The manufacturer won the award for its ‘Wellness Food Enterprise Week’. The scheme demonstrated “true community engagement and harnessed the creativity of the company’s young talent”, according to an FDF statement.
The award was presented at Shakespeare’s Globe in London on October 24 by the FDF president and md of General Mills UK Jim Moseley.
A Mars spokeswoman said: "We are delighted to have been awarded the FDF's prestigious President's Award as well as the Gold Award in the Education category for Mars Food's inaugural Wellness School Enterprise Week. For us, the week is about bringing together associates from across the food business who are passionate about the importance of healthy, active lifestyles to share their knowledge with young people and engage students, teachers and parents in local communities.”
More than 25 trophies were awarded across nine categories. Those were the: Apprentice of the Year, Developing Skills for the Future, Education, Environmental Leadership, Export Success of the Year, Good Employer, Growing Business of the Year, Health & Wellbeing and Local Community.
Economic Success
Terry Jones, FDF director of communications, said: “Our Community Partnership Awards are an important opportunity to recognise the positive impact food and drink businesses have across the country and to celebrate their economic success.”
“Whether it’s working with local schools, sourcing ingredients sustainably or showcasing British products on the global stage, the food and drink sector is full of great examples of how businesses can be both successful and responsible.
Jones said this year’s winners were “an inspiration” to all businesses, both in and out of the food chain. “They showed not only what can be achieved when companies are committed to making positive difference, but also why our sector is a such great place to be,” he added.
More details about the winning initiatives are available here.
FDF President’s Award Winner:
- Mars Food UK
Apprentice of the Year:
- Winner: Sam Roberts, Unilever UK
- Runner up: Sam Ward, Nestlé UK & Ireland
- Highly Commended: Lydia Cebreiro, Nestlé UK & Ireland
- Highly Commended: Rob Boyle, United Biscuits
Developing Skills:
- Gold: Morrisons
- Gold: William Jackson Food Group
Education:
- Gold: Mars Food UK
- Silver: Kellogg’s
- Bronze: Cargill
- Highly Commended: Wrigley
Environmental Leadership:
- Gold: Coca-Cola Enterprises
- Silver: Adelie Food Group
- Bronze: Thornton’s Budgens
Exports Success of the Year:
- Gold: Burton’s Biscuit Company
- Silver: United Biscuits
- Bronze: Typhoo Tea
Good Employer:
- Gold: Midlands Co-operative Society
Growing Business of the Year:
- Apetito
Health and Wellbeing:
- Gold: United Biscuits
- Silver: Coca-Cola Great Britain
- Bronze: Mars Chocolate UK
Local Community:
- Gold: Border Biscuits
- Silver: Warner’s Retail
- Bronze: General Mills