2009 Awards Categories

The British Sandwich Industry Award

Presented to a sandwich business or individual who has made a major contribution to the development, growth and prosperity of the industry. This is a lifetime award. No entries are necessary in this category, as the award is made by the BSA Management Committee. However, anyone can put forward suggestions for consideration.

The BSA Sandwich Manufacturer of the Year Award

Presented to the BSA-accredited manufacturer which the judges consider has introduced the most impressive and effective initiatives to improve the quality and food safety of sandwich manufacturing during the qualifying period. Factors taken into account will include investment in people and facilities and improvements in technical standards and product quality. Written submissions will be taken into account as part of the short-listing process.

En-route Sandwich Retailer of the Year Award

Open to all retailers and caterers providing sandwiches in an en-route environment (e.g. forecourts, stations, trains, ferries, airports, airlines, roadside etc). It will be judged on the basis of who is believed to have achieved the most in successfully developing their business. The judges will consider factors such as marketing, product development, innovation, quality, sales growth etc.

Specialist Sandwich Bar Chain of the Year Award

Designed to recognise those in this sector who are driving the business forward and achieving the most impressive development. Specialist sandwich bar chains are defined as retailers with six or more outlets, whose core business is the sale of sandwiches, whether made-toorder, pre-packed on site or bought in pre-packed.

The judging of this award will cover factors such as the standard of facilities, the shopping experience, customer care, presentation, product quality, sales success, innovation, marketing etc. Part of the supporting evidence for the entry should include photographs of a typical shop frontage, plus the customer area, the sandwich and/or ingredient display and the food preparation area, where applicable.

Submissions from non BSA accredited sandwich businesses should also be accompanied by evidence of food safety standards in the form of a certificate from an independent source confirming the business operates to a safe standard.

All those short-listed in this category will be visited by an independent judge.

Sandwich Retail Multiple of the Year Award

Presented to the retail multiple considered to have done the most to develop its sandwich business, taking into account marketing, innovation, packaging, product quality, sales growth and market share. This award is open to multiple retailers where sandwiches are one of many different food categories on sale.

Sandwich Convenience Retailer of the Year Award

A new award which will be presented to a convenience retailer considered to have done the most to develop its sandwich business, taking into account marketing, innovation, packaging, product quality, sales growth and market share. This award is open to convenience retailers where sandwiches are one of many different food categories on sale.

Workplace Sandwich Provider of the Year Award

This award seeks to identify excellence and progress amongst those providing sandwiches in a workplace environment, whether through contract catering, on-site retailing or delivery. The judges will take account of the general approach, range, presentation, innovation, sales growth etc.

Coffee Bar Sandwich Retailer of the Year Award

An award designed to recognise the growing importance of sandwich sales in the coffee bar environment. Entries will be judged on the levels of innovation, quality and sales success achieved on sandwiches, together with product range, presentation and emphasis on the category. For the purpose of this award, a coffee bar sandwich retailer is defined as a single site or group of retail outlets, where the primary activity is selling coffee, but the sale of sandwiches is an important secondary objective.

The Sandwich Marketing Award

Presented to the retailer, manufacturer, supplier or other sandwich business, which is considered by the judges to have implemented the most successful and innovative marketing initiative or campaign, designed primarily to promote the sale of their sandwiches.

New Sandwich Product of the Year Award

Intended to encourage the development of new products for the sandwich market, including ingredients, equipment and associated products. This award may be subdivided into categories at the discretion of the judges.

Independent Sandwich Bar of the Year Award

Designed to recognise progress and excellence in the non-chain sector of the Sandwich Bar market and applies only to individual operators whose core business is the sale of sandwiches and who have no more than 5 outlets.

Each short-listed shop will be visited by at least one judge, who will evaluate factors such as presentation, atmosphere, facilities, cleanliness and product range as well as innovation and customer service.

Entrants should submit a menu plus photographs showing the frontage of the shop, the customer area, the sandwich and/or ingredient display and the food preparation area during sandwich assembly. There should also be a written summary explanation of why they think they should win the award.

Submission from non BSA-accredited sandwich businesses should be accompanied by evidence of food safety standards in the form of a certificate from an independent source, such as an EHO, confirming the business operates to a safe standard.

Bakery Sandwich Shop of the Year Award

Seeks to recognise those bakery shops, which are leading the way in retailing sandwiches alongside their bakery goods. This award is specifically for bakery shops where bread and morning goods are sold alongside sandwiches.

In recognition of the fact that some baker’s shops only focus on sandwiches in certain sites, this award is given to a specific nominated bakery outlet, rather than to the overall business and chain entrants are encouraged to run their own internal competitions to determine the best shop to enter.

Shops will be judged on factors such as presentation, atmosphere, facilities, cleanliness and product range, as well as customer service and initiatives taken to develop the business within the operation during the award qualifying period. Entrants should submit photographs showing the frontage of the shop, the customer and the food preparation areas during operating hours.

Submissions from non BSA accredited sandwich businesses should be accompanied by evidence of food safety standards in the form of a certificate from an independent source.

All those short-listed will be visited by an independent judge.

New Sandwich of the Year Award

For a new pre-packed sandwich (not a range), which has been successfully launched in a retail or catering environment within the award qualifying period and has been on sale for at least two months prior to the end of that period.

Entries will be judged on the basis of innovation, presentation, eating quality and appeal and commercial viability. Entries should be supported with recipe details and photographs, together with details of the market and/or consumer the product is aimed at, the selling price and evidence of its success. Those shortlisted in this category will be invited to submit product for sampling in April 2009, when the final judging panel will select the winner.