Northern grocer Booths is backing the county’s producers by sponsoring the Cumbria Food Awards.
Booths, which champions great quality, unique local produce and stocks some of Cumbria’s best known products, is the new sponsor of the Food Producer of the Year category.
The independent Cumbria Food Awards, in association with Caterite, are due to take place at Kendal College on Thursday March 20 and will be hosted by chef and TV presenter Matt Tebbutt, of BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen.
Booths, which has stores in Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cheshire, has been involved with the annual awards since their launch, providing food for the celebratory prize-giving evening.
For the 2025 awards, they are kindly providing the ingredients for reception canapés, in addition to sponsoring the Food Producer category.
Head of marketing and trading John Gill said: “Booths are proud backers of many of the north’s best known producers and we stock some of the region’s finest quality food and drink.
“We’ve been pleased to be associated with the Cumbria Food Awards since their launch and we’re delighted to sponsor the 2025 Food Producer of the Year award – and to hand over the trophy to the winner on stage with Matt Tebbutt.
“We can’t wait to see who’s shortlisted for the award and to hear more about the county’s best producers.
“Good luck to all those taking part and we look forward to celebrating with the nominees and winners next March.”
Business entries and nominations for the awards, which are judged by an independent panel, have now closed.
Categories include Café of the Year, Acclaimed Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Service of the Year and Take Away or Street Food Trader of the Year, plus a number of special awards.
The gala awards evening will include a canapés and drinks reception and two-course dinner – cooked and served by students at the college – for more than 160 finalists, sponsors and special guests.
Sponsors and supporters are: Caterite, which has been headline sponsor of the awards since their launch; Kendal College; Academy by Simon Rogan; Booths; Cranstons; Cumbria Crack; Enterprise Answers; Grapevine; Hawkshead Relish; Herdwick Cottages; Lamont Pridmore; More? The Artisan Bakery; Porsche Centre South Lakes; Reeds; Thomson Hayton Winkley and Westmorland Farmshop.
For information see www.cumbriafoodawards.co.uk