An innovative Trowbridge company has been recognised at a national awards ceremony in London.

 

Staff from apetito, which supplies frozen meals to hospitals and care homes, attended a glitzy ceremony on Tuesday, where the company was named Innovation Award champion, at the National Business Awards in partnership with Orange. The company was awarded for its new plated meals system, which has cut levels of food wastage, saving money and increasing efficiency.

 

It beat 10 other nominated firms to scoop the top prize. The award’s judges praised the way the company’s new system had both driven sales and improved its service. They said: “apetito is innovating in a practical and determined way within a highly cost conscious market, and with an unmitigated focus on providing a quality service to patients.”

 

Rosemarie Hoyle, divisional manager for healthcare at apetito, was one of 20 employees at the ceremony. She said: “We’ve entered other awards in the past and have been quite successful, but this is the first time we have won this award. For a small organisation to win it was particularly pleasing for us.”

“It was a big team effort involved in developing the meals system and a lot of work went into developing the range. We launched it in February this year and now operate in 14 hospitals across the country.”

 

Martin Stiven, Vice President of Business at EE, who ran the awards, said: “apetito has shown an impressive ability to adapt so its services to help its customers save costs and eliminate waste, successfully leapfrogging its competitors. This innovation and endeavour for excellence is remarkable. It represents the best of British business and is an example of the innovative ideas UK firms are developing.”

 

The eleventh annual National Business Awards were opened with a video address from the Prime Minister, with Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander and Olympic Heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis also attending the ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

 

 

 

Follow the link to see Ian Stone, apetito Sales, Marketing & Development Director speak after the ceremony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3Gpvdn4Rr44