IGD the charity that promotes excellence in the food industry is challenging companies to demonstrate their commitment to people development through its Food Industry Awards.

The John Sainsbury Award for Learning and Development recognises excellence in people development.

Last year's winner, Musgrave Budgens-Londis, took the prize for its ‘Fresh Food Training for Fresh Food Teams’ initiative, which worked with suppliers to train staff on fresh produce knowledge, so that they could provide facts, knowledge and anecdotes to consumers and increase sales.

The judges said of the entry: "This initiative demonstrated how learning and development strategies can really add value to a business. It showed innovation through collaborating with suppliers and empowering its staff. The initiative is sustainable and is delivering real results to the bottom line."

Head of Training and Development at Musgrave Budgens-Londis, Paul Danes, said that entering the awards had been a challenging yet fun experience. "Winning encouraged a large team to be proud of their achievements," he added.

For information on how to apply for the awards go to www.igd.com/awards. The closing date for entries is 15 July and winners will be announced at the IGD Food Industry Awards ceremony on 18 October.