Marks & Spencer, The Compleat Food Group, Northcoast Seafoods and Delice de France were among the biggest winners at the 38th annual British Frozen Food Awards, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London.

The awards celebrate the very best in frozen food innovation, quality and culinary excellence across retail and foodservice.

This year’s winners painted a picture of a category that is continuing to innovate to deliver what today’s consumers and professional kitchens are looking for. Familiar favourites were elevated with premium ingredients and chef-driven innovation while playful twists, global influences and imaginative combinations demonstrated the confidence and creativity that continue to define frozen food.

Marks & Spencer claimed the Retail Product of the Year title for its Raspberry Macarons, while The Compleat Food Group took Foodservice Product of the Year with its Wrights Centenary Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie.

Innovation also shone through the judging process. Northcoast Seafoods won the Retail Innovation Award for Iceland’s TGI Mini Cheese Burger Basket with Nacho Sauce, while Delice de France secured the Foodservice Innovation Award for its Pepperoni & Cheese Hand Twisted Knot.

Rupert Ashby said: “This year’s awards highlight what an exciting category frozen food is. There is a real confidence in the way manufacturers are developing products that people want to eat today. We saw home style comfort food , premium products that would not look out of place in a restaurant, and inventive ideas that bring an element of surprise and fun to the table.

“Our judges were hugely impressed by the quality of the entries across every category. The products demonstrated outstanding flavour, attention to detail and an understanding of changing tastes, whether that means refining timeless classics or introducing consumers to something completely new.

“Frozen food continues to earn its place at the heart of British kitchens and the foodservice sector. It offers convenience without compromise, helps reduce food waste and delivers exceptional consistency and value. The calibre of this year’s winners gives me enormous confidence in the future of our industry.”

In the retail categories, Marks & Spencer enjoyed another successful evening, adding Gold awards for its Milk Chocolate Chunk Cookies in Best New Bakery & Pastry and Arctic Colin in Best New Dessert, alongside Product of the Year and Ice Cream winner Raspberry Macarons. Tesco shared Gold in Best New Dessert with its Finest Belgian Chocolate & Honeycomb Choux Tower and Best New Party Food with its Laksa Coconut Snowball Bao Buns.

Elsewhere, Morrisons won Best New Fish Main with The Best Salmon Wellington, COOK took Gold in Best New Meat Main for its Beef Bourguignon Pie, PACK’D won Best New Side/Vegetable with its Organic Soffritto Base, and Farmfoods claimed Best New Vegetarian with its Greek Feta Pasta Salad. Fullers Foods International collected Gold in Best New Potato Product for Waitrose No1 Four Cheese Potato Gratins, while Crown Foods won Best New Seasonal Product with Morrisons 12 Duck Spring Rolls. COOK also triumphed in Best New Vegan with its Butternut Squash, Leek & Beetroot Wellington. Asda claimed Best New Pizza with its Saporito Stonebaked Proscuitto & Mascarpone pizza, while best new ready meal went to Crop’s Foods’ Morrisons Chicken and Mushroom Risotto.

Foodservice winners reflected equally strong demand for products that balance practicality with standout appeal. Brakes won Gold in Best New Bakery, Pastry & Morning Goods for its La Boulangerie Lemon Drizzle Filled Tulip Muffin and in Best New Cost Sector Product for its Sysco Essentials High Fibre Courgette and Lime Traycake.

La Compagnie des Desserts impressed judges with Gold awards in both Best New Dessert for its Red Berry & Pistachio Rose and Best New Ice Cream for its Burrata & Pesto Ice Cream. Daregal Gourmet Ltd won Best New Ingredient with its Chimichurri Herb Blend, while Seafish UK Limited claimed Best New Fish Main with its Ocean Bistro Dusted Lemon and Parsley Yellowfin Sole Fillet.

The Compleat Food Group’s Wrights Centenary Chicken, Leek & Bacon Pie also won Best New Meat Main, while Hopwells Limited took Best New Potato with Hoppers Proper Crunchy Fries. What’s Cooking? secured Best New Side/Vegetable for Carbonara Bites, Three Oceans Fish Ltd won Best New Starter/Buffet with its Cheesy Smoked Haddock Fish Cake, Bidfood claimed Best New Vegan with its Premium Selection Speculoos Sticky Toffee Pudding, and Brioche Pasquier took Best New Vegetarian for its Symphonie Pasquier Le Praline Entremets.

Both the foodservice and retail awards are assessed by panels of professional chefs, while the retail categories are also judged by consumer panels held across the UK. Every entry is rigorously evaluated on taste, innovation, presentation, value for money and commercial viability.