Gerald McDonald Group, one of the UK’s longest-standing suppliers to the food and drink industry, has been named the Agriculture, Food and Drink category winner for the Department for Business and Trade’s prestigious “Made in the UK, Sold to the World” Awards 2025.

Now in its third year, the awards programme highlights standout British exporters who are helping to promote UK products on the global stage. Gerald McDonald & Company was recognised for its sustained export growth, innovative supply chain capabilities, and global reach – delivering ingredients to customers in over 30 countries across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Accepting the award at the official ceremony, Managing Director and the 4^th generation to lead the company, Maxim McDonald commented:

“Winning this award is a proud moment for the whole team at Gerald McDonald Group. Exporting has always been a vital part of our growth – it’s how we share our ingredients, values, and expertise with the world. This recognition not only celebrates our international success, but also the incredible partnerships and people that make it all possible.”

The judging panel praised the business for its robust international strategy, heritage-led innovation, and commitment to sustainability – traits that have helped cement its position as one of the UK’s leading independent exporters in the food ingredients space.

This latest accolade marks another milestone in Gerald McDonald’s continued investment in global growth and its mission to bring British ingredient excellence to the world.

Winners will receive a promotional package that includes a one-year membership to the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade, a custom campaign across Department for Business and Trade channels, and professional photography to use for their business. As well as being invited to the Award show in London.

About Gerald McDonald Group

Founded in 1917 and operating from a purpose-built, BRC AA–certified facility in Basildon, the family-run company supplies high-quality ingredients, including juices, purees, citrus derivatives, herbs, spices, and essential oils, to the global food, drink, flavour, and fragrance industries. Over the past century, Gerald McDonald Group has developed a reputation for quality, flexibility, and long-standing supplier relationships.

An Oakland International colleagues and friends’ team are ecstatic after completing an epic three-day bike ride from Great Yarmouth to Warwick (27th to 29th June) and raised vital funds of over £30,000 for children’s charity Molly Ollys.

Oakland International Group Supply Chain Director Lee Whiting said: “It was tough going with the heat and the wind, but we made it and thanks to the incredible generosity of people and businesses who supported us, we’ve managed to raise more than £30,000 for Molly Ollys which is amazing!”

Molly Ollys supports children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, focusing on emotional wellbeing. The charity fulfils wishes by providing gifts, donating their therapeutic toy ‘Olly The Brave’ and story books, funding bespoke projects such as a Paediatric Palliative Care Consultant, and furnishing the Magnolia House palliative care facility at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, among many other initiatives.

The Oakland and Friends team included members of the Oakland International family from the Bardon, Corby, and Redditch sites, as well as family members from Attwell Farm Park in Redditch and staff from BakeAway in Corby. Together, they joined to form a group of 29 cyclists taking on this challenging charity ride.

Every wish granted by Molly Ollys costs around £500. To date, the charity has helped over 19,500 children, granted more than 4,300 wishes, and provided over 20,000 Olly The Brave toys and books to more than 70 hospitals across the UK.

Added Lee: “Every mile we rode has brought us closer to granting a child’s wish, from a dream gift, memorable day out, or something simple that brings a smile.

“The support we received will make a real difference, and we are so thankful to everyone who helped make this possible.”

Emperor’s Choice, the premium Asian brand by Jan Zandbergen Group, is expanding its successful Oriental Delights range with a selection of new products that perfectly respond to the growing demand for both authentic and on-trend Asian flavors within the European foodservice market.

 

The new Oriental Delights range spans from savory Gyozas to crispy Spring Rolls, developed using traditional recipes and inspired by today’s latest food trends. With ease of preparation, consistent quality and a distinctive flavor profile. The brand offers food professionals the opportunity to delight their guests time and time again.

 

“We combine the finesse of East Asian recipes with Western kitchen logic. That’s why our products work just as well in a food truck as they do in a high-end delivery kitchen.” – Matthijs Nieuwkoop, Product Development Manager

 

New products, trusted quality

The refreshed Oriental Delights selection features a series of new products that bring together authentic Asian flavors with fast and efficient preparation. For lovers of finger food, there are crispy Spring Rolls with rich fillings, available in chicken, duck, or vegetable varieties. Finally, the Chicken Gyoza offers a juicy dumpling that serves perfectly as an appetizer or side dish.

