FreeFrom Eating Out Awards 2014 – the shortlist

Michelle Berriedale-Johnson, awards director, says:

“We are really delighted with the range of eateries and companies who have entered the awards and excited by the enthusiasm and expertise in ‘free from’ shown by many of them.

Complying with the new allergen regulations will be a tough ask for many establishments but the shortlist shows just how many of them are already going about it with a will.”

The shortlist includes nationwide chains such as Pizza Express and Costa Coffee; tiny cafés in Camden Lock, B&B’s in the Lake district and university colleges – while the ‘freefrom products manufactured for food service’ range from breakfast cereals to Bakewell tarts and gluten-free beer.

Wan Mak, head of nutrition and dietetics for headline awards sponsors Sodexo, says: “We are very pleased to see such a wide range of entrants for these awards. It is so important that food service is able to implement the new regulations which can help to inform the growing number of people who have to live with dietary restrictions.

We are confident that the awards will help to raise awareness and improve compliance in this area.”

The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards were launched in advance of the new allergen declaration regulations coming into force in December this year.

They are designed to encourage allergen awareness and to celebrate excellence in the provisions of gluten-free, dairy-free and low-allergen food in the food service sector.

Winners and presentations

The winners will be announced at a presentation party at 4.30pm on the 18 November, the first day of the Food Matters Live event at the Excel in London’s Docklands.

The presentations will be made by awards patron, celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson.

For more information, interviews or images please contact Michelle Berriedale-Johnson on 020 7722 2866 or michelle@foodsmatter.com.