From an NHS chef, to the manager of a cafe, a kitchen assistant at a care home and the owner of a street kitchen - this year’s Bidfood’s Christmas Gift winners go above and beyond to make the festive season special for others. For the third year in a row, Bidfood has rewarded the unsung heroes of the hospitality sector through its award-winning Christmas Gift campaign. Whilst many of us are enjoying a well-earned break, there are devoted individuals right across the UK keeping things quietly ticking over at Christmas, including these dedicated winners. It’s business as usual for those working in the hospitality sector over the festive period, with over 93% expecting to work either Christmas or Boxing Day.
[1] However, their loved ones are not always as accepting, with 67% having had family and friends complaining about their absence in the festive season.
[2] Recognising this, Bidfood want to give Christmas back to those who have sacrificed time with their loved ones over this period. With 98 nominations, the judging panel of leading industry experts chose five worthy winners across four industry sectors; accommodation, care, charity and food outlets who deserved the gift of a meal with loved ones and a Virgin Experience voucher to enjoy. Andy Kemp, Group Sales & Marketing Director at Bidfood, said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to run this campaign again for a third year. As many of you are aware, Bidfood’s Christmas Gift is very close to my heart, and it’s a pleasure to read just how many unsung heroes there are in our fantastic industry. “It’s no easy feat picking a winner, as the calibre of entries we receive is so high each year. Not only does this make the job for the judges that bit harder, but it has also resulted in a few extra winners and gifts been given to those most worthy. “A big thank you to everyone who nominated and to all those who give up their own Christmas to work so hard to make the festive period such a special time for us all.” The winners of Bidfood’s Christmas Gift 2019 have been chosen. The full list of winners and categories are below:
- Care
- Leanne Hanham, Kitchen Assistant, Harry Sotnick House
- Kieghley Whalebone, Chef, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
- Foodie outlets
- Gail Gillon, Manager, Jollytots & Cookies
- Accommodation
- Kerstin Kopeitko, Restaurant Supervisor, Golden Lion Hotel
- Charity
- Tracy Dickinson Wheeldon, Owner of Tracy’s Street Kitchen
More information on Bidfood’s Christmas Gift campaign can be found on the website, with full details of the winners stories coming soon. Please visit:
www.bidfood.co.uk/bidfood-christmas-gift
[1] Survey of 750 respondents conducted by 3GEM on behalf of Bidfood (September 2018)
[2] Survey of 750 respondents conducted by 3GEM on behalf of Bidfood (September 2018)
