The Sammies!

As if a nocturnal visit from Gordon Brown wasn't enough, this morning I found in my inbox this mind-boggling press release, which I think speaks for itself (at punishing length). I will only add - Tesco?! Greggs??!! Subway???!!! And I'm tempted to enter myself in the Smoked Port Salut Cheese Sandwich category - there are surely only so many things to be done with smoked Port Salut.
(We've all been there. You're feeling peckish, you've got a couple of pieces of bread and some smoked Port Salut. Enter the sandwich...)

BRITISH SANDWICH INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

With commercial sandwich sales continuing to grow – by 2% in volume in the last year - the industry was in good mood at the Sammies, the British Sandwich Industry Awards, when they took place at the Lancaster Hotel in London on Thursday evening (May 19). The awards saw winners, both big and small, from all sectors of the market and from across the UK.

While sandwich multiple retailer of the year was Tesco, the industry also paid tribute to the long standing contribution made by bakers Greggs in helping to shape the UK sandwich industry by giving them the overall British Sandwich Industry Award. Rivals Subway, who have stormed into the UK market in recent years, were also recognised by winning the Specialist Sandwich Bar Chain award

But while the big names of the industry were well represented in the awards, there was also lots of recognition for the small independent sandwich bars which are so much a part of this dynamic market. Indeed, five won coveted Gold Awards this year – Moolis (London), Made By Ben (Bath), Taste UK (Romford), Kaffeine (London) and Delaney’s (Southsea).

“The UK commercial sandwich market is a major contributor to the UK economy, employing over 300,000 people – so it is really good news that it is continuing to prosper,” says BSA Director Jim Winship, “The Sammies provide us with an opportunity each year to recognise those that are continuing to drive this vibrant market.”

A full list of award winners is shown below.

SAMMIES 2011 – THE BRITISH SANDWICH INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS

British Sandwich Designer of the Year
Oasis Citrus Punch Category (sponsored by Oasis)
Winner: Chris Rai from Chapati Man, St Leonards on Sea - Chicken saag wrap with mint chutney and cachumber salad

Smoked Port Salut Cheese Sandwich Category (sponsored by Bel UK & The Cheese Cellar)
Winner: Ben Curtis from Bradgate Bakery with a Smoked Port Salut, carrot and coriander raita and Brinjal pickle sandwich.

Chicken Sandwich Category (sponsored by Moy Park)
Winner: Sumaya El Kroni, Greencore, Bromley-by-Bow, London - Chicken, lemon, coriander, roast vegetable and salad flat bread sandwich

Chunky Tomato Chutney Sandwich Category (sponsored by English Provender)
Winner: Frank Boltman, consultant from London N11 - Grilled chorizo sausage, chunky tomato chutney, manchego cheese with mixed baby leaves dressed with olive oil in grilled sourdough roll

Wild Alaska Salmon Category (sponsored by Alaska Seafood).
Winner: Keith Allen, The Foodservice Centre, Cheddar, Somerset - Alaska Salmon and wasabi wraps with beetroot slaw and peashoots

Overall British Sandwich Designer of the Year
Winner: Sumaya El Kroni, Greencore

New Sandwich of the Year Award (Sponsored by Sam Browne Foods)
Winner: Pret a Manger Sweet Chilli Crayfish and Mango Bloomer

New Sandwich Product of the Year Award (Sponsored by Marks & Spencer)
Winner: Boots/Buckingham Foods Wrap Twister Pack

Workplace Sandwich Provider of the Year Award (Sponsored by Barclaycard)
Winner: Beetroot Blue, Edinburgh

Bakery Sandwich Shop of the Year Award (Sponsored by Rank Hovis)
Winner: Greenhalgh’s

Independent Sandwich Bar of the Year Award (Sponsored by Norseland)
Gold Awards were presented to:
Moolis, London
Made By Ben, Bath
Taste UK, Romford
Kaffeine, London
Delaney’s, Southsea

Specialist Sandwich Bar Chain of the Year Award (Sponsored by Friday’s)
Winner: Subway

The Sandwich Marketing Award
(Sponsored by Vion)
Highly Commended: Co-operative and SSP (UK)
Winner: Pret a Manger for their Christmas Campaign

Coffee Bar Sandwich Retailer of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Solway Foods)
Winner: Caffe Pausa (Dunelm Mill)

BSA Sandwich Manufacturer of the Year Award (Sponsored by TMI Foods)
Winner: Solway Foods

En Route Sandwich Retailer of the Year Award (Sponsored by The Cheese Warehouse)
Highly Commended: Harvest Market and Espression By Lavazza
Winner: M&S Simply Food

Sandwich Multiple Retailer of the Year Award
(Sponsored by Buckingham Foods)
Winner: Tesco

Sandwich Convenience Retailer of the Year Award (Sponsored by Shel)
Highly Commended: Wilkinson
Winner: The Co-operative

The British Sandwich Industry Award (Sponsored by Ginsters)
Winner: Greggs.