Georgina Percival, junior development chef at Beeston-based Natural Innovations, won both the Futura Foods Labneh Category and the prestigious title of Sandwich & Food to Go Designer of the Year, making her the overall winner at this year’s competition.
The Futura Foods Labneh Category challenged chefs to showcase the versatility of Labneh, a Mediterranean cream cheese spread known for its creamy texture and tangy taste, in a sandwich or food-to-go format.
Entries were judged on how well the ingredient was paired with bold, global flavours from trending cuisines, served with the right bread options and met health criteria by balancing fat, protein and salt.
Hosted by the British Sandwich & Food To Go Association, the Sammies celebrates the most innovative, best-tasting and visually impressive sandwiches and food-to-go creations from across the UK.
Other winners included WHSmith for ‘en-route retailer’, London’s Sandwich Sandwich as ‘independent retailer’ and Sainsbury’s in the ‘healthy eating’ category for its five spice chicken and grain salad.
Percival’s winning creation, the Middle-Eastern labneh-lamb wrap, featured tender lamb and pomegranate pickled red cabbage, kachumber salad and herby labneh drizzle.
On her win, Georgina Percival, junior development chef at Natural Innovations, said:
“It’s an incredible feeling to have my work recognised on a national stage, especially at such a prestigious event as The Sammies. And winning two awards was a real surprise. This is a proud moment for all of us and highlights how Natural Innovations continues to be a leader in food innovation on the national stage.
“The Middle-Eastern labneh-lamb wrap is all about balancing bold flavours and textures - the richness of the lamb, the creaminess of the labneh and the freshness of the pomegranate pickled red cabbage, kachumber salad and herby labneh drizzle, all working in harmony.
“I wanted to show that vegetables can do so much more than play a supporting role in sandwiches - they can enhance and elevate a dish, especially when used creatively and with care. Vegetables can still stand out and bring incredible flavour, texture and colour even in meat-based recipes. It’s exciting to see more interest in this kind of innovation and I feel lucky to be part of a team that encourages that exploration and originality.”
Pete Ward, managing director at the Sammies, added:
“In a competition where the standards were incredibly high, our judges were blown-away - not only by Georgina’s winning entry, but by her potential. Her delicious Middle-Eastern labneh-lamb wrap perfectly met the competition brief.
“The beautiful presentation hinted at the delight which was to follow, as the sweet and savoury notes delivered an unsurpassed taste experience. Most importantly, Georgina’s use of labneh was inspired.
“Through its inclusion in the hand-made flatbread, the marinade and the tzatziki, Georgina ensured the labneh had a starring role as the hero in her sandwich epic.”
This win marks a second consecutive victory in The Sammies for Natural Innovations, formerly known as Freshcut Foods, after innovation director James Burgess claimed the title of Sandwich & Food to Go Designer of the Year in 2024 with his California prawn roll.
Natural Innovations, which rebranded in April 2025, has been supplying high-quality, plant-led ingredients to major foodservice brands, food manufacturers and recipe box providers for more than 20 years, developing bespoke menu solutions for the food sector.
Find out more about Natural Innovations at its plant-led ingredient solutions here: naturalinnovations.com/.