The awards open for entries on Friday 20 October 2023, and close for entries at midnight on Sunday 7 January 2024. We will accept nominations from customers in putting forward their favourite foodies, as well as businesses submitting entries for themselves into the relevant categories! 

Any nominations submitted by customers, the events team will contact the business itself to let them know the good news, and provide the opportunity to submit a business entry, which will provide the judges with more in depth, category specific information for the judges.  

Judging will take place from 15 January 2024. We have two judges per category (representatives from the category sponsor and an expert judge from with the Suffolk food and drink industry) who will review your entry and individually mark it against the five-point criteria with the top six business making it through to the next round of judging. If you are successful in being selected for round 2 of judging the events team will be in touch to advise on the process and make arrangements. 

Judging will take place either via an organised meeting or an anonymous secret shopper style visit, and will be completed by 23 February.  

All businesses will be advised of their standing in the awards once judging is complete. The judges will supply feedback to applicants who make it the second round of judging (for those who do not make it to round 2, feedback is available on request).  

Finalists will be announced in the Suffolk Magazine, East Anglian Daily Times, online and via social media wc 18 March 2024.  

The award ceremony will take place on Monday 29 April at Snape Maltings, Suffolk.

Winning a Suffolk Food and Drink Award marks a milestone in your company’s history. It recognises your business journey and helps to celebrate your achievements. 

It recognises and highlights you as a go to choice for customers, new and returning! 

Becoming a finalist provides you with the opportunity to build your network and grow professional relationships across the sector. 

We work to raise your brand profile through increasing coverage of your business throughout the awards process and afterward in articles, in both print and online, and extra social media coverage. Winning a Suffolk Food and Drink Award marks a milestone in your company’s history. It recognises your business journey and helps to celebrate your achievements.

Entering a category provides you with the opportunity to build your network and grow professional relationships.

We work to raise your brand profile through increasing coverage of your business throughout the awards process and afterward in articles, in both print and online, and extra social media coverage.

Here we have some top tips for businesses submitting an entry into the awards: 

DO 

STAND OUT 

This is your chance to shout about your business and tell our judges about the incredible offering your business provides – making you the very best! 

BE RELEVANT 

Simply cramming everything your business does into the entry and hoping for the best won’t do. Make sure your entry is laserfocussed on the award you are hoping to win. 

BE CLEAR AND CONCISE 

There are a lot of entries – you need to get your message across quickly and grab the judges’ attention. 

CHECK AND CHECK AGAIN 

Spelling and grammar errors matter. Silly mistakes give a bad impression of your business. 

PROVIDE EVIDENCE 

Making a claim and not backing it up won’t cut it with the judges. So, make sure you can prove what you are saying. 

DON'T 

BE LAZY

Simply copying and pasting links from your online reviews is not what the judges are looking for. 

WAFFLE 

We want to know all about your triumphs – but get to the point quickly and move on to the next reason your business should be nominated. 

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE 

We are sure your plans for the next 12 months are stellar – but you can tell us about them when they have come to fruition. 

LEAVE IT TO THE LAST MINUTE 

Give yourself time to ensure you say everything you need to. 

For more information about tickets when they become available, please complete the contact form below.