The Pizza Pasta & Italian Food Industry Awards 2008
13th November 2008 - Six Italian and eight pizza restaurants across the UK were given Gold Awards in recognition of their exceptional standards by the Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Association. The awards take place as a precursor to National Pizza Week which takes place from 24-30th November.
The awards were presented as part of the Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Industry Awards 2008 which were announced at a ceremony held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London.
This is the first time that so many restaurants have achieved Gold Standard in the prestigious awards, highlighting the increasing quality standards in the industry.
Of the bigger operators, Italian chain Bottelino’s, took the Pizza Restaurant Award and Papa John’s was voted Pizza Delivery Chain of the Year.
One of the biggest winners of the evening was the Co-op who won no less than three awards for their pizza and pasta as well as being highly-commended in a fourth category.
Asda’s in-store deli programme won the Overall Operator of the Year Award 2008, which is a special industry award given to a business or individual who has made a major contribution to the industry.
This year’s individual Pizza Designer of the Year Award goes to Domenico Crolla.
The awards, which were attended by over 350 leading figures from the pizza, pasta and Italian food industry, are now in their 20th year.
Says PAPA Director Jim Winship: “These awards are important to the industry as they recognise the work being done by restaurants, supermarkets and suppliers to keep pushing the boundaries through innovation and promotion.”
The full list of winners are:
Pizza Designer of the Year
Winner: Domenico Crolla, Bella Napoli, Glasgow 85 Kilmarnock Road, Glasgow
Whitworth Bros. Flour Pizza Designer of the Year
(Sponsored by Whitworth Bros.)
Winner:Domenico Crolla, Bella Napoli, 85 Kilmarnock Road, Glasgow
Tulip Super Tops Pizza Designer of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Tulip)
Winner: Tomasz Kuba from Il Forno, 132 Duke Street, Liverpool
Roquito® Sweet Chilli Pepper Pizza Designer of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Leathams)
Winner: Domenico Crolla, Bella Napoli, 85 Kilmarnock Road, Glasgow
Jarlsberg Cheese Pizza Designer of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Tine)
Winner: Bheka Ahmed Beelall from Amano Cafe, Studio 12, Clink Street, Victor Wharf, London SE1
New Product or Ingredient of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Papa Johns)
Winner: Leathams for Nduja Paste
Highly-commended: Beacon Foods Chargrilled and Bar-Marked Courgettes with Rosemary and Lemon
Italian Restaurant of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Pasta King)
Gold Awards
- Locale, County Hall, London
- Filini, The Radisson, Birmingham
- Nonnas, Sheffield
- Incanto, Harrow on the Hill
- Bella Napoli, Glasgow
- Firenze, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicester
Pizza Restaurant of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Equipline)
Gold Awards (independents)
- La Favorita, Edinburgh
- Bella Napoli, Glasgow
- Il Forno, Liverpool
- Biboli, Kibworth Harcourt
- Pizza Santaniello, Bedford
- Fire & Stone, Covent Garden, London
- Pizza Rustica, Richmond, London
- Dante’s Halfway House, Chorley
Gold Award (chain)
- Bottelino’s
Independent Pizza Delivery Operator of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Haagen-Dazs)
Winner: La Favorita, Edinburgh
Chain Pizza Delivery Operator of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food magazine)
Winner: Papa John’s
Pizza & Pasta Lunchtime Award
(Sponsored by Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food magazine)
Winner: Pasta King Pasta with Basilica Sauce
Manufactured Pizza Product of the Year Award
(Sponsored by DK Foods)
Everyday Pizza Product Category
Foodservice Section Winner: Brakes Real Italian Four Season Pizza
Retail Section Winner: Co-op 12” Truly Irresistible Margherita Pizza
Highly-commended: Aldi Carlos Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza; Sainsbury’s ‘Be Good To Yourself’ Paprika Chicken Pizza
Indulgent Pizza Product Category
Winner: Asda Extra Special Pepperoni & Peppers Pizza
Highly-commended: Co-op 12” Truly Irresistible Ham, Mushroom & Peppers Pizza
Innovative Pizza Product Category
Winner: Pizza Express Etna Romana
Manufactured Pasta Product of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Rondanini)
Food Service Category Winner: The Fresh Pasta Company Handmade Braised Beef Tortelloni
Retail Category Winner: Tesco Finest King Prawn Farfalle with Champagne Sauce
Frozen Supermarket Pizza Retailer of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Freiberger)
Winner: Sainsbury’s
Frozen Convenience Store Pizza Retailer of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food magazine)
Winner: Co-op
Chilled Supermarket Pizza Retailer of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Paramount Foods)
Winner: Morrisons
Chilled Convenience Store Pizza Retailer of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food magazine)
Winner: Co-op
Supermarket Pasta Retailer of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Pasta Reale)
Winner: Morrisons
Convenience Store Pasta Retailer of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food magazine)
Winner: Co-op
Overall Operator of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Stateside Foods)
Winner: Asda Deli Programme