Leading manufacturer of chilled food, The Compleat Food Group, has been named Plant-Based Manufacturing Company of the Year at the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2022, marking the second consecutive win for the group in the plant-based category.

The group’s vegan product profile includes the hugely successful Squeaky Bean brand, which offers an unrivalled range of ready-to-eat plant-based food. The Compleat Food Group is also the home of Vadasz, manufacturer of a versatile range of vegan pickles, kimchi, and sauerkraut.

Expanding plant-based lines and market share

The winning entry detailed a multimillion-pound investment in 2021 into the group’s second dedicated plant-based manufacturing facility in Milton Keynes. This resulted in a vast expansion of the group’s workforce on plant-based lines – by almost 300 per cent – spread across NPD and production.

 

In addition, the brand worked closely with a leading retailer to grow the potential of the meat-free category – including launching a first-to-market vegan scotch egg.

  

Elsewhere, Squeaky Bean’s turnover trebled over this period, while market share of its flagship sandwich slices grew by seven per cent, and the brand’s ‘meat mimic’ pieces grew their market share by 70-80 per cent [Kantar]. More than nine Squeaky Bean products are sold every minute in the UK.

The gold standard of F&B brand awards

After virtual celebrations last year, the in-person awards ceremony returned to London Hilton Bankside on Thursday 17 March to announce this year’s winners, with representation from the UK’s largest food manufacturers. The awards are widely recognised as the industry gold standard and provide a platform to recognise the best brands in food and drink manufacturing. 

Sarah Augustine, brand manager at Squeaky Bean, said: “Winning the Plant-Based Manufacturing Company of the Year Award for the second-year running is testament to the hard work of our innovative, passionate and committed team. We’re delighted that the judges recognised our team’s achievements in continuing to significantly grow our plant-based brands, which are leading the way and showing consumers that they don’t have to compromise on taste when exploring meat-free options.”

Success in sales, sustainability and innovation 

The judges were impressed with The Compleat Food Group’s significant sales growth, environmental management strategies, and its emphasis on innovation – supported by collaborative working and use of multi-media marketing. 

“The Compleat Food Group has achieved considerable success with its Squeaky Bean range, making waves with its increase in sales, production and range of products. It outlined some detailed customer relationship work to encourage sales growth,” observed Rod Addy, editor of Food Manufacture. “For all these reasons, the judging panel believed the business had demonstrated further progress on last year and had therefore shown itself a deserving winner for a second year running.”

The Compleat Food Group’s Pastry Division was also shortlisted for the Chilled, Fresh and Dairy Manufacturing Company of the Year award, celebrating the group’s other brands, which includes Pork Farms and Wall’s Pastry. 

“It was an honour to be nominated in not one, but two categories this year, demonstrating the diversity of The Compleat Food Group,” remarked Yvonne Adam, chief marketing officer at The Compleat Food Group. “Our vision is to become the UK’s number one supplier of chilled prepared food, and this prestigious award takes us another step closer to this goal.”