Women in Meat Industry Awards

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WHEN: 20th November 2026 
WHERE: Royal Lancaster Hotel, London

Meat Businesswoman Award – Independent Retailing

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Helen Beverley

Retail & Customer Service Manager
Aubrey Allen

Helen’s proposer commented: “We could talk about Helen’s remarkable Aubrey Allen journey all day, but the families she has served for over four decades in our Leamington Spa shop tell the story far better.” As one customer put it: “Helen is brilliant at customer service – welcoming, friendly, knowledgeable and always good-humoured. Her advice is consistently spot on, and in a business known for five-star quality and service, Helen raises the standard to ten stars.”

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Francesca Kendall

Chief Operating Officer
Kendall’s Farm Butchers Ltd

Francesca, who is passionate about British meat, is a fourth-generation butcher who joined the family firm, which was established in 1967 by Thomas Kendal, four years ago. From day one, she fell in love with the meat industry, working alongside the company’s suppliers with emphasis on the finest local quality produce and best animal welfare. She built a brand-new website, launched a new Facebook Page, worked on weekly promotions i.e. Tapas, Indian, BBQ products, etc., with great results. As well as all this, she has created a female-friendly shopping experience. Francesca has also helped increase profits and the business is busier than ever.

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Kathryn Meadows

Director and Joint Owner
Nicholsons Butchers

Kathryn is an absolute inspiration. She has transformed her family business with innovation and has modernised it, while respecting its heritage. Kathryn is a passionate leader and is committed to her team, butchery and also the local community. Since taking over from her father to run the business, Kathryn has completely transformed Nicholsons Butchers and is a passionate advocate for the meat industry. As the first female Chair of the Q Guild of Butchers, she champions independent retailing, supports the development of future talent, encourages more women into the industry, invests heavily in her team, and promotes excellence, craftsmanship and professionalism across the UK meat sector.

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Amy Nicholas

Director
Morgan’s Butchery

Amy Nicholas is someone who brings enormous passion and dedication to the meat industry. She has helped transform Morgan’s Butchery into an award-winning business, while championing British farming, local producers and accessibility. Her innovative approach and commitment to inclusion have set her apart. Amy is a great ambassador for the industry and an inspiration to others through her resilience, leadership and drive to create positive change. Her real-life experience as an autistic entrepreneur has also helped drive meaningful change, culminating in representing the business at the United Nations through the Zero Project. Her leadership, resilience and creativity continue to inspire positive change across the meat and food industry.

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Helen Ovens

Co-Owner
McCaskie’s Butchers

Working six days a week and 12- to 13-hour days, Helen works tirelessly in the business, making sure the front shop is of a high standard, which her customers have come to expect from this high-end butchers. A farmer’s daughter, Helen joined the business 20 years ago and is now the face of McCaskie’s, serving customers, managing the shop and doing all the accounts. She is described as the secret ingredient that has driven McCaskie’s to the next level while remaining fully focused on its loyal customers, offering the very highest quality products. Helen is rightly incredibly proud of everything McCaskie’s has achieved so far.

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Clare Smith

Operations Manager
Woodlands Farm Butcher

It’s hard to capture the energy and graft Clare has brought to Woodlands Butcher as Operations Manager, says her enthusiastic proposer. She has helped transform the business from a brilliant but sometimes intimidating butcher, into a place where customers are happy to queue for their purchases, talk about the products, and recommend Woodlands to others. From building a highly successful online shop to leading the store expansion, plus supporting team growth and championing Jersey Beef, Clare was not a butcher by trade – but she is now absolutely a driving force for the ongoing success of Woodlands Farm Butcher.

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Annabel Warne

Office Manager
The Wild Meat Company Limited

Annabel has worked for the company since it launched in the year 2000 and has been instrumental in its success to date. As office manager, she is responsible for processing all customer orders (circa 20,000/year) and customer queries via email and telephone. She is the face and voice of the business to its customers, and her proposer comments that it is thanks to her patience and courtesy that sales are increasing by around 15% year on year.

Meat Businesswoman Award – Multiple Retailing

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Rebecca Bulmer

Red Meat Buying Manager
ASDA

Becky is described as a breath of fresh air in a very challenging industry. Laser focused on delivering the highest quality at the best possible price, Becky keeps ASDA customers at the heart of everything she does. She is never too busy to offer her experience and expertise to her team, who she mentors and coaches with a passion. Making quality meat available at an affordable price is what drives Becky, which, according to her proposer, she delivers faultlessly!

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Hannah Such

Brand Manager
SPAR

Hannah is an integral member of the SPAR development team working on the fresh and frozen categories. Her nomination confirms that the quality of her work is exemplary and she has transformed the meat category through ensuring the retailer is delivering high-quality products, innovative ranges and flavour profiles across the range from slow cooked meats to sausages.

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Karen Gallini

Category Technical Manager – Pork, Sausage & Bacon and Slow Cooked Meats
ASDA

Karen is a great advocate for the meat industry. She cares passionately about customers and the quality of meat she is responsible for. She also works hard in establishing and nurturing relationships with suppliers. Karen is always the first to offer help and to support to her colleagues, especially when new colleagues join the team. Her forward-thinking attitude is a much-valued asset, which is a standout quality recognised by her proposer and highly regarded in the meat industry.

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Angela Wainwright

Lamb, Burgers and Meatballs Commercial Manager
ASDA

Angela continuously strives to ensure ASDA customers have access to wholesome meat at a very competitive price. She has worked at ASDA for more than 40 years and constantly shares her expertise and knowledge to both new and existing colleagues in the team. Although Angela works in a very demanding and high-paced environment, she has a calmness and work ethic that colleagues describe as enviable. She is a very valued colleague at ASDA with more than four decades of remarkable service.

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Alice Turnbull

Senior National Account Manager
Sofina Foods Europe

Alice has demonstrated a true passion for the industry, supporting her retail accounts to achieve their goals through her strategic focus and drive for excellence. Always going above and beyond in her role, Alice is vital part of the team at Sofina Foods Europe, building strong, successful relationships with colleagues and other stakeholders through her knowledge of the business and her collaborative approach.

