In a world where supporting local businesses matters more than ever, the Awards proudly highlight the resilience, innovation, and dedication of Northamptonshire’s hospitality community. Every dish served, every drink poured, and every local product created contributes to a thriving, connected food culture that we can all be proud of.

With incredible sponsors and 18 exciting categories, the 2026/27 Awards celebrate excellence in every corner of the county - from restaurants and pubs to students, producers, and suppliers - each playing their part in making Northamptonshire an exciting place to eat, drink, and come together.

Headline sponsor Weetabix returns once again, joined by a fantastic line-up of category sponsors, including All Things Business, British Pepper & Spice Co. Ltd, Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust, Heygates Flour & Animal Feed Millers, Howes Percival, J Sweeney Accountants, Portfolio Events, Wellbeing Service West Northamptonshire Council, University of Northampton, Northampton College, SEGRO, Warners Distillery Ltd, Whitworth Bros. Ltd, and Whitco Catering & Bakery Equipment Limited. 

Stuart Branch, Group People and Technology Director at Weetabix, said at this year’s launch: “Weetabix is delighted to support the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards for another exciting year. Being part of this celebration of local innovation and talent is always a privilege, and each year reminds us why this county’s food and drink community is so special.

“Over the past year, we’ve continued to strengthen our own sustainability journey. Our Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) targets were officially validated - an important milestone that reflects our long‑term commitment to doing things the right way. We also progressed our sustainable agriculture work, partnering with local farmers to grow over 800 tonnes of lower‑carbon wheat, enabling us to produce more than 30 million Weetabix from this responsibly sourced grain.

Sustainability remains central to who we are, and it’s inspiring to see these values championed across every Awards category once again. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this year’s launch to life - we can’t wait to see the incredible achievements that 2026/27 will showcase.”

Full details of the eighteenth competition were shared by Awards Director, Rachel Mallows MBE DL, at the launch on March 25 at Bottom Farm, the home of Farrington’s Mellow Yellow cold pressed rapeseed oil. 

Rachel reflected on the importance of coming together to showcase and celebrate the county's talents, creativity, and achievements. “Once again, we are delighted to shine a spotlight on Northamptonshire’s food and drink innovators, and we look forward to an inspiring range of nominations and entries. Feedback from previous finalists and Gold award winners shows just how much having the Awards logo displayed - on websites, windows, menus, or receipts - can enhance reputation, recognise and motivate staff, and even boost sales.

Above all, the competition aims to support our food and drink sector to be sustainable. This is a network of local talent - producers sharing knowledge, eateries championing local suppliers, and students learning, innovating, and helping shape the future of the sector, alongside organisations harnessing food and drink to promote health, sustainability, and innovation. It’s about growing businesses, creating jobs, and strengthening the county’s economy. But it’s also about the strong sense of community we share, and our ongoing ambition to make food and drink a standout attraction, not just for residents, but for visitors to Northamptonshire.”

After several years of participating in the Awards, Duncan Farrington is proud to now host this year’s launch. “The Awards have been very important to us. We have won in various categories, and winning certainly helped put our brand on the map, both locally and nationally. It inspires our team, keeps us relevant, and ensures Farrington Oils is a brand people notice.”

Johnny Howes, Managing Director at Phipps NBC, reflected on the sense of accomplishment that is associated with winning. “Winning the Gold award for Artisan Local Drink of the Year for our Great Fire commemorative beer was a proud nod to Northampton’s resilient spirit and a testament to our team’s dedication to brewing history into every bottle. It validates our passion for craft and gives us the perfect spark to keep pushing the boundaries of traditional brewing.

For Simon and Sarah Singlehurst, owners at New Lodge Farm, taking part in the Awards is hugely rewarding. “We were thrilled to win Gold in the F&B Achiever category at last year’s Awards. Recognition by your peers, of a job being done well, is extremely valuable to any business. The award gave everyone at New Lodge Farm a boost and a well-deserved, congratulatory, pat on the back for the tremendous hard work they put in”.

Winning Restaurant of the Year was an incredibly proud moment for Maria Walker and the Palmichael team. “A true reflection of many years of hard work, winning has strengthened our reputation both locally and across Northamptonshire, and we’re genuinely grateful for the recognition.

“The award has brought wonderful exposure to the restaurant, encouraging many new guests to discover us for the first time, while our loyal regulars have celebrated the achievement with us. It has also helped create a stronger brand identity, with many people now associating us with quality and consistency.

“One of the most rewarding outcomes has been the connections we’ve made with excellent local suppliers, food producers and other hospitality owners and managers across the county; it’s a network that supports, inspires, and champions each other, and has been fundamental to us as a business.

“I encourage all hospitality and food producers to enter the competition. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your skill, share your passion, and elevate your business. As a family‑run business of more than 40 years, being part of these Awards has been incredibly valuable. The recognition gives us confidence, motivates us to keep improving, and pushes us to continue moving the business forward. We truly believe that the impact of these Awards has helped us grow, and will continue to do so in the years ahead.”

Anita Holt, Procurement Manager at igus UK added; “We’re still absolutely thrilled that igus UK won Gold in the Healthy Food & Wellbeing Workplace category last October. It’s a fantastic recognition of how much we value looking after our people, and it reflects the positive, supportive culture we’ve built together as a team.”

The free-to-enter categories in this year’s Awards (with their respective sponsors) are:

• Artisan Local Drink of the Year (Warners Distillery Ltd)
• Artisan Local Product of the Year (Heygates Flour and Animal Feed Millers)
• Artisan Local Vegetarian / Vegan Product of the Year (SEGRO)
• Booker Gastro Pub of the Year (Booker)
• Booker Young Chef of the Year (Booker)
• Canapé competition (Portfolio Events)
• Community Café of the Year
• Farming Environment Award (Weetabix)
• F&B Achiever of the Year (J Sweeney Accountants)
• Food and Drink College Student of the Year (University of Northampton)
• Healthy Food Producers (Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust)
• Healthy Food and Wellbeing Workplace (Wellbeing Service, West Northamptonshire Council)
• Local Food Hero of the Year (Howes Percival)
• One to Watch (Whitworth Bros. Ltd Flour Millers)
• Outstanding Contribution to Food & Drink (All Things Business)
• Restaurant of the Year (Whitco Catering & Bakery Equipment Limited
• Weetabix Sustainability Award (Weetabix)
• Chef of the Year (Northampton College)
• World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year (British Pepper & Spice Co. Ltd)       

The results of the competition, which will again see finalists awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze, will be announced at the Awards celebrations taking place on 15 October 2026 at The Royal & Derngate Theatre, supported again by national catering Awards winners Portfolio Events.

For more details on all the categories in the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2026/27, including entry and nomination forms, please visit the Awards’ website – www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk - or call the Awards team on 01933 664437 or email awards@northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk

You can also follow the Awards on Facebook at @foodawards or X and Instagram at @foodawardsHQ or LinkedIn at @weetabixnfadawards