Caribbean food and drink businesses in the UK will be honoured in the first five-star awards event on Monday 9 October to celebrate the ever-increasingly popular cuisine.

In recent years there can be no denying that Caribbean cuisine is only now getting the recognition it deserves in the UK food and drink industry. This is despite Caribbean food and drink establishments having a presence in the UK since the 1920s.  Today, the fast-growing industry is now worth more than £100 million in the UK.

To commend the efforts of the founders of these businesses, Dawn Burton and Marsha Barnett, who both also run individual catering businesses – Caribburton and JerkShack, set up The Caribbean Food Collective, to be the voice of the Caribbean Food & Drink sector. Going further, the duo decided the industry also needed a prestigious awards ceremony of its own.

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Speaking to Melan Magazine about the launch of UK Caribbean Food Awards, Dawn said: “The awards are to celebrate the hard work, and to be a platform for many of the hundreds of Caribbean food businesses some of which have been in operation for more than 30 years, with little to no business guidance or networking.

“There is a lot of work to be done but, the awards ceremony is a good positive place to start.”

Marsha added: “Caribbean food is one of the most popular growing takeaways that people want to try. There is no current structure in place to assist Caribbean food and drinks businesses.” That’s where The Caribbean Food Collective comes in.

The UK Caribbean Food Awards will take place at the Marriott Hotel, London on Monday 9 October. The organising team is asking readers to nominate their favourites in categories such as Best Restaurant, Best Takeaway, Best Bakery, Best African & Best Latin Eateries, Best Beverage, Best Vegan and Vegetarian Eatery, via the UK Caribbean Food Awards website.

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Winners on the night can expect professional public relations support for their business and products as well as exposure at the ceremony with important corporate contacts, chefs, and celebrities. In addition to social media opportunities for promotion there will also be cash prizes and trophies for each category.

Broadcaster and Journalist Brenda Emmanus and award-winning film producer, director, actor and ex rapper Fredi Nwaka will be the hosts for the awards.

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To nominate your favourite Caribbean food and drink business, visit the UK Caribbean Food Awards website here.