Trade News

Hospital Food Company Nominated For National Award

apetito shortlisted for the Orange Innovation gong at the National Business Awards

A company specialising in hospital food for patients with difficulty swallowing has been named as one of the most innovative businesses in the country. apetito, based in Wiltshire, has been shortlisted for the coveted Orange Innovation Award, in the 10th annual National Business Awards.

As the UK's leading supplier of frozen meals to the social sector - including healthcare, local authorities and care homes - apetito has innovated to deliver a market leading product and has been recognised for excellence in customer service.

The Orange Innovation Award recognises businesses that have gone beyond the ordinary in their development and implemented cutting edge innovation in terms of products, services or company culture. apetito will now prepare to make its presentation in person before an independent, expert judging panel in October before the winners are announced at an awards ceremony in November.

As the UK’s leading supplier of frozen meals and catering solutions to hospitals, local authorities, care homes, and private home meal delivery, apetito has a long heritage catering for the elderly, sick and infirm, and employing over 600 people in Wiltshire alone.

Ian Stone, Business Development Director, apetito said: “Being shortlisted for the Orange Innovation category is a fantastic honour for apetito, it’s a highly prestigious award and an achievement for all of ‘team apetito’. Listening to our customers and engaging the whole team in innovation is a key driver of our continued success. This year we’ve continued to develop our world leading range of soft and puréed products for those who have difficulties swallowing, and have also launched a new food system for hospitals aimed at revolutionising ‘on demand’ patient feeding. It is a great source of pride that our innovations are able to make a real difference to vulnerable people every day.”

In total, over 152 of Britain’s top public and private sector businesses have been announced as finalists across all categories in the National Business Awards, in partnership with Orange.

Announcing the Orange Innovation finalists, Martin Stiven, Vice President of Business at Orange, part of Everything Everywhere, said: “Orange believes that innovation is central to all business growth and we support businesses to achieve this goal. If the UK is to regain its role as a world leader of innovation, we firmly believe that British companies must embrace a new way of thinking and invest time and resource into doing this. This year’s finalists demonstrate exceptional innovation and are a testament to pioneering UK business.”

Sherry Coutu, Investment Committee, NESTA, who sat on this year’s National Business Awards shorlisting panel, said: “apetito’s dedication to its niche of catering for the elderly, sick and infirm is both noble and profitable.”

The National Business Awards are organised by UBM plc. Winners will be honoured at the National Business Awards gala dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, Tuesday 8th November, where George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver this year’s welcome address. Visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all 2011 finalists.

For further information, please contact:
Louise Caldicott (email: louise.caldicott@mcsaatchi.com tel: 020 7544 3735)
Tiffini Winn (email: tiffini.winn@mcsaatchi.com tel: 020 7544 3758)
Or for out of hours, please call 07725 575183

Notes for editor:

  1. Visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all 2011 finalists.
  2. About the National Business Awards
    Open to organisations of all sizes from all sectors across the UK, the National Business Awards in partnership with Orange is the UK’s most prestigious independent business recognition platform with its particular emphasis on excellence, innovation and ethical business. Now in its tenth year, the National Business Awards connects the nations’ professionals through its annual awards ceremony; year-round thought leadership and round table events; and is UBM plc’s flagship awards programme. Visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for further information.
  3. National Business Awards Categories 2011 are:
    The Transformational Change of the Year; The Huawei Customer Focus Award; The Croner Employer of the Year; The Excellence in Marketing Award; The ICAEW Sustainability Award; The BlackBerry Growth Strategy of the Year; The Orange Innovation Award; The Entrepreneur of the Year Award; The BlackBerry Business Enabler of the Year; The Small Online Business of the Year; The WorldPay Online Business of the Year; The Santander Small to Medium sized Business of the Year; The 3i Private Business of the Year; The Grant Thornton Mid-Cap Business of the Year; Coutts & Co Large Cap Business of the Year; The Daily Telegraph Award for a Decade of Excellence in Business; and The Orange Leader of the Year.
  4. *For the full Entrepreneurship at a Glance 2011 report visit: www.oecd.org/document/8/0,3746,en_21571361_44315115_48276232_1_1_1_1,00.html