UK
The laundry and drycleaning industry received a well-deserved pat on the back on Thursday 20 October as the inaugural Laundry and Cleaning News Awards honoured the businesses and people who go the extra mile to ensure their customers receive the best service possible.
Roger Salmon, an industry stalwart with a career that has spanned two centuries and seven decades with time spent working at just about all the big names in the industry, was honoured. Gillian Farrar of the TSA presented Roger with the LCN Lifetime Achievement Award 2016 for his commitment and dedication to the textile care industry – especially its people. Roger received a standing ovation, a clear indication of the esteem in which he is held by his peers.
The annual LCN Awards have been devised to recognise best practice in the industry and to reward it – last night that goal was more than achieved as the winners of the different categories were announced to high acclaim. The Awards are sponsored by HJ Weir, Ideal Manufacturing, Linen Connect, Miele Professional and The Dry Cleaner App, and supported by the Textile Services Association, CINET and The Guild of Cleaners and Launderers.
Sponsors, their guests and shortlisted entrants were joined by many other luminaries of the textile care industry at the Manor Meriden Hotel, Birmingham, in an atmosphere of high anticipation. Attendees were then entertained by Barry from EastEnders, so memorably portrayed by actor Shaun Williamson in the popular soap.
LCN editor Kathy Bowry says: “The response for the first year of the LCN Awards was beyond all expectations and the LCN team is looking forward to growing this event further into a must-attend date for rewarding best practice in the textile care industry. Our judges really had their work cut out for them when selecting the winners from an impressive shortlist of entrants and everybody should be proud of their achievement. There really are no losers here – only high achievers.
“These are challenging times and businesses are under pressure across the board so it was exhilarating to see so many committed operators at the ceremony who really believe only the best is good enough for their customers and that this is the way to stay ahead.”
Read the full report with photographs in the December issue of LCN. In the meantime, here are the Award winners for 2016.
Laundry of the Year
Bates of London
Drycleaner of the Year
Top Hat Cleaners
Entrepreneur – Laundry
Clean, Jason Miller
Best newcomer – Drycleaning
My Beautiful Launderette
Best Sustainability Policy – Laundry
Berendsen
Best Sustainability Policy – Drycleaning
Blanc
Best Service Engineer
Mike Range,
Johnsons Stalbridge Linen Services
Best Online Service – Laundry
Laundry Republic
Innovation of the Year – Laundry
SET (South East Trust)
Innovation of the Year – Drycleaning
Johnsons Bridal
Customer Service – Drycleaning
National Dry Cleaners
