The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) has revealed the shortlist for the NACC National Awards 2026, which this year include a new category – The Innovation Award.
Every year these coveted awards celebrate the skills, excellence and dedication the Association’s members demonstrate daily as they deliver exceptional nutrition and hydration to older and vulnerable people.
Across the care catering sector, teams and individuals have been nominated by their colleagues for the outstanding service they deliver, whether they work in residential care homes, Meals on Wheels services, lunch clubs and day centres, or in other supporting roles.
These nominations have been whittled down to a shortlist in each of seven categories, with the winners due to be revealed at a Gala Dinner on Thursday 15
th October, as part of the NACC Training & Development Forum 2026.
The NACC National Awards 2026 finalists are:
Care Establishment of the Year Award, sponsored by allmanhall
- AbleCare Kitchens / AbleCare Homes Hospitality & Catering Service
- Branksome Heights Kingsley Healthcare
- Care UK Hotel Services Team
- Middleton Hall Retirement Village
Meals on Wheels Award, sponsored by apetito
- AbleCare Kitchens
- Fife Council Meals on Wheels
- Health & Independent Living Support (HILS)
- Woking Borough Council Community Meals Service
Catering Team of the Year Award, sponsored by Rational UK
- Abbey Healthcare Catering Team
- Bupa Care Services
- Ladden View Catering Team, Care UK
- Meallmore Catering Team
- Middleton Hall Retirement Village
- Signature Dining Catering Team
Catering Manager of the Year Award, sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions
- Joanne Ankers, Group Catering Manager, Abbey Healthcare
- Darren Klein, Head of Catering, PJ Care Specialist Services
- Jody Marshall, Group Hospitality Manager, Meallmore
- Stuart Pelham, Hotel Services Manager, Care UK
- Jennifer Rowe, Catering and Service Manager, British Home (White Oaks)
- Mark Scott, Catering and Domestic Services Manager, Pendleside Hospice
Our Care Catering Hero Award, sponsored by Miele
- Jimmy Morales, Sous Chef, Elmbrook Court – Oakland Care
- Dona Moraliyage Muditha, Head Chef, Byron House Care Home
- Jane Oliver, Senior Relief Chef, Cinnamon Care Collection
- Stacie Petrillo, Hospitality Manager, AbleCare Group
- Rebecca Stevens, Kitchen Supervisor, Tovil Green Court, Housing 21 (White Oaks)
The Bev Puxley Award*, sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Cooks London
- Anas Al Saadi, Group Executive Head Chef, MACC Care
- Tristan Hurford, Head Chef, AbleCare Group
- Darren Neal, Head of Culinary, White Oaks
The Innovation Award, sponsored by Atosa Catering Equipment
- AbleCare Kitchens - Central Production Kitchen Model
- Academy of Care Kitchen Excellence
- Anwar Kajee, Hospitality Director, Country Court
- Pendleside Hospice’s Bereavement Cookery Course
- Taste the Memories by Signature Dining
The winners of the following awards will also be announced at the Gala Dinner:
NACC Region of the Year Award, sponsored by Meiko UK
Pam Rhodes Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by Winterhalter
National Chair’s Award
Neel Radia, National Chair of the NACC, said: “Once again I have been blown away by the calibre of the nominees, which made selecting the shortlisted finalists very hard indeed.
“The amazing care catering professionals working in our sector deserve every inch of recognition and thanks we can give them, and I am sorry our annual awards can only represent the tip of the iceberg. Still, I look forward to celebrating with the winners, their colleagues and all our NACC family in October, when we can come together to show our appreciation to everyone who dedicates their lives to ensuring our elderly and vulnerable service users are well nourished, well hydrated and able to safely enjoy every meal.
“This year we also have the excitement of the new Innovation Award to look forward to, as we specially commend those members who are quietly pushing the boundaries of great nutritional support with cutting edge innovations.”
