meet our judges 2025

Valerie Aston

Proudfoot

Buying and Distribution Director for Proudfoot Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire

44 years’ experience in all areas of FMCG and Trustee on the Boards of two charities; Making A Difference Locally and Helmsley Walled Garden.

Nigel Barden

Host

Nigel is one the busiest food and drink hosts in the industry and is Chairman of Judges for the Great Taste, World Cheese Awards and Farm Shop & Deli Awards. He judges & hosts the Deliciously Yorkshire Awards and as a huge fan of seafood was delighted to host the National Fish & Chip Awards for 4 years running.

He is a keen supporter of Action Against Hunger. 

Nigel champions local, artisan food and drink producers from all over the UK. Growing up on a farm he has great respect and understanding of the farming community and to those who sell their home crafted produce at farm doors, markets and farm shops.​

Lisa Bennison

Bettys

Lisa Bennison is Catering and Cookery School Innovation Manager at Bettys and has worked with the family business since 1986, after first visiting on work placement from college. Her many roles in the business have included: waitressing, kitchen assistant, catering manager, front of house manager, deputy branch manager and training manger. She has been a central part of Bettys Cookery School where she worked as a senior tutor for 14 years, during which time the Cookery School won a series of nationally recognised awards. 

Lisa regularly visits France where her parents have a summer home, and where she delights in French cuisine particularly seafood. Her philosophy is one of simplicity as she believes good quality ingredients should be able to speak for themselves.

Adrian Boswell

Selfridges

Adrian Boswell, a fishmonger by trade, has held down roles as a Retail Admin Assistant, Allocator, and Merchandiser before moving into the world of Buying.

Prior to his current role as a Senior Food Buyer, Adrian worked his way up through the ranks as a Buyers Admin and Assistant Buyer. Here he has spent the last 20 years gaining experience in premium fresh food retail. Adrian has extensive knowledge of the different food areas, including cheese, deli, fresh fish, smoked fish, caviar, truffle, meat & poultry, F&V and more recently Health & Wellbeing.

Chris Dee

Investor

Chris has 30 years of food and drink retail, hospitality and FMCG experience covering several categories and operators including Booths and Harrods. He has specialised in the premium and luxury sectors both in physical store retailing, hospitality and online. He is an active investor in insurgent food brands and currently acts a non-exec Chairman for Jenki, Flower & White and Dukeshill as well as NED for Lonkero.

Bob Docherty

University of York

Bob Doherty is Dean of the School for Business and Society at the University of York. Since joining York in 2012 he has won £10.1m in grant funding with £9.4m as Principal Investigator including, ‘IKnowFood’ in 2016 (£3.4m) and more recently in 2020 a £6m award from the Transforming Food Systems SPF for the ‘Fix Our Food’ programme.

Bob was seconded for 3-years (April 2019-March 2022) as a policy fellow into DEFRA on a new science research programme launched to inform DEFRA policy making. Previously he was the University of York lead for N8 AgriFood, Director of the N8 Food Systems Policy Hub and Research Theme Leader for sustainable food in the York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI).

Before moving into academia in 2003, Bob spent 14 years working in the agrifood industry. First, 8 years working in Animal Health for Coopers Pitman Moore then five years as Head of Sales and Marketing at Divine Chocolate Ltd. Bob’s Grandma and Grandad on his mothers’ side were dairy farmers in Slaidburn, North of Clitheroe in Lancashire where Bob spent most of his summers.

John Gill

Booths

John has been involved in selecting, procuring and retailing great food and drink for 15 years with Booths.

In this time John has experienced the arrival and emergence of some wonderful food and drink brands and is always keen to support and encourage new and exciting products to market.

With a wealth of experience in food and drink awards judging, John can’t wait to get involved again in judging for the Deliciously Yorkshire Awards.

Matt Hopkins

Ind!e

Matt Hopkins is a seasoned business leader with over 25 years of experience in successfully selling products to major retailers. He excels in identifying growth opportunities, crafting robust commercial strategies, and driving impactful sales and marketing initiatives.

