PIZZA, PASTA & ITALIAN FOOD INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
| Entertainment Sponsored by |
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Independent pizza restaurants from across the country battled it out with some of the biggest names in the industry to win this year’s national Pizza Pasta & Italian Food Industry Awards.
At the awards dinner, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on Wednesday, 2nd November 2006, the industry acknowledged the Domino’s Chief Executive Stephen Hemsley for his work in developing the Domino’s brand and advancing the cause of the industy.
The Awards attended by leading figures from across the pizza, pasta and Italian food industry are organised annually by the Association. This year there were three new categories: Pizza Designer of Year, Pasta Chef of the Year and Student Pizza Designer of the Year.
The Winners
| Overall Operator sponsored by Stateside Foods |
Winner: Stephen Hemsley, Chief Executive of Domino’s Pizza
This lifetime award will be presented to an individual, company or organization whom the judges consider deserves recognition for the contribution made to the industry. |
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| Pizza Restaurant Award |
Independent Winner: Bottelino’s, Bedminster
Chain Winner: Zizzi
This award will be presented to a specialist restaurant where pizza is the predominant item on the menu. Those judging this award are looking for an individual restaurant or chain which sets a standard for others to follow. In assessing entries they will be focusing particularly on standards in terms of product, service and the overall atmosphere of the restaurant.
This award may be presented to either an individual or a chain. |
| The Pasta Foodservice Award |
Independent Winner: L’Aperitif, Stranraer
Chain Winner: Piccolino, Chester & Manchester
This award will be presented to a specialist restaurant, delivery or retail foodservice outlet where pasta is a main feature item on the menu. Those judging this award will be looking for an individual outlet or chain which sets a standard for others to follow. In assessing entries they will be focusing particularly on standards in terms of product, service and the impressions given by the operation.
This award may be presented to either an individual outlet or a chain. |
| The Italian Restaurant Award |
Independent Winner: Firenze, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire
Chain Winner: Strada
This award aims to identify the best in genuine Italian restaurants in the UK. To this end the award will be presented to a specialist restaurant where the food served is rooted at the heart of Italian cuisine and which offers a genuine taste of Italy. Those judging this award will be looking for an individual outlet or chain which sets a standard for others to follow. In assessing entries they will be focusing particularly on standards in terms of product, service and the ambiance of the restaurant.
This award may be presented to either an individual outlet or a chain. |
| The Pizza & Pasta Catering Award sponsored by Pasta King |
Winner: Scolarest
To be awarded to a catering operation where pizza and pasta has been developed as a major part of the foodservice offer. This award may be presented to an organization, company or individual site operating in any general catering environment, including schools, offices, hospitals, local authorities etc. |
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| Independent Pizza Delivery Store Award sponsored by Cooktek |
Winner: Pizza Pioneer
This award aims to recognize the independent operators who are successfully driving their businesses in the delivery/takeaway sector. Those judging this award will be looking for an individual operator (up to 4 stores) which sets a high standard in terms of their overall operation – from customer service to food quality and delivery to the customer. |
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| Pizza Delivery Chain Award sponsored by Integer |
Winner: Domino’s Pizza
This award aims to recognize the chain operators who are successfully driving the delivery/takeaway sector. Those judging this award will be looking at chains (5+ stores) which set a high standard in terms of their overall operation – from customer service to food quality and delivery to the customer – and which are positively driving the market. |
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| Frozen Pizza Retailer Award sponsored by Tabasco |
Winner: Tesco
Highly commended: Aldi
This award aims to recognize those retailers who are actively driving the frozen pizza sector of the market.
The judges will draw on independent research information from sources such as TNS Global along with the submissions from the nominees in making their decision |
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| Chilled Pizza Retailer Award sponsored by Paramount |
Winner: Sainsburys
Highly commended: Asda
This award aims to acknowledge those retailers who are actively driving the chilled pizza sector of the market.
The judges will draw on independent research information from sources such as TNS Global along with the submissions from the nominees in making their decision |
| Pasta Retailer Award sponsored by Pasta Reale |
Winner: Sainsbury’s
This award aims to recognize those retailers who are actively driving sales of pasta.
