Our Judges
Bethan Grylls
Bethan Grylls is the Editor of Food Manufacture, which commands the largest audience of any online platform dedicated solely to readers working in the UK food and drink manufacturing industry. Prior to joining Food Manufacture (part of the William Reed group), she led New Food Magazine’s content team. She has been working as a professional writer for more than a decade and was responsible for organising one of the world’s largest virtual, scientific food and beverage conferences in 2021. Bethan is a regular speaker at food and drink events and chairs Food Manufacture’s esteemed Business Leaders Forum, she is also the host for the brand’s prestigious food and drink awards, and a well-respected thought-leader in her field. Bethan serves as a technical advisor on the Clean Label Project’s UK board and is a judge for Ecotrophelia 2023. She is also responsible for National Butcher’s Week, a social event operated under the Meat Trades Journal brand, which includes a judging role on the affiliated Butcher’s Shop awards.
Bill Jermey
Bill started his career as a management trainee with Unilever whilst undertaking a 4 year Honours degree in Food Technology on a sandwich course – much like a degree apprenticeship today. His first full-time role was managing a large meat dehydration operation for ready meals and soups. Although he then moved from Unilever he spent most of his career managing meat product production until he bought a business via a management buyout in 1998. which he went on to sell in 2003.
In addition, he was President of the British Meat Manufacturers’ Association from October 2000 until October 2003, and chaired the steering committee with the British Meat Federation which led to a successful merger of the two associations. He remained a Trustee/ Council member of the new Association until May 2014, and remains an Honorary Member.
Bruce McCall
Bruce McCall, Members Services Manager at Scottish Craft Butchers for over 24 years.
Dave Lang
Dave Lang is the Head of Development at Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland.
Eleanor O'Brien
Eleanor joined the membership team at National Craft Butchers in 2018, bringing her extensive experience in communications, commerciality, and operational management, having worked in the retail and hospitality industry for over 13 years, with experience ranging from independent businesses to large corporates. Taking over as Managing Director of NCB in 2022 and eager to continue NCB’s work in helping Craft Butchers develop their businesses and products.
Gordon Newlands
Gordon Newlands is a Brands Development Manager, Quality Meat Scotland Manager of the Scotch Butchers Club and Manager of the Scotch Beef Club.
Gordon is a butcher with 39 years of experience in the Industry. He recently went to Sacramento as the Team GB Judge for The World Butchers Challenge 2022. Gordon's main passion is the red meat sector and the enhancement of young people in the industry.
Gordon King
Gordon is the Executive Manager of Scottish Craft Butchers (Previously the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Associations). They are the trade association for over 350 independent butcher shops in Scotland.
He has been in this post for nearly 4 years. However, he has worked in the organisation for over 20 years. Before this, he worked in a family butcher’s shop for over 20 years. We sought to offer the very best meat products to the discerning consumer.
Emma Lishman
Emma is a General Manager / Director at Lishman’s of Ilkley. She joined the family business just over 8 years ago, however. she worked every Christmas. She went to the University of Edinburgh to study Hospitality Management. She is primarily office based and focuses on driving the business forward and day-to-day management.
Gwen Ridler
James Lally
James left School to be signed as a professional Rugby player at London Irish only for injury to cut it short! Following that he went to work in his Dads Meat Wholesale company at Smithfield, London. Quickly becoming fascinated with Butchery and began to learn the Artisan trade.
Opening his first shop at 22 in Shepperton, Surrey, before moving to a much larger and more prominent location on the high street in 2014. He’s a great advocate of the Q Guild of Butchers which he was accepted into 12 years ago, managing to become the youngest regional chairman at 34. He was very proud to represent his country in 2014 when he was selected for the GB Butchery team to take part in the Tri-Nations competition against Australia and New Zealand.
Michelle Holsey-Sheppard
Michelle Holsey-Sheppard has been in the industry since she was 15 starting at her local butchers. For the last 5 years, along with her wife, she has co-owned and managed the popular independent, Butcher's Block Bromsgrove.
Customer focussed, with an ethos on affordable food, she's a real hit in the town. That popularity saw Michelle win the best 'Independent Retailer 2022' award at the Women In Meat awards with more award entries planned for 2023. Butchers Block Bromsgrove is also one of the UK's only all female staffed butchers as they work actively to break down gender roles within the industry.
Rachel Carnduff
Fresh Food Enthusiast and Industry Expert
Vince Minchella
A long-time supporter of William Reed’s Champion of Champions event, Vince Minchella has 20 years of Meat Industry experience as a Sales and Marketing professional, and counts businesses of all types and sizes among his clients, throughout the UK and Ireland. Vince has an honours degree in Retailing and Marketing and is a champion of sustainable packaging and working practices, having twice earned SME of the Year awards with sustainable packaging solutions.