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Darina Hall

Senior Director – Food Safety, Quality & Sustainability
ASDA

Darina is incredibly passionate when it comes to meat quality. She is personally responsible for the ASDA brand and is relentless in her pursuit of delighting its 18 million customers, visiting ASDA stores weekly. She has demonstrated the phenomenal ability of personalising and mentoring her team and is constantly seeking the next quality improvement. Her proposer adds that Darina is “without doubt one in a million in her approach to delivering food safety and meat quality to ASDA customers”.

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Emily Ridge

Buying Manager – Pork, Gammon and British Sourcing
Tesco

Emily’s passion for the pork industry shines through and she takes great pride in her work, displaying a high level of professionalism at all times. She is a key team member, going above and beyond to support colleagues and suppliers to help projects achieve success, and recently played an important role in the Tesco Sustainable Pig Group expansion.

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Suzanne Coombes

Senior Manager – Own Brand Quality and Technical Commercial
ASDA

Suzanne takes great pride in increasing quality and maintaining ultimate food safety for ASDA’s 20 million weekly customers. She is an advocate for the meat industry and for developing the next generation of meat professionals and is always available to her team to share her considerable knowledge. Her tenacity and enthusiasm to go above and beyond for ASDA customers can, asserts her proposer, only be described as incredible!

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Natalie Smith

Head of Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries
Tesco

Natalie brings a wealth of experience in the agricultural sector to her role at Tesco and has helped drive major initiatives including the expansion of the Tesco Sustainable Pig Group and the Future Farmer Programme in partnership with the School of Sustainable Food & Farming at Harper Adams University, supporting the next generation of British farmers. In addition to her role at Tesco, Natalie also brings her expertise to Red Tractor as a non-executive director.

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Emily Lyth

Buyer – Sausages, Bacon, Gammon and Meat Accompaniments
Waitrose & Partners

Since joining Waitrose, Emily has shown an aptitude for buying and merchandising and has been quick to learn new skills. She works well under pressure and has shown initiative within the team, bringing a positive attitude to her work.

Meat Businesswoman Award – Poultry

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Olivia Quinn-Johnston

Customer & Intersite Planner
Pilgrim’s Europe

Olivia is established as an indispensable, trusted professional, whose commitment ensures customers experience no delays or shortages. She consistently goes above and beyond to deliver efficient, cost-effective results, driving operational excellence and seamless coordination between site and transport teams. Highly reliable and solutions-focused, she proactively resolves challenges and brings strong industry knowledge and transport expertise, underpinning confident day-to-day operations, says her proposer, making her an outstanding candidate for recognition.

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Melinda Tatum

Director
Jack Brand Limited

As a proactive leader, Melinda anticipates challenges, drives continuous improvement, and ensures both employees and the business are well-positioned for success. She has a unique ability to balance the needs of the business with those of her team, working closely with her business partner to make sound decisions that support operational success while maintaining a positive and productive workplace culture. Her commitment to maintaining high standards, promoting a strong code of conduct and supporting the wellbeing of employees has made a significant impact on organisational performance and staff satisfaction. Through her dedication, professionalism and people-focused leadership, Melinda exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional HR leader and company director.

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Hannah Cargill

Contract Production Manager
Avara Foods Ltd.

Hannah is a passionate advocate for British broiler farmers and women in poultry. She co-founded a UK-wide network to support and develop women’s technical skills in the industry. Committed to driving marginal gains across all areas of poultry, she leads with integrity, ambition and inclusivity, while balancing a busy home life and career. Put forward as a true trailblazer, Hannah sets a powerful example for her daughter and others, and she is undoubtedly a future leader in the sector.

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Jo Hillier

Broiler Area Manager
Pilgrim’s Europe

Jo is an exceptional manager whose leadership is built on commitment, compassion, and integrity. She consistently prioritises animal welfare and her team’s wellbeing, ensuring compliance across all farm operations. Leading by example, Jo goes above and beyond to support staff and maintain high standards. Her ability to balance performance with care makes her a true asset to the industry. Jo inspires those around her and exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose.

Meat Businesswoman Award – Foodservice (Catering butcher)

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Amy Bower

Catering Services Butcher
Harper Adams University

Amy is proposed as an indispensable member of the catering team, championing sustainability through her role as the university’s in-house butcher. Working closely with the campus farm, she selects livestock and expertly prepares meat to specification for its kitchens, ensuring students, staff and visitors enjoy high-quality, Harper-grown produce. Amy also shares her expertise through butchery and sausage-making demonstrations, providing students with valuable hands-on learning experiences that inspire the next generation of food and agricultural professionals. Known for hard work and professionalism, Amy assisted with the launch of the TUCO Meat & Poultry framework, spending four full days utilising her butchery knowledge to assess the quality of 120 samples across lamb mince, diced chuck, chicken supreme, pork loins and gammon.

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Joanne Craner

Financial Director
Aubrey Allen

Starting as an apprentice at 16 in 2001, Joanne has progressed to finance director. She has led the implementation of systems, processes and automation that have supported the business through growth, change and technological advancement. Joanne also oversees HR, developing training pathways and a wellbeing programme. With staff satisfaction exceeding 85%, she plays a key role in attracting, developing and retaining talent, contributing to exceptional long-term employee loyalty while keeping bank balances strong!

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Justyna Cygan

Compliance Manager
Dunbia Cardington

Justyna is described as a very competent individual who has been with the company for ten years. Starting her career in dispatch and moving to the technical department, Justyna has interdepartmental experience that makes her a valuable individual contributor to the business. She is currently completing a food science apprenticeship alongside her day job. In fact, Justyna was recently promoted to the compliance manager position and continues to ensure that necessary and important requirements to supply various customers are met in full.

