March 2016 - Issue 3 www.britishkebabawards.co.uk The Meat of the Kebab Industry 4th British Kebab Awards (2016) Full Shortlist is inside! In association with British Kebab Awards 2 British Kebab Awards 3 British Kebab Awards British Kebab Awards 4th Year The British kebab industry contributes over £2.2 billion annually to the British economy, supporting around 200,000 jobs across restaurants, suppliers and the food industry in the UK. The British kebab industry contributes the various restaurants, suppliers and Special Thanks over £2.2 billion annually to the British workers make to the UK. economy, supporting around 200,000 We would like to say a special thank jobs across restaurants, suppliers and the The British Kebab Awards honour the you to JUST EAT, our main sponsor, food industry in the UK. dedication, hard work and commitment and Nadhim Zahawi MP, Keith Vaz of individuals in the catering and MP, Jonathan Reynolds MP, Mustafa Kebabs have become a Great British restaurant industry who has helped the Topkaya, Serpil Ersan, Ali Matur, Altan institution. And they’re big business, love of kebab to spread throughout the Kemal, Rami Ranger, Shany Gupta, with an estimated 1.3m kebabs sold UK and contributed to make the kebab Samson Sohail, Metin Pekin, Onder by vendors every day in the UK. Over industry to become the growing, thriving Sahan, Rami Ranger, Big K, Andy 20,000 kebab outlets in the UK selling sector that it is today. Woods, Nigel Dickens, Mustafa Demir, around 2,500 tonnes of lamb and Isbankasi, Hakan Topkaya, Bektas chicken doner a week. These awards are the first steps toward Kurt, The Meze Turkish Grill, Erol evaluating the kebab industry’s Coban, Kemal Has, Sabri Barackilic, The British kebab industry contributes contribution to the UK; to research, Alp Ceylan, Tony Manconi, Halil over £2.2 billion annually to the British measure and represent findings in Zurnacioglu, Ibrahim Uzun, Total economy, supporting around 200,000 statistical form. This is the norm in other Shopfitting Solutions, Turkish Bank, jobs across restaurants, suppliers and the catering sectors. We have worked towards Asset Management, Ashok Sodha, food industry in the UK. There are also continually measuring the size of the Samsun’s Specialty Kebab and Pizza around 200 doner kebab manufacturers market while also analysing the economic House, Dylon Hunt, Kemal Gondas, in the UK, with a turnover in excess of and social impacts that the industry has £750m. on the UK. The object of the awards is Pegasus Airlines, Savas Hurman, to highlight and acknowledge the best of AV Media Arts Limited, Last Man British Kebab Awards (2016) in its the kebab industry from all over Britain, Multimedia and Madhu’s for their fourth year have received thousands including local producers, restaurants, great support. We would like to thank of nominations across Great Britain. chefs, restaurateurs, and takeaways. our team Buket Bora, Timur Ekingen, Thousands of kebab businesses across Merve Akansel, Leyla Aksakal and our UK have kindly been nominated by Our judging panel is comprised of volunteers Aa’la Rajput, Azize Cay, Ozge kebab eaters of Britain. Nominations experts from the industry and members Kaya, Basak Demirkol, Edward Rowe, in 16 categories have been meticulously of parliament, and our judges are a Alexander Segall, Iva Spahiu and Conor assessed for the final shortlist. More and vital component of the validity and Macgregor for their great work and more kebab businesses are recognised for robustness of the results. Our judges support to organise the 4th British Kebab their good food and hard work. take every aspect of a product into Awards. Finally, we also would like to consideration-rewarding great flavours, thank all the Members of the Houses The British Kebab Awards, founded by high-quality ingredients, value for money of Parliament who have taken the time the Centre for Turkey Studies (www. and customer service which increases out to vote towards these awards and for ceftus.org), aims to shed light on this the retail success of a product and the recognising the contribution that the established industry, to recognise the nominees are awarded under 16 different kebab outlets and workers have made to cultural and economic contributions that categories. their constituencies. In association with Energy Drink with Taurine The Power to Topple ! “The name is dog..Bulldog” No ordinary K9. www.bulldogenergydrink.co.uk 4 British Kebab Awards The entrepreneurs behind British Kebab industry are the “ “ones who run their businesses with old-fashioned hard-work. They are the best of British-the risk-takers and job creators. A Great British Institution. Ibrahim Dogus Founder and Director Centre for Turkey Studies From the biggest city to the smallest The entrepreneurs behind British Kebab village, from Cardiff