The judges will draw on independent research information from sources such as TNS Global along with the submissions from the nominees in making their decision |
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| Italian-style Food to Go Award |
Winner: Pasta King
For: Hot Pasta to Go
This award aims to encourage the development of products for the food-to-go market based around Italian concepts or ingredients. Typical entries might include pasta lunch packs, Italian Ciabatta sandwiches or hand-held calzone-style snacks. In this category the judges will be particularly looking for new products/concepts which offer commercially viable options for the Food-to-Go fixture. |
| Manufactured Pizza Product Award sponsored by Tulip |
Everyday Pizza Product Winner: Morrisons
For: Stuffed Crust Smokey Sausage & Bacon Pizza
Indulgent Pizza Product Highly Commended: Asda
For: Extra Special Lemon & Basil Chicken Stonebaked Pizza
Indulgent Pizza Product Winner: Asda
For: Extra Special Ham, Mushroom & Mascarpone Stonebaked Pizza
Innovative Pizza Product Winner: Waitrose
For: Chargrilled Aubergine & Casalinga Tomato Pizza with Balsamic Dressing
This award aims to encourage new product development in the pizza market by rewarding those who are striving to develop the market through innovation and recipe development. This category is open to any product launched within the 12 month period leading up to the closing date in September 2006 and which is still on sale at the time of judging. Products short-listed for this award will be presented to a panel of judges for sampling. |
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| Manufactured Pasta Product Award |
Food Service Sector Winner: Chicco d’Oro
For: Ravioli Rucola e Pinoli
Retail Sector Winner : Waitrose
For: Mozzarella & Tomato Tortelloni with Basil Infused Oil
This award aims to encourage new product development in the pasta market by rewarding those who are striving to develop the market through innovation and recipe development. This category is open to any product launched within the 12 month period leading up to the closing date in September 2006 and which is still on sale at the time of judging. Products short-listed for this award will be presented to a panel of judges for sampling. |
| New Ingredient Award sponsored by Papa John's |
Winner: Glanbia For: Mozzarella with chilli flavour
This award aims to recognize those suppliers who are developing/sourcing new products and ingredients for use by manufacturers or in the restaurant/delivery market. The judges will be looking for innovative ideas which can positively benefit operators. |
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| New Product/Equipment Award |
Winner: Equipline For: BOFI XLT Conveyor Pizza Oven
This award aims to recognize those suppliers who are striving in support the pizza/pasta market through the development of new items of equipment, packaging etc. |
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Pizza Designer of the Year Award (£500 prize for winner)
This competition aims to encourage new product development in the pizza restaurant/delivery market and comprises a series of three individual competitions where entrants are required to develop recipes using specific ingredients. Entries can be made into one or more of the competitions and the judges will decide winners in each category plus an overall winner as Pizza Designer of the Year.
The three competitions are:
| Supertops Pizza of the Year |
Dairygold Pizza of the Year |
Tabasco Pizza of the Year |
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Overall Winner: Domenico Crolla Bella Napoli, Glasgow
For his Antipasto Italmania Piz
Highly Commended: Richard Hammond, Giorgio’s in Pontefract & Diego Palledino, Pizza Metro Pizza, Battersea
Student Pizza Designer of the Year Award
Winner: Rahul Thakur Brooklands College, Weybridge
for his herbalicious pizza with spinach and pine nuts |
In addition to entering one or more of the three category competitions, each entrant must also produce a freestyle ‘Signature’ pizza of their own creation.
In each category entrants must use the sponsor’s product plus Whitworth Bros. flour.
Entries will be judged on their creativity as well as commercial viability.
There will be four regional heats for this Award with the final taking place on the same day as the Awards Dinner in London on 2nd November, 2006.
The overall Pizza Designer of the Year Award winner will be announced at the Awards Dinner and will receive a trophy plus a cheque for £500. The winners of the individual categories will also receive trophies.
Pasta Designer of the Year Award
Winner: Lucio Cerullo Bottelino’s, Manchester
for his Regina Dell Mare pasta dish
Highly Commended: Daniele Branbilla La Favorita, Edinburgh
This new competition aims to encourage new product development in the pasta market.
Initially there will be two segments to this competition – one for products designed for sale in a packaged retail environment and the other for products designed for sale in the
foodservice sector (e.g. restaurants/takeaways etc.).
Entries for both categories will initially be judged on a recipe basis, with the best in each category being cooked up by a chef for the main judging panel to sample. The best two in each category will then be invited to attend a judging session on 2nd November, 2006 in London (coinciding with the Awards Dinner) where they will be invited to make up their dishes for final judging.
Entries will be judged on their creativity as well as commercial viability. All entries must state a selling price plus the market where the pizza would be sold.
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