Sponsors

Baker of the Year sponsored by Marriage the Master Millers

Every story must have a beginning. The difficulty with the Marriage family is where the story should begin. The Marriage's have been farmers and millers ever since they came into mid-Essex back in the 17th century from France it is said.

The story of the business enterprise of W & HM Marriage & Sons Ltd would best be started at the death of one, "William Marriage of Broomfield in the county of Essex, Miller and Farmer" as he is described in his will, which was proved on 27th May 1826. He actually died in November 1824 when his two sons, William and Henry were but seventeen years old.

Today the business is in the hands of the fifth generation of the Marriage family. The business cosnsits of a flour mill and an animal feed mill located at Chelmer Mills and two Cash and Carry warehouses at Colchester and Chelmsford available to the general public for the supply of animal feeds, flour and pet foods. The Marriages's customer base for flour is made up of family run independent bakeries and larger bakeries who are producing a wide variety of bread products for major multiples and food service.

Marriages are delighted to be involved in promoting the exceptional quality of food and drink produced in Essex and in particular sponsoring the Essex Baker of the Year 2008.

Restaurant of the Year sponsored by Colchester Institute

Colchester Institute is a well-established college with bases in Colchester, Clacton and Dovercourt. It is the largest provider of further education and training in Essex and a key provider of higher education. The Centre for Hospitality and Food Studies, at Colchester Institute, is a Centre of Vocational Excellence and graded One (Outstanding) by Ofsted.

With several awards under its own belt (including College Restaurant of the Year), Colchester Institute is delighted to be involved with the Essex Food and Drink Awards 2008. With its own restaurants and take-away shop open to the public, the College is sponsoring the Restaurant of the Year award.

Colchester Institute's emphasis is on vocational training, ensuring students gain the necessary knowledge, skills and experience for their chosen career. In addition to Hospitality and Food Studies, centres of study include: Art, Design and Media; Business and Management; Construction; Computing and Administration; Education; Engineering; Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy; Health and Care; Music and Performing Arts and Work Based Learning.

The Professional Training Centre (PTC) is based within the Colchester Campus and provides a range of training solutions to businesses. So, whether you are an individual looking to gain qualifications or career progression, or a business looking to up-skill your workforce, Colchester Institute can help. For further information please visit www.colchester.ac.uk.

Best Farm Shop sponsored by NFU Mutual

NFU Mutual are delighted to support the inaugural Essex Food and Drink Awards as they are the perfect way to highlight the importance food and drink plays within our rural economy.

The Colchester NFU Mutual Agency is particularly pleased to be sponsoring the category of "Best Farm Shop" as it is a great opportunity for us to show our support for good quality food and drinks that are produced locally.

NFU Mutual has come a long way since being formed in 1910 by 7 Farmers from Stratford-on-Avon. Today NFU Mutual has over 300 local offices throughout the UK and covers a wide variety of businesses. A lot of these businesses will have their roots in the rural community and value the local insurance service we are able to provide.

In addition anybody wanting advice on NFU Mutual life insurance, pension and investment products, requiring a loan from NFU Mutual Finance Limited or guidance from NFU Mutual Risk Management Services Limited on ensuring their business satisfies health and safety regulations can do so by contacting us via www.nfumutual.co.uk/colchester. NFU Mutual Financial Consultants advise on NFU Mutual products and services and in special circumstances those of other providers.

Best School Food Initiative sponsored by Writtle College

A partner institution of the University of Essex, Writtle College are proud to be sponsoring the category of the Best School Food Initiative of this year's Essex Food and Drinks Awards 2008.

With the importance of home-grown, locally produced food at the forefront of the news, there is more pressure for schools to adapt their menus and the food they offer to ensure they provide a healthy and balanced diet to children and teachers. It's not only the educational needs of the children that schools have to cater for, reinforcing the importance of well-being and nutrition. The category for Best School Initiative offers local schools the opportunity to engage with local food suppliers and gain a good understanding of where their food comes from.

Established in 1893, Writtle College has a respected reputation as one of the UK's leading land-based institutions, offering a range of full and part-time diplomas and vocational training, University of Essex Foundation and Honours degrees and Postgraduate programmes.

We are sure there will be lots of fantastic entries for the Best School Food Initiative and we look forward to meeting the entrants and tasting the results.

Best Traditional Pub sponsored by BBC Essex

BBC Essex is pleased to support the very first Essex Food and Drink Awards. We're proud to celebrate Essex produce and the county's fine tradition of good food and influential cooking.

BBC Essex is part of the BBC's network of more than 40 local radio stations, regional TV services and local websites. Food, drink and local produce is an important part of our output from Essex chefs, farmers and producers on the Gardening Plus show on Saturday mornings to topical food discussion during our weekday output.

We know our listeners enjoy eating out and care about local produce. Like us, they are passionate about their local communities and inquisitive about the food and drink they buy.