to Carlisle, from industry are the ones who run their Aberdeen to Southampton, from Belfast businesses with old-fashioned hard- to Brighton, and of course not forgetting work. They are the best of British-the British Kebab Awards and its official Green Lanes in Haringey, there is a kebab risk-takers and job creators. That’s why magazine, British Kebab, is proud to be shop, filled with hard-working staff, we celebrate their achievements by celebrating a great British institution-the serving people a hot, filling meal. organising British Kebab Awards. kebab. So we celebrate the cultural contribution A panel of judges including MPs Nadhim The cuisine of this country reflects of the kebab. Zahawi, Jonathan Reynolds and Keith the changing population over many Vaz, helped to decide the winners of each centuries. As authors Sami Zubaida and Richard category. I know it wasn’t an easy job for Tipper have written: ‘There is a lot them, the competition was fierce. Chips-brought by French Huguenots more to food than eating and cooking. [HU-GO-KNOWS]. Behind every dish lies a world, a culture, Finally, we must thank the people whose a history. Dishes have social meaning, generous support has enabled these Curry-brought by Bangladeshis, they have emotional and symbolic awards to go ahead. The 2015 awards Pakistanis and Indians. significance. Food is about power. It is are sponsored by Just EAT, the world’s an expression of identity and ideology. leading online takeaway ordering service, And of course kebabs, brought by people It touches on issues of class, gender, race Also: Big K, Xpo-online, Cobra Beer from across the Middle East and Eastern and ethnicity. It is a clue to history. It has Alton & Co, Bulldog Energy Drinks and Mediterranean. a language’. Paragon Qualities Food. When he was Foreign Secretary, the late, But it’s about more than culture. In I must acknowledge too the support of great Robin Cook suggested that chicken these harsh economic times, we have to Ceftus, the Centre for Turkey Studies, tikka massala was the UK’s national consider the pounds, shillings and pence. And the staff and volunteers who work dish, a combination of spicy chicken and Kebab shops, vans and restaurants are behind the scenes to make the British gravy. major players in the UK economy, Kebab Awards a success. with an estimated 1.3m kebabs sold by But dare I say that the kebab is also a vendors every day in the UK. Congratulations to all the businesses great British institution. nominated. You are all winners. The British kebab industry contributes The first kebab shop opened in North over £2.2 billion annually to the British The Kebab-part of our culture, cuisine London in 1960s and there are now economy, supporting around 200,000 and community. estimated over 20,000 kebab outlets jobs across restaurants, suppliers and the in the UK. Their popularity slowly food industry in the UK. There are also Truly A Great British Institution. increased in the 1970s and 1980s with around 200 doner kebab manufacturers the influx of Turkish and Greek Cypriots in the UK, with a turnover in excess of and Kurdish communities. £750m. 5 British Kebab Awards The UK’s food and drink sector makes an important “ “ contribution to the British economy, with over 1.4 million working in the catering sector alone. “I am delighted to offer my who are being nominated for awards Rt Hon congratulations on behalf of the this year. I would like to thank you very Government, to everyone being much for British culture and hope you David Cameron honoured. The UK’s food and drink have a great evening.” Prime Minister and Leader of the sector makes an important contribution Conservative Party to the British economy, with over 1.4 million working in the catering sector alone. The Kebab has an ever growing role in British social life and its popularity as a food is owed in no small part to the talented restaurants and chefs The British Kebab industry continues to grow year “ “after year and contributes over £2.2 billion to Britain’s economy every year. I am delighted to send this message they recognise the hard work that Rt Hon of support for the 4th British Kebab restauranteurs and chefs do. I wish you Awards. The British Kebab industry all my best wishes, for another superb Jeremy Corbyn MP continues to grow year after year awards ceremony in 2016. Labour Leader and contributes over £2.2 billion to Britain’s economy every year. Kebabs are now a firm favourite in many British households. Workers and SME’s in British Kebab industry have worked incredibly hard to get where they are today. British Kebab Awards are now an important part of the food awards in Britain, because 6 British Kebab Awards Together, we’ll continue to help our restaurant partners “ “flourish, and generate even more success stories like the ones you’ll hear tonight.