A visionary entrepreneur and creative thinker, Matt has a proven track record of developing and scaling diverse business models. His expertise in licensed branding has led to collaborations with renowned brands such as Jamie Oliver, Laura Ashley, The Great British Bake Off, and Chef Tom Kerridge.

Throughout his extensive career in retail, Matt recognised a significant shift in consumer trends toward locally made products with compelling stories. This insight inspired him to establish IND!E, a fresh and dynamic force driving change in the retail industry. Under Matt’s leadership, IND!E has become a market leader, supporting both major retailers and the SME challenger brand community. The company operates hundreds of pop-up shops in major retail locations each year and has pioneered a unique shop-in-shop concept, offering a crucial stepping stone for SME brands. Additionally, IND!E provides a comprehensive learning and resource hub and is set to launch its own e-commerce platform this year, further solidifying its role as an innovator in the retail landscape.

Lee Jones

Hedonist Drinks

A seasoned and respected member of the northern bar scene with over 16 years of experience in the hospitality sector. Lee joined Studio Events in 2021 and brings with him an excellent knowledge of the UK drinks industry and enthusiasm for engaging consumer events. Passionate about cocktails, spirits, bar standards and operations Lee also works as a consultant and trainer for independent businesses.

As the Head of Studio Events, Lee leads all tastings, digital events and brand collaborations; delivering high-quality experiences that combine education and enjoyment.

Winning Finalist for the 2022 Whistle Pig ‘No History, No Rules’, competition, Lee excels in brand advocacy and event execution. Following his global competition win, Lee worked as an ambassador for Southern Comfort in 2019, delivering masterclasses and representing the brand at events such as Meatopia, Imbibe and Class Awards. He has also spoken knowledgeably and passionately about gin brands on weekly Gin Journey tours across the North since 2018.

Elaine Lemm

Food Writer

Elaine is an award winning food writer, former chef and cookery school owner. For over 20 years she has been a restaurant critic at the Yorkshire Post and a freelance food and recipe writer for many leading magazines and online, including Waitrose Food Illustrated, National Geographic Food, Olive and BBC Good Food, and is a member of the Guild of Food Writers. 

She is also the author of 4 food books including the acclaimed Great Book of Yorkshire Pudding (now in its 3rd Edition), and her new book, More Than Yorkshire Puddings took second place for Best Regional Cookbook at the World Gourmand Book Awards in Sweden.

Amanda Ludlow

IWSC Judge

Amanda Ludlow is a member of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, a Freeman of the City of London and IWSC Judge.

Amanda has worked in hospitality / drinks sector for over 20 years. Starting her career in London at the Ritz and Les Ambassadeurs Casinos as a chef, returning to her home in Northern Ireland to work front of house in Ireland first Michelin starred restaurant Roscoffs. Amanda as worked in Australia in Cafe Sydney and set up a group of bars for Diageo. In UK Amanda has held management and leadership roles for both Brakes and United Biscuits . In addition to co-founding the Whisky Lounge with her husband, renowned whisky writer and whisky expert Eddie Ludlow, Amanda has consulted for LVHM, Berry Brothers&Rudd, Beam Edrington Suntory and Karuizawa Distiller Inc.

Carla Mills

Booths

Category Buying Manager for Fruit & Veg, Meat & Fish, Horticulture, Chilled Free From & Vegetarian and Dairy (Excl. Cheese)

Amanda Peberdy

Subrosa

Amanda Peberdy has over 30 years’ experience within the food and retail industry having previously worked as a food buyer and then co-founding Subrosa Ltd in 2008.

Her ‘in-depth’ know how as to how retailers work, combined with the breadth of knowledge of the wider Subrosa team, provides both strategic expertise and ‘hands on’ support across commercial, marketing and operational functions helping food & drink brands achieve their potential. 

