British Antarctic Survey doubles up as Supply Chain Excellence Awards marks 30 years

More than 250 organisations competed across 30 categories at the 30th Supply Chain Excellence Awards — the largest entry field in the event's three-decade history — with the British Antarctic Survey emerging as one of the night's double winners at Grosvenor House in London on Thursday 5 November.

Around 800 logistics and supply chain professionals filled the Great Room for the anniversary ceremony, organised by Logistics Manager, which celebrated 30 years of recognising the people, projects and partnerships driving progress across the industry. Comedian and actor Marcus Brigstocke hosted.

The record shortlist drew finalists from retail, manufacturing, healthcare, food and drink, the public sector and third-party logistics, with entries addressing some of today's biggest supply chain challenges.

Who won the sector categories?

The industry sector awards went to:

• Food & Drink: Waitrose & Satalia
• Healthcare & Pharmaceutical (sponsored by The Very Group): Cryoport Systems
• Manufacturing: Carrier Montilla & LeanDNA, with a high commendation for Sentinel Vision with Clearview Imaging & Zebra Technologies
• Public Sector: The British Antarctic Survey
• Retail (sponsored by Logistics Reply): Wickes & Gophr
• Event Logistics: Tour de France (Amaury Sport Organisation) & XPO Logistics

Which operators took the supply chain honours?

XPO Logistics secured a second trophy on the night, pairing its Tour de France win with the Spacemaker Systems Supply Chain Operations Award – Partnership & Implementation alongside PepsiCo. Yusen Logistics also claimed two awards, taking both the Best Use of Robotics (with Logistex) and the Procurement Award.

The remaining supply chain category winners were:

• Operations – Logistics & Fulfilment: Kubota & Carousel Logistics
• Operations – Technology & Automation (sponsored by Logistex): Europa Worldwide Group & Microlise
• Operations – Transformation: Dayes Group & Uniserve
• Strategy and Design: CTDI with Likewize & Virgin Media O2, with Vodafone Procure & Connect highly commended
• Visibility: Cranswick & BlakBear
• People Operations: Viking UK & DX
• Digital Transformation – Software (sponsored by Peak Technologies): NHS England
• Digital Transformation – Systems (sponsored by Aurora Insights): Mountain Warehouse & GXO
• Customer Service: Speedy Freight
• Supply Chain Innovation (sponsored by Kite Packaging): Albion Fine Foods & Balloon One
• Urban Logistics: Currys
• Warehouse Initiative: Iron Mountain & Dexory
• Supply Chain Product: Cyber Toolkit

What did the sustainability awards reward?

The British Antarctic Survey landed its second win of the night in the SSI SCHAEFER Sustainable Supply Chain Award, together with Welch Group — pairing public-sector honours with sustainability recognition. Altro took the Sustainable Materials Award, while Virgin Media O2 added a second trophy to its strategy win by claiming the Papilo Sustainability Award for Recycling with Relove Technology, where SharkNinja & Ingram Micro Lifecycle received a high commendation.

Who were recognised in people, transport and property?

Martin Snewin of Currys — a company that also won the Urban Logistics Award — collected the Rising Star Award, while The Very Group took the Workforce Planning Award.

In the transport categories, Prologis & Mobilityways won the Smart Mobility Award and Maritime Transport took the Clean Transport Award. Arvato & GOLDBECK Construction closed the night by winning Industrial & Logistics Development Partner of the Year.

What happens next?

The awards' 30th edition drew both the biggest attendance footprint and the broadest sector spread in the ceremony's history, and the winning entries signal where the industry is directing investment: automation, visibility technology, robotics and circular-economy programmes all featured heavily among the victors. The Supply Chain Excellence Awards returns on 4 November 2027 to celebrate the organisations, teams and projects driving improvement across supply chain operations, logistics, technology, sustainability, manufacturing, retail, healthcare and the public sector.