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The heart of BM: Celebrating the people who make it special

Our values aren’t just words on a page, or a poster on the wall. They’re brought to life every day through the way we treat one another, the support we offer, and the pride we take in what we do.

For me, one of the most powerful parts of our culture is the way we recognise each other. Peer-to-peer recognition really matters, because it comes from the people who see those moments up close, the colleague who steps in to help, the person who lifts the team on a tough day, or the individual who quietly goes above and beyond without expecting anything in return.

These moments shape the kind of place we all want to be part of.

Our awards are a celebration of exactly that. Our people drive these awards by nominating one another, showing their appreciation for each other and the behaviours that bring our values to life.

Whether it’s being open and honest, supporting others, showing creativity, or delivering outstanding service, these behaviours are what make our culture so special.

I feel incredibly proud, not just of the individuals and teams recognised, but of the spirit behind it all. The fact that we take the time to notice, to say thank you, and to celebrate each other says so much about who we are as a business.

What follows is a chance to recognise some truly brilliant people and teams. Those people who have made a real difference this year, not just through what they’ve achieved, but in how they’ve shown up for others along the way.

Celebrating our people

At the heart of the evening was a celebration of the people who make this business what it is, those who go above and beyond every single day, bringing passion, creativity and care to everything they do.

Alongside the individual winners, it was a real privilege to recognise a number of outstanding teams. These teams consistently deliver excellence, going beyond expectations and bringing collaboration, energy and shared commitment that make this company so special.

Individual award winners

🏆 Alicia Munoz – Fundamentally Food
For her genuine passion for food and her ability to consistently deliver quality, creativity and attention to detail.

🏆 Dorrainne Casey – Obsessive About Our People
For her unwavering focus on supporting others, creating a positive environment and always putting people first.

🏆 Darren Dimenna – Open & Honest
For leading with integrity, building trust and championing openness in everything he does.

🏆 Pamela Willis – Dedicated to Our Customers
For her commitment to delivering exceptional service and consistently going the extra mile for clients.

🏆 Meng-Hsuan Lin – Innovative in All We Do
For her creativity and forward-thinking approach, continually bringing fresh ideas and new perspectives.

🏆 Matt Petit – Entrepreneurial Award
For his drive, initiative and ability to identify opportunities that make a real difference.

🏆 Tom McDonough – Support You Can Trust
For his reliability and dedication, always stepping in to support others and keep things moving.

🏆 Ben Schobs – The Gregory Hall Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Award
For his inspiring work in championing inclusion and driving meaningful, lasting change.

Team award winners

🏆 Dean Holleran and team – Fundamentally Food
For delivering a vibrant, high-quality food offer and maintaining exceptional standards through change.

🏆 Kevin Sookhan and team – Obsessive About Our People
For supporting each other across sites, managing change with confidence and delivering a major launch without additional resource.

🏆 Vitalijus Beinarovic and team – Open & Honest
For embracing feedback, building trust and working collaboratively to deliver strong results.

🏆 John Anckle and team – Dedicated to Our Customers
For delivering outstanding service and consistently going the extra mile for customers.

🏆 Claire Beaven and team – Innovative in All We Do
For driving impactful innovation, reducing single-use plastic and creating meaningful opportunities through BLOOM.

🏆 Sam Booth and team – Entrepreneurial
For building a high-performing operation, driving additional sales and maximising team strengths.

🏆 Diana Pintrijel and team – Support You Can Trust
For going above and beyond to support the Nova project and delivering wherever needed.

Founder’s awards and special recognition

Wendy presented the Founder’s Awards on the night, and I was incredibly proud to receive one alongside Richard Hodgson. It was a truly special moment and one I feel very grateful for. These awards recognise the people who have helped shape BM’s journey over many years, and it was an honour to be included.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came when we turned the spotlight onto Wendy herself. Recognising her with a Legacy Award for 26 years of passion, leadership and dedication. From founding the company to shaping what it is today, she has influenced everyone.

Wendy also presented an Honorary Founder’s Award to Lin Dickens. Recognising her unwavering contribution since the very beginning and her leadership of marketing over the past 26 years.

Moments like these are a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when people care deeply about what they do and support one another along the way.

Everything we do comes back to our people. It’s the relationships we build, the way we support one another, and the pride we take in recognising each other’s contributions that set us apart.

In a world where so much is constantly changing, what remains constant is the impact we have on each other, every day.

When we take the time to celebrate those moments and the behaviours behind them. We strengthen the culture that makes BM such a special place to be.

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