Frozen food distributor Central Foods has been named a finalist for the Midlands Family Business of the Year Award 2017.

The Northamptonshire-based business, run by husband and wife team Gordon and Alison Lauder for the past 21 years, is one of 12 family firms shortlisted for the accolade.

“We are thrilled to hear we’ve been nominated in the final of this award. It’s fantastic news for Central Foods and all of our loyal, hardworking team,” said managing director Gordon Lauder.

“This year we celebrate our 21^st birthday and to learn that we are a finalist of the Midlands Family Business of the Year Award 2017 is cause for a double celebration.

“I’d like to thank all our staff, as well as our customers and clients, who have supported us in the journey we have taken to become one of the UK’s best-known frozen food suppliers to the wholesale and foodservice sector. Congratulations and best of luck to all the finalists in the awards.”

The Family Business of the Year Awards are organised by Family Business United, the award-winning magazine and resource centre that champions and celebrates the family business sector. Now in their fifth year, the awards recognise the diversity, strength and depth of family firms across the UK and seek to highlight the contribution that family firms make to the UK economy. 

Open to family firms of all generations, sizes and sectors, the awards recognise some outstanding family firms and really help to put family businesses on the map.

Paul Andrews, founder and managing director of Family Business United, said: "We are delighted to be able to pull together such a vibrant bunch of family businesses, some that have succeeded for numerous generations and continue to thrive, and others that are relatively young but have great values at the heart of what they do.

“Well done to Central Foods on being named a finalist.”

Sian Steele, head of family business at PwC, sponsors of the award added: "Any one of those shortlisted would make worthy winners and ambassadors for the sector. We are looking forward to finding out more about each of them and I am sure that the decisions to determine the winner will not be easy.  Previous winners of this award include Penny Hydraulics, Cropwell Bishop and Fracino so the 2017 winners will be following in the footsteps of some incredible family firms."

The awards process concludes at a gala reception and awards ceremony that takes place in London at the prestigious May Fair Hotel in London on June 8 where the winners will be crowned.

Central Foods, which is based at Collingtree near Northampton, supplies more than 220 independent wholesalers, as well as larger national and regional wholesalers. It also supplies to foodservice caterers across the entire foodservice industry, including pubs, hotels, restaurants, staff canteens, schools, hospitals, coffee shops, football grounds and universities.

Offering a one-stop shop to the foodservice sector, it sources products from around the world and the UK, supplying more than 400 different lines, ranging from meat, bakery items and canapés through to buffet products, desserts and puddings.