Cumbria Food Awards: Shining a spotlight on the county’s excellence

Sponsors and backers have thrown their weight behind the Cumbria Food Awards to shine a light on excellence in the county.

The independent awards, which launched last year, are returning for a second year with a raft of the county’s best known businesses rallying behind the event, held in association with headline sponsor, leading Cumbrian food and drink supplier Caterite Food and Wineservice.

The 2023 event is being backed by associate partner Eden District Council as part of its drive to support rural communities through the Inspiring Eden initiative. 

Deputy leader and economy and enterprise portfolio holder Councillor Mary Robinson said: “Our rural communities across the country are facing some of the greatest challenges in living memory and this is no more so than in Eden and Cumbria where we have had to deal with one economic shock after another over the last few years. 

“I am determined that through our Inspiring Eden initiative, the council plays a leading role in shaping and driving a response that ensures all challenges and opportunities faced are firmly grasped; be this our direct support to The Farmer Network support and advisory service or our ambition to put in place the Inspiring Eden Enterprise Hub as a catalyst for enterprise and entrepreneurship. 

“With this in mind, I am pleased that we are able to celebrate and champion the very best of the region’s food, drink and hospitality – all of which will play a critical role in our ambitions to help unlock and turbo charge local businesses and communities to achieve rural excellence.”

The awards, which will take place on Thursday, March 16 2023, are again to be held at Kendal College, one of the country’s leading providers of hospitality training.

Students will prepare, cook and serve reception canapés and a two-course dinner for more than 150 people, including nominees, sponsors and special guests, before the award winners are announced.

Caterite Food and Wineservice is extending its support for the event by providing reception drinks plus food and wine for the two-course awards dinner.

Managing director Lorcan Byrne said: “We are delighted this year to include our wine business, Grapevine, in supporting this fantastic event which highlights everything that’s good about Cumbria’s food and drink industry.

“The first Cumbria Food Awards was very special and we are very pleased to help build on that and to continue to support the organisers in bringing the event together.”

The welcome reception is to be extended to allow more time for networking. The leading independent grocer Booths is to provide the food for the selection of canapés.

Cumbria Crack is the Cumbria Food Awards media partner and the award-winning and three Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Simon Rogan has kindly agreed to continue as event patron.

Cumbria Food Awards are organised by L+M Events, who are designer Lindsay Molloy and journalist Michaela Robinson-Tate.