We're proud to be promoting the Best Traditional Pub category and look forward to receiving entries from the best in the business.

Best Newcomer Restaurant sponsored by Chelmsford Borough Council

Chelmsford is expanding with 16,000 new homes set to be built between now and 2021. Chelmsford Borough Council's Chelmsford Tomorrow vision to deliver these new homes, together with the necessary infrastructure to support growth, will also create almost as many new jobs within this time frame.

The Council has significant future plans to support and encourage economic growth. It is already working closely with business support partnerships and local businesses from across the borough. Business initiatives which bring economic prosperity to the area are actively being sought and encouraged.

Chelmsford's long term vision is to become the economic, cultural, leisure and shopping capital of Essex and a leading regional centre in the East of England.

Chelmsford has a thriving economy within the town offering excellent shopping and leisure facilities, including many pubs, bars, restaurants, coffee shops and eateries. Continental and farmers markets are held regularly in the centre, which helps make the town a cosmopolitan, vibrant and exciting place to live and visit. In response to this and to meet growing demand, many restaurants and cafes have opened to cater for all tastes, styles and prices. Recognising the contribution that restaurants make to providing employment and improving quality of life, the Council hopes that many more will establish and survive in the coming years.

Sponsorship of 'Best Newcomer Restaurant' is hence a key element in supporting the aims of providing job opportunities and improving the economy and lifestyle within Chelmsford.

Chef of the Year sponsored by Fresh Food Group

As a leading supplier of local fresh fruit and vegetables, based in Witham, we are continually looking for new and innovative ways to help and support chefs in the development of their cuisine skills.

We have based our rapidly growing business on supplying the very best quality produce available, providing the highest levels of customer service possible, and delivering a consistently high quality product, to ensure the support we give chefs is the best available.

We source our produce from a wide selection of local growers – with whom we have a very strong trading relationship developed over many years - which allows us to offer our customers an extensive range of the finest quality produce available. When this is combined with our modern packing and distribution facility, and fully refrigerated fleet of vehicles we are able to offer a full cool chain service. We fully support those chef's who also have our passion for food.

We know that our customers need to have total peace of mind with their supply chain and we offer a very high level of customer service in everything we do, and are continually striving to improve these service levels across the board. We offer a regular monthly newsletter and weekly bulletins in order that our customers are aware of the latest fresh produce market details enabling them to plan their menus well in advance.

By sponsoring this award programme we would like to think we are helping to further that support and offer an invaluable opportunity for local chefs to gain recognition of their achievements. And this award programme can only help to ensure the quality of the county's cuisine is kept, especially with the use of the abundant local produce, at the exceptionally high levels we have today.

Young Chef of the Year sponsored by Taste Italia

The Taste-Italia cookery schools were started in 2002 by Leo and Maureen Smith.

Ask anyone who has been on a Taste-Italia course and they will tell you it is a special experience. Our classes are friendly and informal and the country garden location induces a feeling of calm and tranquillity. The Taste Italia team are renowned for the warmth of their reception – many of our clients liken it to being a guest in someone's home.

We are proud to be sponsoring the Young Chef of the year award and we look forward to discovering the young cooking talent which exists in Essex.

Join us for some great cookery classes for a real taste of Italy.

Best Wine Business within an Essex Eatery sponsored by Bibendum Wine Ltd

In a former petrol station in Primrose Hill, Simon Farr had a big idea. He would sell cases of wine directly to customers. The wines would be a mixture of classed growths and funky unusual stuff, rare bottling and anything else that took his fancy. This idea quickly took shape as Bibendum Wine ltd.

These days Bibendum is one of the Uk's biggest wine companies – there are over 150 of us and the company turns over something like 100 million pounds a year. The Bibendum idea is basically the same as it was in 1982; the wine trade is complicated and it doesn't need to be. We'd like to be simply the most accessible, relevant and captivating wine company in the business. Easy!

We are looking forward to judging the Best Wine Business within an Essex Eatery and look forward to receiving your nominations.

Tastes of Anglia: corporate sponsor

Tastes of Anglia's role as the regional food and drink marketing group is to promote and support the diverse food and drink from the eastern counties. There is an abundance of produce for people to discover from the Colchester Oyster, fusion inspired frozen dishes, fresh fruit and vegetables, goat's cheese and local wines. The Essex food and drink awards is a real opportunity for hard working local producers, retailers, hoteliers and restaurateurs to be recognised and celebrated for creating fantastic local produce for discerning customers. Please visit www.tastesofanglia.com for more information about local producers as well as places to eat and shop.

Tastes of Anglia supports the food and drink industry by providing a package of marketing, sales and business development services. It's aim is to champion, facilitate and encourage restaurateurs and other outlets, allowing people to buy products grown on their doorstep. Regionally produced food and drink is a growth industry and Tastes of Anglia and its members are well placed to provide a feast of flavours from the eastern counties.