Vurger Co

Service Entrepreneur of the Year

Struan Robertson & Tim Gibson | Provenance Village Butcher

Start-up Entrepreneur of the Year

Jonathan Petrides | allplants

Sustainability Entrepreneur of the Year

Pranav Chopra | NEMI Teas

People’s Choice Award

John Burke & Jon Hulme | Craft Gin Club

Nearly 100 founders and co-founders of 66 businesses were shortlisted across 11 categories.

UK food and drink is an international success story, exporting more than £23 billion of quality

products each year. Challenger brands make-up 96% of Britain’s total food and drink

businesses and these companies contribute to a highly significant £18 billion to the UK

economy.

The winners were determined by a panel of entrepreneurial and industry experts who assessed

their entrepreneurial story, rather than just their balance sheet, with the People’s Choice Award

chosen by a public vote from the full shortlist.

As part of the prize package, each winner will receive two branded cars from Food & Drink

Heroes’ premium partner, Adverttu for a four week period.

Adverttu turns heads into customers with its striking on-vehicle advertising, world-first digital capabilities and shadowfencing offering.

Founder of Food & Drink Heroes, Francesca James, said: “I want to offer my warmest

congratulations to each and every one of our winners. As a first year Awards programme, we

have been overwhelmed by the quality of entries, including those that weren’t able to make the

shortlist. It’s incredibly encouraging to see such a vibrant mix of entrepreneurs and businesses

operating in this space and doing so with such creativity and innovation during one of the most

difficult years they are ever likely to experience.”

Gareth Hobbs, managing director at Visionary Food Solutions, said: “I was blown away by the

applications for the Food & Drink Heroes awards. I didn’t think judging the awards would be so difficult, but the achievements of brands in the face of some real adversary was nothing but

inspirational. With entrepreneurs like these, I’m excited for the future of the UK’s food and drink

scene with some incredible innovation driven by brilliant leaders.”

For more on each winner, see Fresh Business Thinking.