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Tracey Gardner

Head of Procurement
Fairfax Meadow

Tracey has worked for Fairfax Meadow for more than 20 years, holding multiple roles in sales, managing highly demanding accounts and, in her current role, dealing with a never-ending challenging supply chain and procurement function for the UK’s largest catering butcher. Tracey moved across to head up the procurement team in 2023, since then, she has worked tirelessly to get to grips with a very different role, her thirst for knowledge to understand this very different discipline has been engaging and has achieved outstanding results.

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Letitia Redfern

Butchery Development Manager
Booker

Letitia’s rise from Level 1 trainee to one of only two female Institute of Meat (IoM) Master Butchers is truly groundbreaking. A genuine trailblazer, she now supports more than 90 branches, lifting colleague skills, improving standards and confidence through exceptional technical authority and her deeply people centred leadership. Her influence has reshaped a traditionally male dominated craft, inspiring colleagues and elevating performance at every level. Her Meat Management Young Manager of the Year 2025 award reflects the remarkable impact she makes at Booker every day.

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Billie Turner

Butchery Manager / Proprietor
Graham Turner with Daughter

Billie Turner’s proposer said, “I am nominating Billie for this award because she took over this business three years ago off her own back when her dad fell poorly. She’s 25 and is the hardest worker I’ve ever known.” Based in Pyrford, West Byfleet, in Surrey, last year her business won Surrey’s Best Butchers award, at the England’s Business Awards. Undoubtedly a talented woman in the meat industry, Billie has been involved in the business and the meat trade for eight years and is highly regarded by colleagues and customers alike.

Meat Businesswoman Award – Manufacturing/Processing

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Jackie Carter

Group Technical Director
Cranswick Plc

Highly regarded for her work at Cranswick, Jackie was also one of the founding committee members of the Meat Businesswomen trade organisation (MBW). As group technical director, she is responsible for the safety, quality, legality and authenticity of all food products supplied from Cranswick’s manufacturing sites in the UK. She looks after Cranswick’s technical team and is passionate about ensuring that the meat sector continues to be one in which women can develop and thrive.

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Feride Angelova

Boning Hall Quality Assurance
Dunbia (Sawley)

Feride has been nominated because of her outstanding contribution to the Dunbia Sawley boning hall. After years as a skilled trimmer, she moved into the quality assurance role around 18-months ago and has excelled ever since. In her role she applies her extensive meat knowledge, supports new staff with onboarding, and consistently goes beyond expectations. Trusted, respected and highly capable, Feride is a true asset and a standout member of the Dunbia team.

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Jill Barrett

Assistant Technical Manager
ABP

Jill joined the business 10 years ago on the company’s graduate programme and her career has gone from strength to strength since, from carrying out a principal contractor role to her current position as assistant technical manager within the Primal site. During this time, she has played a key role in developing the M&S Academy training programme, focusing on M&S requirements, which is also beneficial to the wider management team. Jill is also actively involved with all things M&S, supporting and driving compliance across all approved M&S sites. She is recognised for her strong attention to detail and her caring nature, which positively influences those she works with.

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Beata Cieciwa

Area Leader
Pilgrim’s Europe

Beata is an exceptional role model whose 18 years of dedication, resilience and consistency deliver inspirational and tangible results. She leads from the front, stepping up under pressure, i.e. running production while covering quality assurance at short notice and preventing more than two tonnes of waste through her decisive action. Calm, professional and thorough, she consistently achieves high standards while supporting others to grow, demonstrating how commitment and initiative can drive measurable performance and team success every day.

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Ola Saniawa

Dispatch Manager
Dunbia Cardington

Ola is an exceptional leader whose kindness and consideration set the tone for her entire team. She is focused, determined to get results, and consistently leads by example. Ola invests time in teaching others, encouraging growth, and boosting confidence. Her commitment to learning and helping others creates a positive, high-performing environment. She inspires those around her daily and truly embodies the qualities of an outstanding businesswoman through dedication, integrity, and passion.

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Rohan Coomber

Pork Planning, Production and Technical Manager
Buitelaar Group

Rohan consistently demonstrates exceptional professionalism, dedication, and operational excellence. Her role maintains Buitelaar’s high standards by hand-selecting premium products to meet precise customer specifications. Rohan’s attention to detail, reliability, and proactive approach drive efficiency and significantly reduce waste. Rohan’s proposer added that her expertise and commitment have profoundly impacted the success and reputation of Buitelaar’s meat business, making her highly deserving of recognition. Notably, under Rohan’s management, production successfully scaled from processing zero to 400 pigs.

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Sarah Denn

Food Safety & Quality Manager
Dawn Meats

Sarah has consistently demonstrated exceptional attention to detail in all aspects of production for quality and safety. Her investigative approach to any customer complaints is thorough, data-driven, and always focused on protecting consumers. She is committed to maintaining the highest level of food safety standards and ensures that Dawn products remain compliant, reliable and trusted. Her customer-first mindset and dedication to continuous improvement makes her an invaluable asset to Dawn’s quality team.

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Lorna Eddy

Packaging Technologist
Danish Crown

Danish Crown has set an ambitious goal to reduce its packaging volume per output by 30% by the year 2030. Lorna’s proposer comments: “I have never known anyone as dedicated, professional and on the ball when it comes to packaging as Lorna. She will go to great lengths to help others, has such a broad and well-established set of expertise and knowledge, and she is a true guru in her field.” Lorna is regarded by colleagues as a great team player and is a highly valued member of the Danish Crown team playing her part in full to facilitate the company’s ambitious strategy.

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Carla Hudson

Technical and Environmental Manager
ABP (York)

Carla’s proposer made this nomination in recognition of her exceptional contribution and long-standing commitment to ABP and the meat industry. With more than 35 years’ service, Carla demonstrates exceptional dedication, consistently going above and beyond with a positive, solutions-focused mindset. Her work ethic is outstanding, and she plays a vital role in maintaining high standards across the site. Deeply committed to both the business and her colleagues, she is highly respected and influential, leading by example and embodying ABP’s core values every day.

