Winners of Cost Sector Catering Awards revealed

Below is the full list of lucky winners that picked up an accolade at the awards ceremony held at The Hilton London Metropole. BLUE RIBBAND AWARD SPONSORED BY JOHNSON DIVERSEY WINNER LOCAL AUTHORITY CATERERS' ASSOCIATION (pictured above) The Local Authority Caterers' Association thoroughly deserves this award having been at the forefront of Cost Sector Catering for the past 18 years. During this time LACA has met many challenges – some highly positive and some really difficult and tricky – when each year faced with the task of serving in the region of 570 million customers under its auspices. Around 90,000 staff are employed in this sector of the industry overseeing one of the biggest catering operations in England, Scotland and Wales. LACA has found itself under extreme media attention, particularly on TV where celebrity chef Jamie Oliver had outspoken suggestions on school meals, which led to a raft of Government legislation being passed through Parliament. Remaining as the recognised experts on local authority catering, school meals and other catering provisions, LACA has shown tremendous professionalism and determination during recent years. ARMED SERVICES AWARD SPONSORED BY PURPLE FOODSERVICE SOLUTIONS WINNER: LANCE CORPORAL CARL BADROCK, 19 REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY 2008 NOMINEES LANCE CORPORAL CARL BADROCK, 19 REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY PETTY OFFICER CATERING SERVICES NICHOLSON, HMS MONMOUTH STAFF SERGEA NT THOMPSON, 3 LOGISTIC SUPPORT REGIMENT RLC During six months deployed in Afghanistan, Lance Corporal "Titch" Badrock gave exemplary services as a chef in support of 3 Commando Brigade. His culinary skills were tested daily, cooking with limited operational equipment; in a large tent; with a limited range of fresh and operational rations and in an ambient temperature well over 50?C. As a junior supervisor managing a small team of 4 chefs, within a larger brigade of chefs, his team was key to the delivery of meals for 2,000-3,000 soldiers. During operations it was noted that soldiers carrying out their duties in the forward locations were not eating as well as they needed too. It was decided that chefs should be sent forward to provide a basic meal service; Badrock volunteered to serve at Sangin Forward Operating Base, an austere location at the frontline. The "kitchen" is located within the main building, a typical Afghan mud and brick construction, it was equipped with simple operational cooking equipment designed to cater for up to 35 people; he used his culinary skills and ingenuity as a military chef to prepare quality meals for up to 100 people using operational rations. As noted by the Brigade HQ; Badrock had a positive impact upon the morale of his colleagues by preparing quality meals and showing quality soldiering skills during the many enemy contacts. It is quite apparent that he demonstrated a high level of courage, professionalism and determination in extreme conditions. Further testament to his dedication was his willingness to return to Sangin when several other chefs were reluctant to volunteer. CONTRACT CATERING AWARD SPONSORED BY PREMIER FOODS WINNER: ARAMARK 2008 NOMINEES ARAMARK CATERMASTERS OCS GROUP 2007 was a year in which Aramark achieved significant successes across a range of fronts, highlighting its ability to multi-task in the business world. Contract gains with high-profile clients such as BBC and Yahoo were supplemented by the retention and expansion of arrangements with HBOS. In the summer Aramark opened its Innovation Centre to develop and showcase food and product concepts and last autumn it again took the role of lead sponsor for British Food Fortnight. Acknowledging its wider responsibilities it also appointed its first corporate responsibility director and staff around the country threw themselves into fund-raising activities, generating more than £80,000 for charity. All of this work was carried out against a backdrop in which managing director Dean Lindsay was seriously hurt in a motor