Bradgate Bakery Youngster wins Top Young Talent Award
Leicester-based Bradgate Bakery’s Wojciech Kalinowski has landed the prestigious Young Talent of the year award in the food and drink manufacturing industry’s Oscars – the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards (FMEAs) – during an awards celebration at The Hilton Park Lane hotel, in London.Leicester-based Bradgate Bakery’s Wojciech Kalinowski has landed the prestigious Young Talent of the year award in the food and drink manufacturing industry’s Oscars – the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards (FMEAs) – during an awards celebration at The Hilton Park Lane hotel, in London.The youngster’s contribution to the bakery – part of the Samworth Brothers group – was recognised in front of hundreds of food and drink manufacturing sector guests with the FMEA trophy at the awards ceremony hosted by star TV presenter Carol Smillie.Kalinowski collected the award from category sponsor b3 jobs’s business development manager Louis Dixon.Since joining Bradgate Bakery two years ago, at the age of 18, the youngster distinguished himself as someone who was determined to make a positive contribution to the business as soon as possible. He quickly applied himself to developing his skills and abilities, including learning continuous improvement techniques.During his apprenticeship, Kalinowski completed several improvement projects liked to Bradgate’s development plan, which saved the business significant sums of money.“This youngster is clearly a talented individual destined for great things in the food and drink manufacturing sector,” said one judge. “He is clearly making a big contribution within a short time of joining the bakery.”The Bradgate Bakery youngsters was one of five others to be shortlisted for this award. Read the full list of finalists in the box below.Last year’s winner of the Young Talent of the year awards was Amber Wild of Worldwide Fruit.http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/People/Food-industry-shouldn-t-be-overlooked-by-youthMeanwhile, the overall title Food Manufacture company of the year was won by Mash Direct after it won the Chilled and Fresh category earlier in the evening.Mash Direct was the judges’ unanimous choice for its inspired new product development, category management and production efficiencies.The Food Manufacture Personality of the Year title went to 2 Sisters Food Group technical learning and development manager Janette Graham for her pioneering work in developing the government’s new Trailblazer apprenticeship programme for the food and drink sector.This year’s Venicethemed FMEAs award ceremony took place on the evening of Wednesday, November 2.Meawhile, for more information about the FMEAs, contact Food Manufacture group editor Mike Stones by email at Michael.stones@wrbm.com.
Young talent award shortlist• Raheem Gordon, Riverside Bakery, Addo Food Group• Wojciech Kalinowski, Bradgate Bakery, Samworth Brothers WINNER• Robert Powell, Dunbia• Sarah Richards, The Welsh Pantry• Molly Smith, Weetabix Food Company• Josh Sloan, Coca-Cola European Partners