 

These newcomers complement existing favorites such as Chicken Karaage, Chicken Tatsuta-age, Chinese Roasted Duck, and Chicken Yakitori. Together, they form a broad offering of street food-style snacks and meal components inspired by the cuisines of Japan, Korea and China. All Oriental Delights are pre-cooked, allowing for quick service while maintaining excellent texture and taste in any professional kitchen.

 

What makes Oriental Delights so versatile are the many uses. Not only are they ideal as snacks or shared bites, but they also make great additions to rice and noodle dishes, Asian-style bento boxes, or all-you-can-eat and street food concepts. The products are perfect for small plates, sharing menus, or fast-paced casual dining and delivery formats. Thanks to their reliable quality and simple handling, chefs can stay creative without compromising on speed or consistency.

 

Blending traditions with trends

With the expansion of Oriental Delights, Emperor’s Choice continues to tap into relevant food trends. Think of the rising popularity of Korean-style street food, the growing appeal of Japanese small plates, and the ongoing demand for classic Chinese bites. Emperor’s Choice aims to make traditional East Asian flavors more accessible for European foodservice professionals without sacrificing on authenticity.

 

A key part of the development process was a dedicated trip to Asia by the Jan Zandbergen Group R&D team. In close collaboration with local partners and suppliers, in-depth research was conducted into flavor profiles, recipes, and preparation techniques. By tasting, testing, and refining products on-site.  A range was created that truly honors Asia’s rich culinary traditions while seamlessly aligning with the needs of the European kitchen.

 

For food professionals, by food experts

Every Emperor’s Choice product is developed with the demands of professional kitchens in mind. The range is frozen, ready-to-use and consistently high in quality. Ideal for chefs, wholesalers, and buyers looking to impress with original Asian creations.

 

“We are seeing continued growth in the popularity of Asian cuisine. There is a growing demand for premium, authentic products. Yet, these are not always easily accessible in the market. With our expertise and strong supplier relationships, we have travelled through Europe and Asia to develop the best possible recipes. After extensive testing, we are proud to reintroduce our renewed Emperor’s Choice range to meet our customers’ evolving needs.” – Laurens Kraaijenbrink, Sales Executive

 

Looking ahead: more flavors in the making

At Emperor’s Choice, we always keep looking for new developments. While the latest Oriental Delights are making their way into kitchens across Europe, new products are already in development to further enrich the range. The launch of the Korean Burger Hot & Spicy is coming soon, created from a desire to bring Korea’s bold flavor profiles into a new and unexpected format. Our Teppanyaki range will also be expanded soon, tailored for chefs seeking refined grill cuts with an Asian signature. These innovations are no coincidence. They are the result of ongoing conversations with food professionals and a deep commitment to continuous improvement, with flavor as our guiding principle.

 

Want to learn more or schedule a tasting?

Discover the full product range at www.emperorschoice.eu. For more information or to schedule a tasting session, contact us at sales@janzandbergen.com or +31 (0)318 563 563.

Children’s charity Oakland Foundation marked the retirement of Grant Application Coordinator Debbie Roberts by hosting a celebratory lunch in her honour.

Presenting Debbie with an engraved lead crystal vase, gift voucher and flowers, charity founders and Oakland International co-founders Dean and Sallie Attwell thanked her for her support and dedication to the work of the charity since its inception.

Dean Attwell commented: “Debbie’s unwavering dedication and passion have been instrumental in helping Oakland Foundation make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families. Her commitment has inspired us all, and we are deeply grateful for her help, support, and friendship over the years.

“While Debbie is retiring from her official role, she remains a valued friend as the charity continues to move forward.”

As Debbie retires from her role, Mark Williams, a longstanding trustee, takes on the additional role of Grant Application Coordinator. Mark’s experience and deep understanding of the charity’s mission will ensure a smooth transition and continuity for the Foundation’s ongoing work.

Debbie initially served as a trustee on the charity’s board, later returning to undertake the newly created role of Grant Application Coordinator, supporting grant applicants through to programme delivery.

Said Mark: “Debbie has played a pivotal role within the Foundation, supporting countless children and their families through her commitment and expertise in grant management and community engagement. All Foundation trustees extend our heartfelt thanks to Debbie for her outstanding contributions and we wish her all the best in her retirement.”

