Brammy Awards 2014 Waitrose & Sainsbury's

L-r: Jocelyn Clarke (Waitrose), Kate Davies (Sainsbury’s), Adrian Barlow (Bramley Apple Campaign), Greg Sehringer (Waitrose) and Teresa Huxley (Sainsbury’s)

To a retailer, sharing a stage with a competitor is usually the ultimate no-no.

But it was all smiles at the Brammy Awards yesterday as respresentatives of Sainsbury's and Waitrose posed for photos after becoming the first joint-winners of the Best Bramley Retailer of the Year gong.

The 21st Brammy Awards was held at Quo Vadis in London, having skipped a year due to the poor crop in 2013. Judges said they were unable to split the two retailers, with Sainsbury's having shown widespread support for Bramley within its Eat Well For Less campaign, recipe development with Jack Monroe and social media activity, while Waitrose impressed with its dedication to promoting the versatility and cooking qualities of the fruit.

Best Manufacturer of a Savoury Bramley Product was Darlington & Daughters for Mrs Darlington's Autumn Fruit Chutney, while Tesco Apple Pie by Kensey Foods won the Sweet Bramley Product category.

Best Bramley Apple Sauce went to Cottage Delight, while Chegworth Valley got the nod for best Bramley Apple Drink.

Mr Kipling was named Best Catering/Foodservice Company, and in the individual categories The Times's Lindsey Bareham won Best Bramley Food Writer and Tom Kerridge was Best Media Chef.

Adrian Barlow, chairman of the Bramley Apple Campaign, said: 'The awards present the industry with an opportunity to recognise retailers, manufacturers, catering companies, journalists and chefs who are championing the iconic Bramley apple. The winners have shown outstanding support for Bramley apples over the past year through the quality and breadth of products they have developed, the innovative promotional activities they have undertaken, and their highlighting of Bramley in the media. I am delighted that we have this opportunity to celebrate their achievements.”