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Nevena Toshkova

Technical Assistant Manager
ABP UK

Nevena had risen from the shopfloor to become one of the best hygiene managers in the ABP company, before she changed her career direction and moved to technical to continue her professional growth and development. Her hygiene background and people management skills are fundamental in helping her deliver extremely high standards on site. A highly regarded colleague, Nevena still continues to grow in her role both professionally and as a person.

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Claire Jesse

Founder
Welsh Homestead Smokery

One proposer for Claire Jesse commented that she deserves recognition as a remarkable woman in business and a standout entrepreneur in the meat and artisan food sector. Through Welsh Smokery, she is growing a distinctive small-batch smokehouse based in the Cambrian Mountains of West Wales, producing carefully smoked foods with a clear commitment to provenance, quality, sustainability and local sourcing. The business reflects real craft, resilience and vision: everything is produced on the homestead in small batches, with unusual flavour combinations that bring genuine innovation to traditional smoking methods. Claire is not only building a food business; she is championing a more thoughtful, values-led model of entrepreneurship.

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Hayley Johnson

H&S Manager
Sofina Foods – Malton

Since Hayley joined Sofina, Hayley’s contribution is described as having been invaluable. Under her guidance, the site’s safety performance is exceptional, and she continues to drive a safety-first culture across the factory, ultimately ensuring all employees go home safe every day. Her commitment and dedication to safety is exemplary and, according to her proposer, should be celebrated. She consistently goes out of her way to lift others up and her support is greatly appreciated by everyone around her.

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Charlotte Loader

Financial Controller
ABP UK

Charlotte has worked at ABP for over eight years, starting at Yetminster before being promoted, and is now currently Financial Controller at ABP Sturminster. Charlotte fully embodies the company’s values. Always looking for ways to improve and save costs responsibly, she will excel on tasks that are not typically part of her role and, in so doing, motivate the team. Charlotte is also effective as part of the wider ABP group and will participate actively in every staff event, putting forward ideas to support the overall employee experience.

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Denitsa Mihaylova

Retail Technical Manager
ABP UK

Denitsa has made her way up at ABP from a shopfloor operative to technical, and then there was more progression to become a technical manager in what is described by her proposer as a blazing career. Winning both site management and retailers’ trust, her passion and drive make a positive change every day both within her site and with ABP customers. Colleagues agree that Denitsa makes an outstanding contribution to the ABP business.

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Julie Patrick

NPD & Quality Manager
Grant Bros Meat Canners Ltd

Julie Patrick is an exceptional leader whose passion, expertise, and dedication have been instrumental in the success of Grant Bros Meat Canners Ltd. As NPD & quality manager, Julie develops and determines all company recipes, ensuring every product meets the highest standards of quality, consistency and taste. Her commitment to innovation has driven the development of new products and business growth, while her unwavering dedication to the company is truly phenomenal. Julie continually goes above and beyond, inspiring colleagues and delivering excellence in everything she does.

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Sharon Steele

Occupational Health Nurse
ABP UK

Sharon joined ABP Langport in March 2022 as occupational health nurse. She is an integral part of the Health & Safety team and is responsible for driving forward the protection and promotion of health and wellbeing among employees. She brings with her more than 20 years of nursing experience and knowledge, which she applies with professionalism and care. Sharon plays a vital role in supporting colleagues, often working behind the scenes to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of others. Her responsibilities include delivering first aid and mental health first aid (MHFA) training, conducting welfare checks, and supporting employees returning to work following absence or injury. In all aspects of her role, she demonstrates a deep commitment to caring for others.

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Bethany Thorne

Quality Assurance Manager
Dunbia Cardington

Bethany has demonstrated great enthusiasm and passion for her job. She always approaches work with a can-do and helpful attitude. She has completed the Women in Leadership Level 3 apprenticeship alongside her graduate programme and was recently promoted to QA Manager, where she has excelled coordinating and managing the QAs on site. She is a huge individual contributor to the Cardington site and can assist across many departments from technical to production and procurement.

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Amie Waterson

Engineering Stores / Administrator
ABP UK (Bridge of Allan)

Amie is an exceptional engineering stores and administration professional who plays a vital role within the ABP Bridge of Allan meat manufacturing operation. She manages inventory with outstanding accuracy, ensuring critical parts are always available when needed. Her organisation, attention to detail, and proactive mindset reduce downtime and improve efficiency across the site. Amie consistently exceeds expectations, supporting colleagues with positivity, reliability and teamwork, and drives continuous improvement through her dedication and professionalism every day for all ABP teams involved.

Meat Businesswoman Award – Craft Butchery

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Cherry Adams

Butchery & Farm Shop Manager
Deersbrook Butchery & Farm Shop

Cherry is put forward as a phenomenal craft butcher working at Deersbrook with six years under her belt. She started out counter serving and making sausages etc., before progressing quickly to full carcase butchery, making the most of Deersbrook’s very own grass-fed native beef and rare breed pork, alongside local lamb, wild venison and poultry. Cherry has a keen eye for detail, demonstrates amazing customer service in her highly regarded way. She is always pleased to welcome customers and discuss and advise on cuts of meat and cooking. Cherry is an outstanding star of the Deersbrook team.

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Emma Lishman

Director
Lishman’s of Ilkley

More than a chip off the old block of famous and well-liked father David, Emma has made her own mark on this nationally acclaimed, award-winning business, helping to drive it forward and further develop it. And as vice chair of the Q Guild of Butchers, Emma is a true champion of the craft butchery sector, with much to offer in support of and promotion of the industry. Her proposer adds: “Recognition in your prestigious awards would reward her sterling work and impact to date.”

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Shona Marshall

Butchery/Farm Manager
Marshalls Farm Shop & Kitchen

Shona has learnt the trade of butchery from scratch. She has immersed herself in the red meat sector, often travelling extensively to learn from masters of the trade. The butchery counter is described as an amazing display of home-produced protein. Shona also manages the family farm’s beef, lamb and pork, lambing, calving and overall management; combined with the butchery, it is a formidable task. A finalist in 2025, Shona is a talented and enthusiastic candidate.

