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There were 11 categories and amongst the winners were Yeo Valley, Oldham Council and Beverley Edwards at Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Helen Browning, chief executive of the Soil Association, said: “Food for Life decided to establish an annual celebration to shine the spotlight on cooks and food providers from across the UK who are achieving great standards.

“There has been a doubling in the number of food providers engaging with our celebration of excellence, despite the turmoil and uncertainty facing the food service industry, and this is something we’re delighted to shout about.

“Cooks and food providers achieving our standards can therefore be rightly proud, confident and bold about providing the best in sustainable and healthy catering in the UK.”

Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith attended the awards ceremony to deliver a welcome speech and assist with the presentation of the awards.

Leith commented: “The commitment of caterers to safe, healthy, sustainable and delicious food is absolutely vital if we are to tackle our current environment and health crisis.

“Today we are honouring great caterers who feed the public in all manner of places: nursery schools, care homes, hospitals, visitor attractions and workplaces alike. Congratulations to everyone getting a Food for Life Served Here award.”

An independent judging panel including Professor Tim Lang professor of food policy at City University of London, Bee Wilson food writer, historian and school food campaigner, Myles Bremner chief executive of Bremner Consulting, Stephen Forster national LACA chair, and Lynsey Gordon category manager at Scotland Excel chose the Winners.

Wilson added: “I strongly feel that caterers are the great unsung heroes in our society. To me, feeding someone with care is one of the great acts of love; most of us only do this for our nearest and dearest but caterers do this for dozens, hundreds or thousands of people a day, having a huge impact.

“To really take care over the ingredients and to think about how this will impact the wider community as the caterers have done at the Food for Life awards is inspiring.”

The judges were looking for people and food producers who are committed to ensuring the Food for Life Served Here standards.

The Food for Life Served Here Excellence at Silver and Gold Award, sponsored by Pip Organic, went to Oldham Council. For this award, judges were looking for the organisation that goes the extra mile with the Silver and Gold standards.

The awards also celebrated its tenth anniversary of Food for Life Served Here and the pioneering organisations who were early adopters.

2019 Winners

• Further and Higher Education Champion Award: Ivan Hopkins at Nottingham Trent University
• Healthcare Champion Award: Carl Stevenson at Bondcare Summerfield House Care Home
• Independent School Champion Award, sponsored by Yearsley Food: Simon Blackwood at King’s House School
• Restaurants, Events and Leisure Champion Award, sponsored by Vintage Roots: Beverley Edwards at Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
• Workplace Champion Award: Daniel Blackburn at John Lewis Partnership Victoria Head Office Campus
• Schools Champion Award, sponsored by Yeo Valley: Marie Bridge at Christ Church Primary GS Plus
• Early Years Champion Award: Tracy Miller & Olivia Cherry at Woodlands Day Nursery Childbase Partnership
• Excellence at Silver and Gold Award, sponsored by Pip Organic: Oldham Council:
• Innovation in Customer Engagement Award, sponsored by ParentPay:Leicestershire Traded Services Catering
• Food for Life Supplier Scheme Champion: Yeo Valley
• Green Kitchen Standard Champion, sponsored by Wallaroo Foods: Aramark University of Westminster