Vegetarian for Life has Announced the Finalists for its 2021 Awards for Excellence in Vegetarian and Vegan Care Catering.
Now in their sixth year, the awards are a celebration of those going the extra mile for their vegetarian and vegan residents.
The finalists are:
Veggie Care Chef of The Year – shortlist to be announced by television and radio presenter, property expert, and writer, Jasmine Harman.
Finalists:
- Ben Kerslake – Frome Nursing Home
- Champa Mistry – Birchwood Grange Care Home
- Grant Burton – The Hawthorns Braintree
Most Innovative Veggie Dish – shortlist to be announced by actress Roxy Shahidi, best known for playing Leyla Harding in ITV soap Emmerdale.
Finalists:
- Gary McGurk, Primrose Bank Residential Care Home – Vegan Gluten-Free Nut Brownies
- Grant Burton, The Hawthorns Braintree – Crispy Gnocchi with a Tomato and Basil Sauce
- Tom Waters, Ashfields Care Home – Chickpea ‘Tuna’
Veggie Wholesaler Of The Year – shortlist to be announced by Scottish actor Paul Higgins.
Finalists:
- Anglia Crown
- Bidfood
- Thomas Ridley
The Beulah Charity Trust Special Recognition Award – to be announced by comedian, actor, writer and film producer Dave Spikey – perhaps best known for his stand-up comedy, and starring in the British comedy programme Phoenix Nights.
This year’s event will broadcast via Facebook and YouTube from 2pm on Wednesday 26 January, and will be hosted by popular MC, comedian and radio presenter, Matt Adlington.
“The awards have become a much-anticipated event, with the ceremony taking place in the House of Parliament in recent years,” says Amanda Woodvine, CEO of Vegetarian for Life.
“COVID-19 restrictions have made a physical event impossible, so this year’s ceremony will again be held virtually. We’re delighted that Matt Adlington will return to present the awards, along with some fantastic celebrity friends.”
First launched in 2016, the Annual Awards highlight the importance of catering well for older vegetarians and vegans. We recently surveyed 1,000 care homes to find out how many residents are vegan or vegetarian. Since the survey was last commissioned in 2014, the number of vegans in residential care has increased by a whopping 167%!
With growing numbers of vegetarians being supported by the care sector, it is no surprise that news of the awards has been positively received by care organisations. Articles about the awards have been published by the NACC, Public Sector Catering, Care Home Catering, Hospitality Assured and many more.
It’s becoming impossible to ignore the demand for top-notch veggie care catering.