This year’s awards have received an overwhelming response from the region’s food industry, with more than double the number of entries from last year. Victoria Foods, which is short-listed for the Manson Insurance Award for Innovation, recently celebrated 25 years in business at its Leigh base.

Last year the company developed and launched a range of dessert and baking mixes with Weight Watchers - developed with reduced sugar and with a low saturated fat, within strict POINTS® controlled development guidelines, using all natural ingredients.

Dan Ross, Victoria Foods' managing director, said: “We are committed to investing in new systems and technology to ensure that our business grows into the 21st century.

"We strive to stay one step ahead of the competition and continue to evolve our product portfolio to respond to what consumers want.”

Organised by Food Northwest, the organisation set up to lead the food and drink industry and to help to grow the Northwest regional economy, the annual awards recognise the innovations, best practice initiatives and achievements of businesses across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside.

Pat Foreman, chief executive of Food Northwest, said: “These awards reflect and reward the impressive achievements and innovations of the companies and the people working in the region’s growing food sector.

”The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre on June 19 and focus on the theme ‘Celebrating a Culture of Success’, reflecting Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture status for 2008.

Mark Hughes, Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) executive director of enterprise and skills, said: “The Northwest is home to a thriving food and drink sector with significant growth potential and the high standard of this year’s short-listed companies reflects the strength of the sector in the Northwest.

"The region is home to some of the UK’s most innovative and dynamic food and drink companies and these awards are a valuable recognition of their achievements.

”The awards are sponsored by: Barclays Commercial; Business Link, Northwest; DWF solicitors; Food Northwest; IGD; Leapfrog Public Relations; the Learning & Skills Council; Northwest Organic Centre; Manson Insurance; MIDAS, Manchester’s inward investment agency and UK Trade & Investment.