Edme Ingredients has won a Food and Farming Excellence Award for its investments and future potential.

The award was handed to Peter Tichbon, managing director of the company, who thinks it will boost the profile of malt.

The accolade was presented to the company at the East Anglian Business Awards ceremony, after judges examined investment, innovation, supply chain management, community involvement, customer service and business performance, as well as the contribution to local agriculture and the economy.

Tichbon said: “Crucial to all our operations is top-quality grain – and we are fortunate enough to be supplied with wheat, rye, oats and barley by some of the country’s very best grain growers. These are turned into premium wholegrain malt by Crisp Maltings, ready for us to mill into flour or roll into flakes for use in the baking and food industries. The award is as much a tribute to those farmers and maltsters as it is to us.

“The East Anglian business award gives us the opportunity to highlight the role of the whole supply chain. It will also help enormously in raising the profile of malt, an ingredient crucial to the brewing and distilling industries, but scurrilously under-utilised in bakery and food production.”

The judges said: “Managing director Peter Tichbon, who arrived just two years ago, has set out clear goals for the firm, invested in new plant and looked outside its traditional core bakery market to ensure the survival and success of the business.

“He has adopted a systematic, carefully planned approach and ensured that the £18.5 million turnover company, which employs 80 staff at its base in Mistley, near Manningtree, has a bright future ahead of it.”