A change of season for the food awards

 The Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2019 will this year open for entries on September 10 building up to a superb awards banquet next May, allowing guests to swap their winter gowns for black tie and shimmering summer frocks for a change. The Sussex Food & Drink Awards is the only awards in the county created to support and boost local farmers, food and drink producers and the outlets that serve and sell their superb local fare. Paula Seager and Hilary Knight, co-directors of Natural Partnerships CIC, who run the awards as a not-for-profit scheme, are delighted to receive new sponsorship for 2019 as well as welcome back previous sponsors, whose loyal support and enthusiasm are crucial to the awards’ continued success. Paula Seager said:

 “We are thrilled to announce our sponsors for the Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2019 as well as new timings this year, which we hope will boost even more entries, public votes and support. As we celebrate our 13th year, we are so proud to see the Sussex food and drink revolution grow stronger each year and we hope these awards have encouraged more and more people to discover and explore local markets, food shops and restaurants where they can sample the very best local produce and see for themselves why it tastes so much better.” The Young Sussex Farmer of the Year, newly sponsored this year by the South of England Agricultural Society in association with Farmers Weekly magazine, is a hugely important category in the awards scheme and the judges are looking for farmers under the age of 35 from any sector within agriculture, horticulture or viticulture who shows vision, innovation and entrepreneurship. They could be making a real difference in their own family business or be a truly creative student, employee or self-employed person. Other new sponsors welcomed for 2019 are SRC 

 Time for Sussex Newcomer of the Year who will be looking for an innovative business from any part of the food and drink sector, supporting local produce, which has been trading for up to three years by the end of 2018; has the ambition and determination to succeed; and can demonstrate a realistic and sustainable business plan. Harvey’s Brewery will be celebrating its 11th year of supporting the awards, sponsoring the Sussex Farmers Market of the Year category and other loyal supporters include Southern Co-op sponsoring Sussex Food Producer of the Year; RP Meats Wholesale Ltd sponsoring Sussex Butcher of the Year; Blakes Foods sponsoring Sussex Young Chef of the Year; Natural Partnerships CIC sponsoring Sussex Eating Experience of the Year; 

Sussex Food&Drink Network sponsoring Sussex Food Shop of the Year and Natural PR sponsoring Sussex Drink Producer of the Year. The hugely popular Sussex Street Food of the Year category opened in July for entries and the finals will be held in Horsham Carfax on, October 21 from 10am until 4pm. Sponsors of this category, Horsham District Foodies supported by Food Rocks, will be organising the competition and exciting market day, where the public get to vote for their favourite to win. Winners will be revealed and receive their awards on 15 May 2019 at the glittering BAFTA-style awards ceremony hosted by Danny Pike from BBC Sussex, which includes a spectacular seven-course Sussex produce banquet created by Sodexo Prestige at the Amex Stadium. Entries for all categories open after the launch event takes place on 10 September 2018