FreeFrom Food Awards 2020: Overall Winner Announced…

Despite the strange and challenging times we’re living through, the actual face-to-face Award Ceremony for the FreeFrom Food Awards didn’t happen at the Royal College of Physicians in London but online for the first time ever. This new innovative reveal was perhaps not as spectacular and as indulgent as last year’s event (with no FreeFrom award winning food buffet and the usual meet-and-greets across the sector) but at least we now know who won the prestigious awards. I’ve really enjoyed judging this annual event as it exposes me to NEW GLUTEN FREE Foods and treats which are out there in the market but you’re not always aware of these exciting products. Indeed, it is a joy to taste the Chocolate & Confectionery category as I have an especially sweet tooth as well as the Desserts & Puddings category. And this year (2020), I was also involved with the Meaty & Fishy Category which was a new one for me: full of interesting dishes which I haven’t necessarily tasted before.

At the first ever virtual presentation of the FreeFrom Food Awards, Asda was awarded the Product of Year for their Plant Based Sweet Potato Falafel Burgers.

‘This is the way forward for freefrom’ the judges said. ‘An excellent, naturally top 14 free ‘cool and on message’ product. Great ingredients, nutritional profile and fibre levels. Lovely, moist, full of flavour, really hearty, and fantastic range of vegetables.’

This was the first time that a supermarket has won ‘Marble Mo’, the treasured FreeFrom Food Awards trophy and marked a significantly greater engagement in the freefrom sector by the major retailers. As awards founder, Michelle Berriedale-Johnson said: ‘A vibrant independent sector is crucial to drive innovation in freefrom. But, the last month has shown us that we really are a nation of supermarket shoppers and if we want to get freefrom foods to the greatest number of people, we have to do it through the supermarkets.’

Asda were among over 40 gold award winners this year which included the Venice Bakery, BoojaBooja, Kirsty’s, BFree, Just Love Food Company and Moo Free along with seven of the major retailers.

Tesco once again won Retailer of the Year and the FreeFrom Heroes for 2020 were the Ednan-Laperouse family and Natasha’s Allergy Research Foundation for their tireless campaigning on behalf of those with serious food allergies. For the full list of winners check in to the awards website here and the short-listed Entries (which are quite tasty!)

So remember, if you’re interested in judging these Award Winning products, LINK through the highlighted text and find themselves for yourselves!

One of the hard-hitting posters (featuring Yours Truly) from Coeliac UK launched for Awareness Week in 2015, featured in the Netherlands in 2016 and returning for Awareness Week 2019.

And remember I love my revised Chocolate Box guide (based upon Chocolatier Producers, Chocolate Boxes on the High Street and Luxurious Chocolate Boxes, Chocolate Bars, Chocolate Bags, my Chocolate Easter Eggs from Chocolatiers and Chocolate manufacturers, High Street Stores and London Department Stores and more recently, my Valentine Chocolates.

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This information was correct as of April 2019 (when first published with some additional notes for May 2020).

But as I am learning, ingredients do change and therefore you should always read the label and check for yourself whether it is GLUTEN FREE or not!