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Hayley Glen

Butcher
The Butcher The Baker

Regarded as a powerhouse in the butchery world by colleagues, Haley is known for combining skill, speed and customer care. Her passion for quality, precision in her craft and ability to lead by example make her a standout in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Hayley brings heart, humour, and excellence to every shift, inspiring both customers and colleagues daily. She doesn’t just do the job – she elevates it. A true asset to the business.

Meat Businesswoman Award – Trade Body

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Laura Black

President
Scottish Craft Butchers (SCB)

Laura has made a remarkable impact as the first female President of Scottish Craft Butchers. A passionate advocate for independent butchers while managing an ever-expanding business (Cooper Craft Butchers), she has travelled extensively across Scotland, visiting SCB members to offer support, strengthen relationships and champion their businesses. During her term, Laura proudly supported Team GB at the World Butchers’ Challenge in Paris, promoting industry excellence internationally. Her inclusive, forward-thinking leadership continues to break barriers, inspire others and strengthen the future of the sector. She also won the inaugural World Haggis Championship in 2023.

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Kathryn Kerr

Head of Brand Integrity/Quality Assurance
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS)

Kathryn is responsible for the six quality assurance schemes that back up Quality Meat Scotland brands: Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Prime Scottish Pork. Kathryn’s extensive industry knowledge keeps these schemes running and supports the 8,000-plus members covered by the schemes. Kathryn has driven change through the quality assurance process with major hurdles to overcome, but she has a determination and passion for QA that is second to none. She consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to maintaining high standards, improving processes and ensuring that work is delivered accurately, efficiently, and in line with business requirements.

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Katrina Walsh

Strategy Director
International Meat Trade Association (IMTA)

Katrina has consistently been a hard worker and delivered an extremely high standard of work to the IMTA organisation, issuing sound advice to IMTA members. This year, she stepped in as Acting CEO of IMTA and has persevered under considerable pressure, carrying her colleagues through tumultuous changes within the organisation and in wider trade policy. Katrina’s experience and knowledge of the Industry is invaluable, having spent several years working for a European trade association in Brussels before joining IMTA. She is highly valued and respected by the IMTA membership.

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Eleanor O'Brien

Managing Director
National Craft Butchers (NCB)

As Managing Director of National Craft Butchers, Eleanor has demonstrated leadership and commitment to retail butchery, the meat industry and her trade organisation. Launching new initiatives to involve existing members and attract new ones, her dedication has raised the profile of NCB. Eleanor’s ability to articulate the industry’s needs and advocate for its interests at Government level has earned her widespread respect and recognition. She was a category winner in 2021 when working as NCB membership secretary, before being promoted to MD.

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Penny McEntire-Kemp

Office & Events Manager
Provision Trade Federation (PTF)

Penny is well liked and at the centre of the PTF team, acknowledged by all who know her for keeping the wheels turning in this long-established trade body. One proposer said: “She is simply brilliant and someone we all rely on. She deals with enquiries efficiently and in a friendly fashion. She is outstanding at her job and in her understanding and knowledge of member needs. Her service to the trade deserves recognition.”

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Carla Ashcroft

Acting Clerk
The Worshipful Company of Butchers (WCB)

Carla Ashcroft is the Acting Clerk at the Worshipful Company of Butchers, the meat industry’s own livery company, based in the City at Butchers’ Hall, London. A past winner of this category, Carla deals with a great deal of the day-to-day business for the WCB and is key to organising many events and activities, and for facilitating good communication with its membership, as well as promoting the good name of the Livery. Always helpful and friendly, Carla is a highly valued member of the Butchers’ Hall team and plays an ever-increasing and important part in maintaining the Company’s long history and relationship with the trade.

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Kate Rowell

Chair
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS)

Kate Rowell is a consistent voice of reason and a real role model for the whole UK industry. A finalist in this category in 2024, she is well known for her passion, knowledge and enthusiasm of the red meat industry. Kate is a qualified vet and fifth-generation farmer running a 750-hectare farm but still finds time to be fully involved with QMS and the promotion of quality Scottish meat.

Meat Businesswoman Award – Livestock Procurement & Sustainability

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Josephine Blundy

Sustainability Director
Pilgrim’s Europe

Jo is well known as a driving force embedding sustainability across the Pilgrim’s Europe business, translating ambition into practical, measurable impact. She thoroughly refreshed the company’s sustainability strategy into clear, actionable pillars, simplifying complex challenges and aligning teams at every level. Through leadership and customer engagement, she champions ESG integration, exemplified by transformative partnerships like a biogas plant – delivering circular economy solutions, cutting emissions, and strengthening resilient, responsible supply chains for the future. Her impact inspires and delivers progress across the organisation.

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Áine Murray

Agriculture Sustainability & Supply Chain Manager
ABP

Áine recently moved into the role of agri sustainability & supply chain manager, involving the development and delivery of livestock supply chains, which deliver to ABP customers’ high standards of quality, consistency and animal welfare. Áine continues to develop long-standing farmer relationships and works with UK retailers to provide sustainable and resilient farming livelihoods for ABP beef and lamb farms. She oversees the implementation of ABP NI Livestock – an integrated dairy beef supply chain, delivering high-quality beef (Aberdeen Angus, Wagyu and Rose Veal). Áine also brings exceptional expertise in livestock, with deep experience in breeding, rearing and sustainable practices. Through regenerative farming and soil management, she promotes eco-friendly meat production.

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Jessica Tomley Bastard

Buying Manager – Livestock
Myton Food Group

Jess is a respected female livestock buyer in what is still largely a male-dominated field and is well known for her dedication to her farmers and customers. With extensive knowledge in beef and lamb rearing, she excels in drawing finished stock on farm and in the live ring. Jess was an instrumental part in establishing the Elite Beef Scheme. She constantly strives to improve resilience and supply chain security with a friendly, honest and integrity-driven approach, making her a well-liked heroine in the meat and livestock industry.

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Sarah Woods

Northwest Livestock Coordinator Manager
Dunbia

Sarah is highly regarded as a ‘wonderful colleague’ who will always take the time to help others no matter how much work she has of her own. She is well known for always going above and beyond for the company.

