JUDGES
This year’s high-profile judging panel consists of some of the UK’s most respected industry experts, including Adam Leyland, Editor of The Grocer, restaurant entrepreneur David Moore and Mintel’s Director of Innovation & Insight David Jago.
Adam Leyland is editor of The Grocer, the bible of the food and drink industry. A lifelong 'foodie' and 'winophile', in his regular appearances on the BBC, ITV, and other national media his expertise extends to consumer trends, food prices, alcohol promotions, the power of the supermarkets and more.
Adam was voted the 2009 Editor of the Year by the British Society of Magazine Editors. In February 2010 a survey of the 500 leading Business Superbrands, conducted by the Centre for Brand Analytics, saw The Grocer rise 118 places, to 150th place, to become the No1 trade magazine business superbrand.
In a 20-year business journalism career, Adam has also edited Press Gazette, PrintWeek and Real Business, and launched the US edition of PRWeek.
With over 20 years experience tracking and analysing new product trends, David Jago brings a unique perspective on the marketplace and future new product development. As Director of Innovation & Insight at Mintel he is responsible for providing expert research and analysis in the fields of product development, market appraisal and competitor evaluation, to a broad range of food & drink manufacturers and agencies in Europe and Asia.
David has had numerous articles published in European trade press and professional journals, and is a regular speaker at conferences around the world, as well as industry groups and client-specific meetings in Europe, the USA, and Japan.
Sandra is Race Equality Director at Business in the Community, working with a business led network of organisations from the private and public sector who are committed to race equality as part of their business agenda. Sandra works together with the Race Equality Leadership board to set the agenda for race diversity in the UK as a business imperative.
Sandra is particularly passionate about raising the profile of senior role models from diverse backgrounds to inspire the next generation and creating an inclusive environment through mentoring.
Sandra currently Chairs the Ethnic Minority Employment Stakeholder group for the Department for Work and Pensions with a focus on closing the ethnic minority employment gap.
In January 2012, Sandra was awarded an OBE in the Queens New Year’s honours list for services to Black and Minority Ethnic People.
The judging of this year's restaurant categories is led by David Moore, a big name on Britain's food scene and the gastronomic brains behind London's fashionable Michelin-starred restaurant Pied a Terre. David, who also runs a successful restaurant consultancy business, is best known for his role as an inspector on Raymond Blanc's BBC television series The Restaurant and was selected for his unrivalled industry expertise - the result of more than 20 years hands on experience. David leads a team of foodies in overseeing this category.
Bob has been involved in the catering industry for over 20 years both as a caterer and as a director of two of the county's leading food trade associations.
He has vast experience in just about all aspects of the catering business particularly the mobile and outside sector and is often called upon to give opinion to the media, government and standards authorities.
In 2004 Bob established the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS) which now boasts 3600 members, growing weekly. Membership of NCASS extends right across the catering sector from major multiples to independents and some of the biggest names in the supply chain.
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