Annual World Food Awards 2010 – KPMG And The AA Get Behind The World Food Awards, October 23, 2010, London

Celebrity chef Anjum Anand and a panel of industry experts, including a team of AA restaurant inspectors, are busy marking this year’s World Food Award nominations.

The awards celebrate the cream of the UK’s world food sector, with Meena and Kirit Pathak, The Cinnamon Club, Sir Gulam Noon and Levi Roots of Dragon’s Den fame among the winners celebrating at last year’s hugely successful inaugural event.

This year’s judges’ scores will be audited by Sheel Gill of KPMG to ensure complete confidence in the independent judging process.

Sheel said: “In my opinion, credibility and recognition for Awards that provide support to furthering business have to be underpinned by independent adjudication.

“In my capacity as a qualified accountant, and having worked for the big 4 for the last 17 years, I am pleased to provide the independence required for this year’s World Food Awards.”

Globally broadcast by Sony Entertainment Television Asia, organisers of the ceremony, the WFA promises to be a star-studded event with a host of A-list celebrities, sports stars and acclaimed chefs to present the awards and performances from leading artists.

The judging panel comprises some of the most respected names in the business, including celebrity chef Anjum Anand, Adam Leyland, Editor of The Grocer and Tony Matharu, Managing Director of Grange Hotels.

This year’s ‘Restaurant of the Year’ category will also be judged exclusively by AA inspectors – bringing even more prestige and credibility to the highly sought after accolade.

Simon Numphud, AA Hotel Services Manager who is heading up the team of inspectors, said: “We are delighted to have been invited by Sony to exclusively judge the restaurant category.

“World food is a thriving industry that already fills the pages of our AA guides and it is exciting to be applying our expertise and knowledge specifically to this sector.”

The  2010 ceremony will be held at London’s Park Lane Hilton on October 23rd.

The World Food Awards 2010 is presented by Sony Entertainment Television Asia and will be broadcast in over 100 countries to an audience of millions.

Neeraj Arora, Sony’s Executive Vice President and Head of International Business MSM Asia Ltd, said: “We are proud that just one year from its inception the World Food Awards are taking shape with big names like The AA and KPMG coming on board to add credibility and prestige to these awards.

“The calibre of last year’s winners is a reflection of the fact world food is now a thriving industry that has long crossed over into mainstream markets and one that is fully deserving of its own awards scheme to recognise excellence in the sector.”