Sarah has great organisational skills and ensures a number of Dunbia sites run smoothly and efficiently. Her knowledge of the supply base is a credit to her dedication to the business over the years and is allowing her to thrive in her role. With exceptional communications skill, she is always willing to help out and go the extra mile to keep producers and site managers happy. Colleagues rely on her, as they know that she will get things done correctly and in a timely manner.

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Chloe Bridgett

ESG & Agri Manager
Dovecote Park

Chloe combines practical farming experience with scientific insight to drive improvements in animal welfare and environmental performance across the supply chain. Raised on a family farm, she remains actively involved in cattle care, giving her a grounded perspective on agricultural realities. With a degree in environmental physics and an undergraduate dissertation on the future of sustainable British farming, Chloe brings a well-rounded, evidence-based approach to livestock management.

Meat Businesswoman Award – Industry Supplier

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Chantelle Brennand

Commercial Director
IFI – Innovative Food Ingredients

Chantelle brings remarkable vision and leadership to colleagues and delivers innovative products and flavours to the UK market. She guides the business into the future of ingredient supply whilst staying true to the family values and knowledge that was passed down to her. Her passion for innovation with ingredients is described by her proposer as inspiring, as is her commitment to the meat industry. She empowers those around her to consistently deliver, is an incredible woman and mother who should be recognised.

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Tracey Guinan

Project Coordinator
Handtmann Ltd

Tracey has had a massive impact on the Handtmann business in a very positive way. Each project has many internal and external touch points, so effective communication has to happen across the board at every level. Tracey’s communication skills are said to be “amazing”, and her proactive mindset means the business is always evolving in regard to how it keeps customer orders up to date and that work will progress effectively and efficiently through all stages. Her proposer adds: “She’s a credit to business and we’d be lost without her.”

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Judith Johnston

Senior Account Manager
Kerry Group

Jude works with immense passion and craft for Lucas Ingredients, a business owned by Kerry. She works closely with key partners such as Dalziel to help butchers around the UK to keep moving forwards amidst a challenging economy. Jude, an RD&A specialist by trade, supports retail and industrial butchery with technical advice such as how to overcome product issues or how best to market and present the product to their customers. Jude champions the meat industry every day.

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Kate Williams

Animal Welfare & Environment Specialist
Foods Connected

Kate has worked for Foods Connected as a specialist within the Animal Welfare and Environment Compliance Team for three years. In that time, she has developed as a recognised subject-matter expert and supported retail and food service customers in embedding robust approaches to data collection and providing associated insight to evidence customer facing policy commitments. Praised for her calm and systematic approach, Kate secures supply chain engagement in what can be complex and challenging areas.

Vicky Reynolds

Vicki Reynolds

Accounts Operations Manager
Pump Engineering

Vicki has been nominated in this category for her outstanding contribution to engineering supply. She consistently delivers technical excellence, drives supply chain improvements and provides reliable support across complex projects. Her commitment to quality, innovation and client satisfaction sets her apart. As a leader and mentor, she actively supports women in engineering and promotes diversity in the industry. Her impact is measurable and her standards are high.

Meat Businesswoman Award – Wholesaling

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Joanne Bradshaw

Business Development Manager
Basco Fine Foods

Basco is a leading Spanish food wholesaler supplying tapas bars, Spanish restaurants, delicatessens and caterers, hotels, the deli trade, supermarkets, department stores and distributors across the UK. Joanna is proposed for her continuous trailblazing within the Spanish meat market – introducing top-range butchers, wholesalers and restaurants to Basco Fine Foods, including top-of-the-range Rubia Gallega, Frisona, Galician Beef and Iberian Pork. She is highly commended by colleagues for her continuous care of customers both pre and post orders.

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Aine Geary

Trading Manager – Beef & Lamb
Musgrave

Aine is a standout professional in a business built on an ethos of quality, competitive pricing and exceptional service. She brings integrity and fairness to every supplier relationship – challenging pricing with confidence and grace and never compromising on standards. Her calm, assured approach to commercial negotiation sets a benchmark for the industry and her ability to inspire those around her marks her out not just as a skilled trading manager, but as a true leader in meat procurement.

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Rachel Thompson

Business Consultant
Pink Lady Consultancy

Rachel boasts 24 years of experience in the wholesale meat industry, having worked in the past as the owner of independent butchery business The Butcheress for eight years and as a sales development representative at Meatlink. Now, she advises businesses in the industry on how to streamline operations and increase sales, putting her specialist knowledge of the UK meat wholesale and retail industry to good use and supporting a range of butchers and farm shops.

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Carla Quirk

Head of People and Culture
Porky Whites Limited

Carla is described as the beating heart of Porky Whites wholesale division. From taking daily orders and building strong supplier relationships, to advising on price, product and operations, Carla represents everything that Porky Whites stands for. Her dedication to each and every supplier goes beyond just a call. No request is too big, no question is too difficult, no problem to complex. Carla is not just a family member, but an essential part of the company’s business growth.

Meat Businesswoman Award – Training & Education

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Joan Findlay

Health & Safety Manager
Dunbia

Since joining Dunbia in 2019, health & safety manager Joan has transformed standards through a proactive, solutions-led approach. She introduced an audit tracker, achieving exceptional audit results with zero non-conformances. Her leadership has driven significant efficiency gains and reduced accident rates. She produces some of the strongest accident investigation reports across the Group while continuing her own professional development. Joan is passionate about embedding learning and fostering an exceptional culture of safety, compliance, and operational excellence.

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Hannah Gooby

Business Development Manager
M.E.A.T Ipswich Ltd

Since joining M.E.A.T Ipswich in 2020 as an administrator, Hannah has progressed to business development manager through dedication, hard work, and a commitment to education and training. She is passionate about supporting apprentices throughout their learning journey, helping them develop the skills and confidence needed for successful careers. By building strong relationships with employers, learners and colleagues, Hannah has contributed to many positive outcomes, the smooth running of the organisation, and the development of future industry professionals.