Amanda loves judging our DY awards, if only to indulge in a day of pork pie eating and sipping Yorkshire beer!

An artisan cheesemonger who has led the business for 24 years, from a basic provision stall in Wakefield market to now a thriving wholesale business which supplies over 200 retailers, gastro pubs, hotels, sporting stadiums & Michelin starred restaurants.

Andrew Pern

The Star at Harome

Inspired by the incredible Yorkshire produce he grew up surrounded by, Andrew has been a tireless champion of the region’s food and drink scene for more than 30 years.

After taking ownership of The Star Inn at Harome at just 25, he quickly fashioned it into one of the first ever ‘gastropubs’, regularly winning awards, including a prestigious Michelin Star in 2002.

2023 saw the opening of the York Minster Refectory, a new restaurant set in the heart of York, serving dishes showcasing an abundance of local produce.

His approach has always been to let the seasons write the menus, with each element from meat, vegetables and herbs, taken from Yorkshire’s high quality and varied pantry of food. Andrew presents new takes on old-fashioned British-style favourites and Anglicised French classics, creating dishes that are accessible to all.

Catherine Scott

The Yorkshire Post

Catherine Scott is The Yorkshire Post’s Magazine Editor which champions the best of Yorkshire especially when it comes to what the county has to offer in terms of food and drink –  from  restaurant reviews to producers’ stories, recipes, wine and pubs.

She has been a journalist in Yorkshire for almost 20 years covering a wide variety of stories.

Passionate about all things Yorkshire , especially  food and drink, Catherine has been a DY judge for a number of years and finds it a privilege to be able to sample the wide variety of produce from across the county.

Matthew Wilkinson

Rudding Park

As Head of Kitchens at Rudding Park, Matthew Wilkinson oversees Clocktower Brasserie, Horto, Meetings & Events along with the new immersive dining experience FIFTY TWO. With a Kitchen Garden on site Matthew fully embraces the importance of home grown produce and relishes any opportunity to celebrate Yorkshire’s best food and drink businesses.

Fun fact, as a keen cyclist, Matthew’s career highlight to date was being invited to devise the menu for the official Le Tour de France Gala Dinner held at the Royal Hall in Harrogate in 2014!

David Whittle

Judge

David Whittle originally co-founded the leading brand agency CHILLI which specialises in food and drink. Following a successful merger with another major comms group he stepped down as MD after 28 years.

His experience in the food and retail industry is extensive ranging from managing the strategic design account for the Co-op to working on other national and international brands such as Deliciously Ella, Cadbury, Ocean Spray and Tetley Tea. He has also worked on a host of Yorkshire brands including Wensleydale Creamery, Yorkshire Provender, Saltaire Brewery and Jacksons of Yorkshire.

David also launched a food and drink brand agency in Sydney, Australia.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute.

Sarah de Wit

Judge

With many years of experience in the food sector, working in retail, technical, sourcing and new product development for M&S, CRS, and Asda, Sarah’s extensive knowledge includes cheese and dairy, fruit juice and drinks, chilled ready to eat foods, ambient sauces and dressings, and bakery products.

In 2017, Sarah set up Manor House Consultancy Ltd to use her expertise to support and mentor small and medium businesses. Her services include HACCP/food safety management systems, new product development, leading process/technical projects & sensory training. She is a SALSA auditor and mentor, and sits on the Technical Committee for the Specialist Cheese Makers Association.   

In 2020 Sarah founded the Virtual Cheese Awards and the team have recently hosted the 2025 awards.

Will Woodhouse-Banks

Taylor’s of Harrogate

Will has worked in coffee since 2011 in various roles including Café Manager, Head Roaster and Head of Quality. He currently works at Taylor’s of Harrogate as Operations Developer for their Discovery brand. 

Will is a certified Q Grader (the highest tasting qualification in coffee) and he took 2nd place in the 2022 U.K. Barista Championship. 

He is excited to be judging the coffee for the Deliciously Yorkshire Taste Awards for the 4th year in a row.