Redbridge Caterfresh scooped the top title for 2003 after winning widespread praise for the supply of Six Continents Retail's fresh greengrocery products. It saw off competition from more than 80 companies represented at the awards ceremony, held at Birmingham's NEC-based Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Six Continents Retail commercial director Richard Pratt said: 'The winners are selected using our supplier performance evaluation system that provides an accurate and impartial monitor of the service we are being given by our suppliers. Not only do these awards give us the opportunity to recognise our top performing suppliers but feedback suggests they help develop team spirit and commitment to service.

'With a reputation across our brands for top quality food and drink it is crucial that we liase closely with our suppliers to ensure they understand exactly what we are looking for. Redbridge Caterfresh was, for the third successive time, the worthy winner of Supplier of the Year‚ because it excelled in all the quality and service criteria that were set out.

'Last year Redbridge took the award because the quality of service was so high, the challenge was to recreate that this year and it certainly rose to it. Redbridge supplies a huge quantity to us and their account management has been fantastic - after winning for the last two years the hat-trick was its goal and this award is richly deserved.' Redbridge Caterfresh commercial director David Burns added: 'Six Continents is well respected with many top suppliers, so this is a fantastic achievement for the Caterfresh team. We work hard to ensure we provide exactly what our customers are looking for and are grateful to them for this recognition for three consecutive years. We won't become complacent though, far from it, we now have to set our sights on retaining the award next year.'