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Charlotte Kavanagh

End-point Assessment Operations Coordinator
Food & Drink Qualifications Ltd (FDQ Ltd)

Charlotte has made a significant impact on the development of apprentice butchers through her role as end-point assessment operations coordinator at FDQ. Passionate, approachable and highly knowledgeable, she provides invaluable support to apprentices, employers and training providers throughout the EPA process. Charlotte’s commitment to ensuring learners feel informed, prepared and confident has helped more than 1,500 butchers complete their apprenticeships, making her a true champion of training, education and development within the meat industry.

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Paulina Losek

Senior HR Advisor
Dunbia UK

Paulina has dedicated 20 years to Dunbia, progressing from the shop floor to senior HR advisor. She is a passionate advocate for training and development, supporting employees to access learning opportunities, progress into supervisory/team leader roles and build their careers. As a Tasty Careers Ambassador, she also promotes opportunities through recruitment and graduate events. Her work with the Butchery Academy and Workforce Upskilling has strengthened capability on site, making her a truly valued colleague at Dunbia.

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Dr Pip Nicholas-Davies

Senior Lecturer
Aberystwyth University Department of Life Sciences

Dr Pip is described as a committed and passionate higher education lecturer, mentor and role model to the future generation, particularly women entering the field of agriculture. She is highly thought of by staff, students and farmers alike. A successful researcher, working towards supply chain sustainability, she is happy showing students first-hand the difference they can make through academia. Her proposer commented that Pip is a real asset to the industry.

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Miriam Parker

Owner
Livestockwise Ltd

Miriam can perhaps best be described as a one-woman enterprise, as she does everything in her business. Miriam is now heading towards retirement having spent 30 years training and coaching handlers in the lairage as well as activities as a consultant to the industry. Her lifetime mission has been to improve how animals are handled and cared for and she has been part of the important drive over the years to improve knowledge, skills and safety.

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Hannah Wilson

Technical Training Lead
Pilgrim’s Europe

Hannah is regarded as an outstanding leader in education and training, delivering measurable impact across the business and the wider industry. She drives innovation at pace, designing and embedding competency frameworks and clear career pathways that significantly strengthen capability and progression. A passionate champion of early careers, she advances talent through mentoring, programmes and external engagement. Influential and collaborative, she makes development a strategic priority, leading with integrity and authenticity to inspire trust, growth and high performance – her proposer describes Hannah as an exceptional, award worthy candidate.

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Jane Dale

Managing Director
M.E.A.T Ipswich

Jane Dale has worked passionately for many years to strengthen the butchery skills of young apprentices and thereby to support the meat business all over England. She has a warm-hearted, very professional and engaged attitude towards both her team at M.E.A.T (Ipswich) Ltd., as well as to the apprentices, and butcher shop managers and employees she deals with. She is passionate about training and developing people and is a past winner of this category.

The Rising Star Award

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Anna Lampitt

Retail Account Manager
2Agriculture

Anna joined the business in July 2023, starting as a junior account support role within Agriculture. Since then, Anna has undergone an extraordinary progression in a short period of time. Today, she manages some of the largest and most strategic customers in the 2 Sisters business, an achievement that reflects not only capability, but exceptional drive and maturity well beyond her years. Her ability to speak confidently and knowledgeably across all aspects of agriculture, from retail and production to growing, marks her out as a true professional. She brings both credibility and passion into every interaction. Her journey is a powerful example of what talent, attitude and determination can achieve.

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Charlotte Atkin

Beef Lead
Flat Iron Steak Ltd

Charlotte has an infectious passion for beef and her role at Flat Iron Steak. She balances commercial acumen with a relentless focus of quality, all while being a key member of the Flat Iron team. In previous roles at Warrendale Wagyu and at Cranswick she was a hugely valuable asset and has huge potential to make waves in the industry over the years to come. She oversees a unique and highly complex beef supply chain from farmer/processor to butcher to restaurant, bringing a deep knowledge of beef and infectious enthusiasm.

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Helen Baddiley

Senior Product Development Technologist
Pilgrim’s Europe

Helen, aged 24, is a rising star who has advanced to senior development technologist within three years at Pilgrim’s. As Fresh Pork NPD lead for a key customer, she has driven major initiatives, including the free-range pork rollout and first-to-market launches. She played a key role in securing a ten-year contract through range redevelopment. Known for her positive attitude, innovation focus and strong relationships, Helen consistently delivers impactful results and is a highly respected team member.

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Amy Baird

Environmental Manager
Dunbia

Amy joined Dunbia as a graduate, and over four years has progressed to the role of environmental manager. A strong leader, she influences and collaborates across teams to drive engagement and deliver results. In 2025, her projects achieved 1,310,610kWh energy savings and improved water use and effluent quality. Amy has championed inclusion through peer lunches, completed the Dawn Meats UCD Development Programme and makes a positive difference in the community as Dunbia Cardington’s Charities Champion.

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Phoebe Catling

Apprentice Butcher
Black Barn Butchers

Phoebe started work at 16 straight after her GCSE exams. Described at the time as a “timid little thing”, she has grown so much since then. Phoebe is currently smashing her apprenticeship, stepping up and taking on extra responsibility when short-staffed and showing signs of becoming a very competent butcher. She creates great new products, has imaginative ideas, undertakes all the social media for the business and knows all the customers, who she greets with a friendly welcome. A real hands-on meat person, Phoebe has turned out to be a great butcher with excellent knife skills.

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Stephanie Goff

HR Site Lead
Dawn Meats

Stephanie has made an exceptional impact since joining the business as a graduate. Her drive, commitment to learning and passion for people have seen her quickly progress into a HR site lead role. She consistently goes above and beyond, building strong relationships and supporting colleagues and managers with professionalism and care. Her can-do attitude, people first approach, strong HR capability and leadership potential make Stephanie a true star in the Dawn Meats business with a very bright future.