Oakland Foundation’s primary focus is to support children under the age of 16 and their families through a range of educational and youth projects centred on education, health and nutrition, and sport, ensuring that all children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, can participate and thrive.

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Images: Debbie Roberts with Mark Williams Oakland Foundation’s newly appointed Grant Application Coordinator. Dean Attwell with Debbie Roberts.

Editor’s notes: The Oakland Foundation aims to reduce child poverty through its work in the areas of Health and Nutrition, Education and Sport.

Charity contact details:       Oakland Foundation Limited UK: +44 (0) 1527 596 222

For all enquiries please contact Kathryn Watts m: 07970 547469 e: k.watts@evopr.com – If you do not wish to continue to receive press releases in the future, please let me know and I will remove your address from my distribution group.

 

The June Members Meeting brought Coalition partners together in London and online to align on the insights needed to drive a more sustainable, energy-efficient cold chain.

Members shared progress from current trials and data collection efforts, including:

• FROSTEQ and Wageningen Food & Biobased Researc: analysing how changes to temperature setpoints affect the full supply chain.
• A.P. Moller – Maersk: monitoring temperature variation and its impact on logistics and emissions.
• Ndustrial: using smart tech to track and forecast product temperatures in real time.

 

These efforts are strengthening our shared evidence base, informing protocol development, and helping define a path to implementation.

 

Next Member Meeting: September in Wageningen, hosted by FROSTEQ, and will continue to build momentum around collaborative data gathering, system design, and measurable impact.

 

There are practical ways to get involved:

• Every Degree Counts: Optimise current freezing temperatures where possible, monitor progress, and contribute data to help track energy and carbon savings.
• Pilot: Participate in real-world trials using the Move to -15°C Protocol.

 

To join a pilot or workstream, contact minus15@edelman.com or reach out to Rupert directly.

Porky Whites – a Surrey-based Premium Sausage and formed meat manufacturer and BFFF member, has won the award for Best Free-From Product for our Cumberland Swirl Pork Sausages (Gluten-Free) at the 2025 Food Management Today (FMT) Awards.

 

Porky Whites were also finalists in two other categories including:

• Best Frozen Product for our Mediterranean Meatballs
• Best Poultry Product for our Bang Bang Chicken and Lamb Kebabs

Hosted at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London, the glittering awards lunch brought together many of the leading voices, brands and manufacturing to celebrate the UK’s best in class food and beverage products.

 

In response to the win Managing Director and third generation owner of Porky Whites Francesca Wyatt said, “We’ve had a long and proud history of creating category-leading innovation and this award is testament to the drive and determination to deliver the very best products. Our Cumberland Swirls are all part of our Wholesale and Food Service offering and I’m thrilled to see them get the recognition they deserve!”

 

The Food Management Today Awards continue a year to remember for Porky Whites following successes at the 2024 Meat Management Awards for Britian’s Best Burger,

2024’s UK Sausage Week for the UK’s Best Pork Sausage and Supreme Sausage Champion, 2024’s Women in Meat Awards and 2025’s Dynamic Awards where Francesca Wyatt won Wholesale Businesswomen of the Year and Large Business of the Year respectively.

Relevant links:

• All the 2025 FMT winners

https://fmtfoodawards.com/

• UK Sausage Week 2024 Winners
  https://uksausageweek.com/awards-winners/
• 2024 Meat Management Awards Winners
  https://meatmanagement.com/awards/mm-awards-results-your-2024-winners-and-finalists/83930.article
• 2024 Women in Meat Winners

https://womeninmeatawards.com/winners/

 

About Porky Whites
Porky Whites is multi award-winning family-run and owned food manufacturer. We have been bringing families to the table with our premium sausages and formed meats for over 90 years and supply the UK’s major supermarkets and a range of Wholesale and Food Services businesses.

 

Based in the heart of Surrey, we pride ourselves on producing premium pork and meat products that reflect traditional craftsmanship, while embracing modern standards of sustainability and customer satisfaction.

 

For further information and for all media relations enquiries please contact Paul Van Wymeersch, Head of Marketing at Porky Whites – paul@porkywhites.co.uk

 

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