Allied Bakeries was crowned Bakery Company of the Year at last night’s Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards (FMEAs).

The awards ceremony, which took place at London’s Park Lane Hilton Hotel, saw the Maidenhead-based bakery manufacturer, part of the wider Associated British Foods group and known best for its Kingsmill bread brand, scoop the top accolade in the category.

Allied Bakeries beat off stiff competition from Butt Foods in Nottingham, a manufacturer of folded flatbreads, bread bowls and other bread products for the foodservice industry, as well as Walker & Son, part of the Samworth Brothers business and a producer of own-label and branded pies.

Other winners from the bakery sector included Border Biscuits, which was announced as Cakes and Biscuits Company of the Year ahead of Rich Products and American Muffin, and Greencore Grocery, which received The Judges’ Special Award on the night.

Awards were handed out to winners on stage by Simon Rimmer, celebrity chef and co-presenter on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch.

The FMEAs are hosted by British Baker’s sister publication Food Manufacture.