Pizza, Pasta and Italian
Food Industry Awards 2009
The Pizza Pasta & Italian Food Industry Awards 2009
On 12th November 2009, seven Italian and four pizza restaurants across the UK were given Gold Awards in recognition of their exceptional standards by the Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Association. Platinum Awards were also awarded to three restaurants in recognition of outstanding achievement.
The awards were presented as part of the Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Industry Awards 2009, the winners of which were announced at a ceremony held at the Lancaster London Hotel, London.
The number of restaurants achieving Platinum and Gold Standard in the prestigious awards, highlights the increasing quality standards in the industry.
Of the bigger operators, Frankie and Benny's took the Italian Food Restaurant Chain Award and Ask restaurants took the Pizza Restaurant Chain Award. Papa John's was voted Pizza Delivery Chain of the Year.
Two of the biggest winners of the evening were Asda and the Co-op. Asda won two awards for their Pizza and was also voted Supermarket Pizza Retailer of the Year. The Co-op also won three awards for their pizza and pasta, being voted Chilled Convenience Store Pizza Retailer of the Year and Convenience Store Pasta Retailer of the Year.
David Page of the Clapham House Group was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, 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 from Bella Napoli in Glasgow, who also won a Gold Award in the Pizza Restaurant of the Year category.
The awards, which were attended by 400 leading figures from the pizza, pasta and Italian food industry, are now in their 21st 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."