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Ellie Edmonds

HR Officer
ABP UK

Ellie joined ABP in September 2020 at just 18 years old as a business administration apprentice. Since then, she has shown remarkable drive and ambition, successfully completing her apprenticeship before progressing into the role of HR coordinator. During this time, she undertook a further apprenticeship and achieved her CIPD Level 5 qualification, highlighting her dedication to continuous professional development. In November 2025, Ellie further advanced her career by joining ABP Langport as an HR officer. Ellie is a highly credible and inspiring role model for young people entering the workplace.

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India Hoad

Head of Sales and Marketing
Korker Sausages Limited

India represents the third generation at Korker Sausages, and she has quickly progressed to head of sales & marketing. Since she joined full time, distribution has expanded to more than 600 stores, she has secured new retail and wholesale listings, grown the social media audience to more than 20,000 followers and helped strengthen an award-winning brand. She has focused on staff wellbeing, encouraging engagement and team culture. India is passionate about championing British meat and inspiring the next generation into the industry.

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Courtney Hutton

Technical & Quality Support Technician
ABP Doncaster

Courtney is regarded as an exceptional technical & quality support professional, whose dedication, attention to detail and proactive approach consistently enhance site standards. She plays a vital role in ensuring compliance, supporting audits and driving continuous improvement across the business. Alongside her main role, Courtney is also completing a four-year food degree, demonstrating outstanding commitment to her development. Her enthusiasm, reliability, and positive attitude mark her as an outstanding colleague at ABP.

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Doria Karaica

Quality Assurance Manager
Rosderra Irish Meats

At just 26 years old, Doria has built an exceptional nine-year career in the meat industry, progressing from general operative to quality assurance manager. Working in a high-risk cooked and canned ham facility, she independently led the site’s BRC audit and achieved its best result in five years. Her rapid progression, technical expertise, leadership and unwavering commitment to food safety make her a standout colleague and an inspiring future leader within the meat industry.

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Emma McCombe

Technical Systems and Compliance Lead
ABP

Emma joined ABP on placement during her CAFRE food technology degree. After graduating, she joined the ABP 2023 Graduate Programme, advancing quickly to become an integral part of the technical department at ABP Linden, reflecting her solid knowledge and expertise. Emma’s warm and positive nature enables her to build strong relationships across all departments. Emma is also highly regarded for her integrity and strong leadership. Her enthusiasm, professionalism, and determination set her apart, and highlights her very promising future with ABP.

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Juliette Nugent

Sustainability and Marketing Manager
Liffey Meats

Since joining Liffey Meats as a graduate in 2025, Juliette has rapidly progressed into a highly successful manager. She led the company’s first Women in Agriculture event, attracting 200-plus attendees, including students from three secondary schools, and secured highly influential speakers to inspire careers in agriculture. She co-led the launch of the Positive Farming Programme, organised five farm walks attended by 600 stakeholders, contributed to the 2025 Origin Green submission and helped improve the company’s EcoVadis score immensely.

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Katy Tolson

Technical Support Manager
ABP Doncaster

What distinguishes Katy is her positive influence on team behaviours and culture. She brings energy, commitment and a solutions-focused mindset, helping to create an environment where standards are upheld and continuous improvement is encouraged. She is quick to step in where support is needed and remains composed and effective even under pressure. Katy has also demonstrated strong personal development, building her confidence, capability and accountability. She has embraced new challenges, developed her technical understanding and taken ownership of her responsibilities in a way that has delivered tangible benefits to site performance.

Hannah Palmer

Hannah Palmer

Quality Manager
Denhay

Hannah is proposed as an exceptional quality manager and a genuine star at Denhay. Bright, diligent and naturally curious, she has immersed herself in the whole business, not just her own role. She is a key driver behind the company’s consistent BRC AA* standards, contributes actively to its sustainability journey and is always eager to learn and progress. With her positive presence, strong work ethic and recent qualification as a mental health counsellor, Hannah is making a real impact.

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Sylwia Rumocka

Cost Accountant
ABP

Sylwia has risen from an accounts to apprentice to a cost accountant at ABP in less than five years and has been constantly progressing year-on-year. She is someone who has a real desire to go above and beyond and a colleague who, according to her proposer, will undoubtedly be heading up a team of her own in the next five years. Sylwia is an outstanding example to others and a much-esteemed colleague at the ABP business.

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Natalie Shields

Finance Graduate
Dunbia

Natalie joined Dunbia three years ago and quickly became a key member of the team. She makes strong contributions and has played a key role in designing and implementing the QlikSense trays and pallets system now used on site, engaging with IT and suggesting practical improvements, thereby strengthening company controls. She has also supported growth in the Integrated Beef Scheme, developed across all finance areas, while continuing to work towards her final CIMA module.

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Olivia Weston

Account Executive
ABP

Olivia’s proposer commented that “Olvia is one of the hardest working people I have worked with”. She has a passion for development and is continuously looking for ways to push the business forward. Olivia has recently moved from technical into the commercial team in order to gain a wider view of the meat industry and learn more about the ABP business; in just the first few weeks she has already made a big difference. A great example of a young woman in the meat industry with ambition and talent.

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Erin Wright

Degree Apprentice – Manufacturing
Myton Food Group

Erin has thrived in every placement, from running shifts and departments to leading performance and quality improvements, and she is only just going into her third year at the company. Erin’s positive attitude, combined with a real passion, helps her in building and developing a wide knowledge, making her a positive role model for anyone coming into the industry. Outside of work, Erin is well known within the Young Farmers organisation and offers up her spare time to judge at agricultural shows, while enjoying raising sheep on her family farm.

A special thanks to our 2026 Awards partners

Women in Meat Industry Awards 2025 partners
Women in Meat Industry Awards 2025 partners

Become an Awards Partner

The support of our award partners is vital to ensure this important initiative takes place. In return, we reward them with extensive branding across our media portfolio over several months and a full page advert in the Women in Meat Industry Awards Review (both in print and online).

Category partnerships offer amazing value. To find out more about our packages, contact Michelle Ingerfield on 01908 613323 or e-mail michelle.i@yandellmedia.com.