Menu Guide wins national award

Menu Guide wins the ‘Innovation and Technical’ category at the OPSS Regulatory Excellence Awards 2021

We are proud to announce that Menu Guide won the ‘Innovation and Technical’ category at the UK Government’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) Regulatory Excellence Awards 2021 on 10 June 2021.

The Awards, which are open to a wide variety of organisations, recognise outstanding achievements in supporting businesses, protecting consumers, fighting coronavirus, rebuilding the economy and unleashing innovation.

Menu Guide, with their Primary Authority partner, Milton Keynes Council, was one of 35 finalists chosen from a record number of submissions in five categories. Entrants were required to show how they met a particular challenge and demonstrate the benefits and impact of their work.

Developed in partnership with hospitality providers, Menu Guide provides a quick and simple way to create edit, store and share interactive online allergen menus at any time via a scannable QR code or website short-link. This user-friendly tool streamlines kitchen operations, promotes effective allergen management and supports serving staff.

Most importantly, by showing consumers exactly what’s on the menu, it helps the growing number of people with food allergies or dietary intolerances to make informed, safe food choices when eating out or ordering takeaway.

Held online this year, the OPSS Regulatory Excellence Awards were attended by more than 250 people, including representatives from business organisations and public sector regulatory professionals.

Paul Scully MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Minister for London, provided the opening address before videos were shown highlighting the work of the finalists. The external judging panel, chosen for their breadth of knowledge and expertise, explained how they selected the winners.

Menu Guide’s creator, Philip Kenchington said: “We are immensely proud to have received this prestigious award recognising how Menu Guide supports food businesses and protects consumers. During the past year, our partnership with Milton Keynes Council has been extremely active, with environmental health and trading standards staff reviewing all aspects of Menu Guide, providing Primary Authority advice to us and encouraging us to enter these awards.”

Alison Hunt, Principal Trading Standards Officer for Milton Keynes Council said: “Milton Keynes Council is very proud of the work undertaken with Glint Media Ltd t/a Menu Guide, through the Primary Authority scheme, on their technical solution to providing allergen information through a single digital reference point. It is enormously gratifying that this achievement in innovation and regulatory compliance has been recognised by the Regulatory Excellence Awards 2021 and we take this opportunity to thank the Office of Product Safety and Standards for this occasion to showcase the dedication and inspirational work undertaken in the field of regulation, and in particular through Primary Authority Partnerships.”

Restaurateur, Andrei Lussmann said: “Menu Guide has greatly simplified the process of creating, storing and updating allergen information. Using an online system, with all the information in one place, minimises errors, reduces paperwork and saves kitchen time. Our waiting staff say that they feel more comfortable dealing with enquiries and our diners are impressed with its interactive, user-friendly features. This must be the way forward for the hospitality industry.”

To find out more about the Awards, please read the OPSS news release