We are delighted to announce the MSC UK Awards 2021 Winners! This year the awards were streamed from the prestigious National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth for the second year running.
Now in its 8th year, the MSC UK Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements and performance in sustainable fishing and seafood across the entire UK business spectrum. Despite the unprecedented challenges of the past year, there has been great progress in a number of areas.
The 2021 MSC UK Award Winners
MSC UK Fish Counter of the Year
Waitrose & Partners
MSC UK Fisherman of the Year (*New Category*)
Tom Russell, Poole Harbour clam and cockle fishery
MSC UK Foodservice Champion of the Year
Anstruther Fish Bar
MSC UK Foodservice Wholesaler of the Year
Brakes and M&J
MSC UK Fresh Fish Foodservice Supplier of the Year
Direct Seafoods
MSC UK Frozen Brand of the Year
Birds Eye
MSC UK Marketing Champion of the Year
MSC UK Mid-size Store Retailer of the Year
Lidl
MSC UK Newcomer of the Year
Ella's Kitchen
MSC UK Ocean Hero
Cornish Hake
MSC UK Pet Food Brand of the Year (*New Category*)
Woofs
MSC UK Product of the Year (*New Category*)
MSC UK Retail Supplier of the Year
New England Seafood International
MSC UK Social Media Hero of the Year (*New Category*)
Co-op
MSC UK Supermarket of the Year
Tesco
*Guest Award Category*
ASC UK Retailer of the Year
Lidl
Catch up on the event at the National Marine Aquarium below
MSC UK awards 2021
A snapshot of our 2021 Awards
Meet our expert judging panel
Mitch Tonks
Restaurateur, Food Writer, MSC UK Ambassador
CJ Jackson
CEO, Billingsgate Seafood School and TV personality
Marcus Coleman
CEO, Seafish
Dr Eleanor Adamson
Fisheries Programme Manager, Fishmongers Hall
MSC UK 2021 Award categories explained
This year we launched several brand new award categories to recognise the range of contributions that the seafood sector has made in championing sustainability.
MSC UK Fish Counter of the Year
Judged on the number of MSC labelled products, as well as the variety and increase in certified species on sale at UK fresh fish counters.
MSC UK Fisherman of the Year (*New Category*)
Peer-nominated and scored by our expert judging panel. Awarded to a fisherman who has gone above and beyond in championing the importance of sustainability in/for the catching sector.
MSC UK Foodservice Champion of the Year
Nominated by the MSC Commercial team and scored by our expert judging panel. Awarded to a foodservice business that has gone above and beyond in serving MSC labelled products on their menu.
MSC UK Foodservice Wholesaler of the Year
Judged on the number of MSC labelled products, variety of MSC certified species on sale, and volume of MSC certified fish on sale to UK foodservice companies.
MSC UK Fresh Fish Foodservice Supplier of the Year
Judged by the MSC through self-nominations by MSC certified fresh fish foodservice suppliers. Awarded to a supplier who has supported their customers in identifying new MSC products and species for restaurant businesses and demonstrated commitment to driving progress of certified sustainable seafood within the UK foodservice sector.
MSC UK Frozen Brand of the Year
Judged on progress made and totals of the number and volume of MSC labelled products on sale over the past financial year.
MSC UK Marketing Champion of the Year
Self-nominated and judged by the MSC. Awarded for partner campaigns featuring the MSC which champion the importance of seafood sustainability and generate consumer awareness around the blue MSC ecolabel.
MSC UK Mid-size Store Retailer of the Year
Judged on progress made and totals of the number of MSC labelled products, percentage of total range certified, and volume (tonnes) of MSC fish and seafood on sale at mid-size retail stores.
MSC UK Newcomer of the Year
Awarded to an MSC partner that has newly demonstrated a strong commitment to the MSC programme, helping safeguard seafood supplies and protect our oceans over the past financial year.
MSC UK Ocean Hero
Nominated by the MSC Fisheries team and scored by our expert judging panel. This award recognises and rewards leadership in furthering the sustainability of fisheries.
MSC UK Pet Food Brand of the Year (*New Category*)
Self-nominated and scored by our expert judging panel. Awarded to a pet food brand that has taken innovative steps to introduce new MSC products and promote the importance of certified sustainable fish in pet food.
MSC UK Product of the Year (*New Category*)
Self-nominated and scored by our expert judging panel. Awarded for exceptional efforts in new product innovation and commitment to rewarding and promoting sustainable fishing practices.
MSC UK Retail Supplier of the Year
Judged by the MSC based on nominations from UK retailers.
MSC UK Social Media Hero of the Year (*New Category*)
Judged by the MSC and awarded for innovative and original partner communications across social media, in which the blue MSC ecolabel and seafood sustainability feature prominently, generating awareness around the MSC.
MSC UK Supermarket of the Year
Judged on progress made and totals of: number of MSC labelled products, percentage of total range certified, and volume (tonnes) of MSC fish and seafood on sale at large retail stores.
*Guest Award Category*
This year we were pleased to have welcomed our partners the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) who joined us for our Awards, to recognise the progress made by the farmed seafood sector over the past year in the UK. ASC will be presenting their guest award:
ASC UK Retailer of the Year
View winners from other years
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