The renewed hard work and engagement of employees around the globe will be celebrated with the Team of the Year accolade at our World Confectionery Awards, as our finalists have been determined, writes Neill Barston.

Competition for this year’s honours has been commendably high, once again forming part of our World Confectionery Conference which moves to London on 10 September at One America Square.

This year’s Team of the Year finalists include UK business Hames Chocolates, which has continued to make a strong impact in the region’s confectionery sector with its inventive offerings designed from its Lincolnshire base.

As the company noted, product development, design, technical, purchasing, production, packing, warehousing and customer service work as one connected team from the initial brief through to final delivery. This joined-up approach has enabled it to introduce a faster and more efficient product development process.

Carol and Andrew Oldbury of Hames Chocolates. Pic: Neill Barston

Furthermore, fellow British business DT&G Ltd, experts in chocolate coating systems, based in Wirral, Cheshire, has also put forward its own teams, who have been hard at work installing lines around the globe. It will be among speakers at this year’s World Confectionery Conference, exploring how its work is moving to meet growing demand for high-grade processing systems.

According to the company, over the past six years, sales of its Finn Coaters and polishers have quadrupled, owing to the dedication and collaborative work of the DT&G Team and their ability to understand the Customers requirements.

Our line-up of finalists is completed by ZDS, the German central college of confectionery, which is also among returning speakers at our event this September in London.

As the organisation stated,  it has successfully combined day-to-day educational operations with the planning and delivery of an exceptional anniversary programme celebrating a momentous 75th anniversary. The college will be discussing the merits of advanced training within the sector at our key UK gathering.

Editor Neill Barston noted: “The category of team of the year for our accolades one that is fundamental to why we established our awards in the first place – in order to mark achievements within businesses, and to celebrate those who are behind those attainment, many of whom remain largely ‘unsung heroes’ across companies and organisations around the world.”

Registration for this year’s World Confectionery Conference remains open via our dedicated event website at confectioneryconference.com