A raft of products aimed at helping customers navigate a pandemic-impacted market has seen Brakes winning seven category awards at the Q Awards, more than half of those available.  The UK’s leading foodservice wholesaler also took home the coveted Foodservice Operator of the Year title and Foodservice Product of the Year, for its Pumpkin Mac & Cheese Bites.

Stuart Smith, Brakes’ Merchandising Director, dedicated the success to the company’s customer focus: “We have been 100% focussed on developing products that bring clear benefits to our customers, whether that’s saving them time in the kitchen, enabling them to create stand-out menus, or helping them to interpret and get ahead of emerging consumer tastes and trends.

“That clear focus has meant that products are already destined for success as they are designed around our deep knowledge of our customers and the consumers they serve. We’re proud of our NPD team, the most proactive in the industry, and it is testament to their passion, love of food and deep expertise, that we’ve won 7 out of the 13 categories available.  I know the entire Brakes team will be delighted to have been voted Wholesaler of the Year, which we believe reflects our customer first service proposition which places customers at the heart of everything we do.”

The 17 successful products in the Q Awards are: 

Bread and Morning Goods

La Boulangerie Vegan Potato Burger Bun (winner)

La Boulangerie Extra Thick Traditional Sourdough Tin Loaf (highly commended)

La Boulangerie Artisan Seeded Loaves (commended)

Cakes and Desserts

Brakes Vegan Jaffa Cake (highly commended)

Foodservice Christmas

Brakes Dark Chocolate Delice (winner)

Brakes Vegan Cherry & Chocolate Dessert (commended)

Fish

Cooked Octopus Tentacles (winner)

M&J British MSC Hake Supreme Skin on Boneless (commended)

Free From

Brakes Gluten Free Batter Mix (highly commended)

Ingredients

Brakes Spicy Chip Seasoning (highly commended)

Brakes Bread & Butter Pickles (commended)

Meal Accompaniments

Brakes Mixed Kale & Savoy Cabbage (highly commended)

Ready to Cook

M&J Mac & Cheese Smoked MSC Haddock Fishcakes (winner)

Vegan Soya Keema (commended)

Savoury

Pumpkin Mac Cheese Bites  (winner)

Vegan Ingredients

Brakes Gluten Free Fine Chicken Gravy Granules (winner)

Vegetables

Goma Wakame Sesame Seaweed (winner)

Foodservice Product of the Year

Pumpkin Mac Cheese Bites

Foodservice Operator of the Year

Brakes