Total supply chain solutions provider Oakland International has extended their support and commitment to the Free From Food Awards going forward, the only UK award for the ‘free from’ food and drink sector.

This year’s winner of the Retailer of the Year award in May was ASDA, and taking the top spot for the first time.

Oakland International Co-Founder, Sallie Attwell, commented: “Working within the food supply chain, we are extremely proud to have supported the Free From Food Awards from an early stage.

“As a business offering consolidation, contract packing and distribution we continue to experience free from food retail growth across all service platforms with the sector enjoying amazing success, growing and expanding to meet consumer demand, offering a much wider selection of free from food choices. With major supermarkets now recognising there is significant demand and need for innovation within this specialist sector, the free from food industry’s future shines bright.”

Sponsoring the Retailer of the Year award for 8-years, food and drinks award winners are seen as benchmarks in the sector, with major supermarkets competing equally. Oakland International has now extended their support to include the 2021 Free From Christmas Awards, sponsoring the Christmas Range of the Year award and into 2022 for Retailer of the Year.

Free From Food Awards CEO Cressida Langlands commented: “Our sponsors bring variety to the awards and help us collectively recognise the wider nature of the industry in which we work. They ensure the awards remain inclusive, profiling not only great quality and innovative products and brands but the companies and people that work behind the scenes, helping brands realise their ambition, from allergen testing to distribution.

“Oakland International were our very first sponsor of the Retailer of the Year Award back in 2014 and we are delighted that this coveted award is now synonymous with them.

“Their service is the ‘quiet’ bit of the food sector, storage, packing, distribution, and more recently online fulfilment which plays a crucial role in accelerating growth for new businesses, yet their services are an essential component of today’s retail landscape. It is an absolute pleasure to work with such a people focused partner.”

BRCGS AA rated, Oakland International operates 24-hours/7 days a week and is a D2C/B2C/B2B specialist in contract packing, storage, picking, food distribution and a brand development support provider for ambient, chilled and frozen food to the retail, convenience, discount, wholesale and food service markets in the UK, Ireland and via their partner in Spain.

The Free From Food Awards reflect the extensive growth in the Free From market, with a wide variety of products now a familiar site on retailer shelves. Judges include developers and manufacturers, chefs, health professionals, bloggers and influencers, many of whom are coeliac or managing complex food allergies.