We have some fantastic news to share. Peach Hampers has won the Retail Innovators Award at the Yorkshire and Humberside Family Business Awards 2025. It still feels a little crazy to write that sentence, but we could not be prouder of our team and everything this achievement represents.
On 21 November, we joined more than 300 guests at The Royal Armouries in Leeds for a celebration of family businesses from across the region. The event showcases organisations that put passion, resilience and a strong sense of community at the heart of what they do. Being recognised among them was a moment we will remember for a very long time.
In this blog, we wanted to share a bit more about the evening, what the award means to us, and how our commitment to creating thoughtful, carefully crafted gift hampers helped us stand out.
A Special Evening in Leeds
Walking into The Royal Armouries on the night of the awards felt incredibly inspiring. The room was filled with family businesses from every corner of Yorkshire and the Humber. Some were long-established names and others were younger companies that had already made a real impact in their sectors.
The ceremony was hosted by broadcaster and food writer Nigel Barden, alongside the event co-founders Dave Clarkson and Sue Howorth. Their warmth and enthusiasm set the tone for the whole evening. There was a real sense that everyone was cheering each other on.
For us, simply being part of an event that celebrates the family business community was exciting. Winning an award on top of that made the night even more meaningful.
What It Means to Be Named Retail Innovators
The Retail Innovators Award recognises businesses that are rethinking traditional retail and bringing something fresh to the experience. When our name was announced, the entire team felt an enormous sense of pride.
At Peach Hampers, innovation starts with a very simple starting point. Gift hampers should feel personal. They should spark joy and feel like they were chosen with care. That belief influences every part of our process. We design and print all of our packaging in-house. We hand-pack every hamper ourselves. We choose each product with the same level of attention we would give if we were creating a gift for someone in our own family.
This award recognises all those small decisions that often happen behind the scenes. They might not always be visible, but they play a huge role in making every hamper feel special.
Managing Director Brendan Pallant summed it up on the night when he said, “Every gift hamper we create, from the products we select to the packaging we design and print ourselves, is driven by passion, quality and a genuine desire to make people feel special. To have that recognised among such an inspiring group of family businesses is an honour for the whole team.”
A Double Shortlisting for the Team
Earlier in the year, we were shortlisted in two categories: Retail Innovators and Leadership Excellence. Being recognised in both areas already felt like an achievement in its own right.
Leadership Excellence highlights the values and direction of a business, while Retail Innovators shines a light on creativity and unique ideas. Being shortlisted for both categories reflected two sides of Peach Hampers. The people and the products. The vision and the craftsmanship.
Winning one of those categories made the moment even sweeter.
The Family Business Community and a Night Filled With Pride
One of the most memorable parts of the evening was the sense of community. The Family Business Community has spent years building a supportive network, and it truly showed during the event.
Co-founder Sue Howorth said, “The amazing turnout was a testament to the strength of the family business community. It was a night to remember.”
Co-founder Dave Clarkson added, “The quality and diversity of entries this year were outstanding. Peach Hampers should be incredibly proud of their achievement and the innovation they bring to their sector.”
Hearing those words from the people who have championed family businesses for so long was a real highlight.
Why This Award Matters to Us
Although awards are never the focus of our work, they do give us a chance to pause and reflect on why we do what we do. Every hamper that leaves our workshop carries a little bit of our family with it. We put a lot of care into choosing the right products, creating packaging that feels special and designing hampers that look as good as they taste.
As Brendan shared later in the evening, "For us, it has always been about making gift hampers that genuinely make people smile. We put a lot of ourselves into every bespoke hamper, so to have that recognised is something we are really proud of. It is a lovely reminder that the little details really do matter.”
Those little details are at the heart of everything we do. They are the reason people choose Peach Hampers for birthdays, anniversaries, employee rewards and corporate events. They are also the reason we will continue to innovate and evolve our range.
Looking Ahead With Excitement
Winning the Retail Innovators Award has given the whole team a lift and reminded us why our work matters. We already have ideas for new packaging designs, new product collections and fresh ways to help customers personalise their hampers.
Our goal for the coming year is simple. We want to keep creating hampers that feel thoughtful, beautifully presented and full of joy. Whether someone is ordering a small, personal gift or an extensive corporate gift hamper collection, we want every hamper to feel unforgettable.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We would not be here without the people who support us. Our loyal customers, our suppliers, our community and everyone who has trusted us to create something special for their loved ones or colleagues. You have helped shape Peach Hampers into the business it is today, and we are incredibly grateful.
If you are looking for a personalised or bespoke gift hamper created with the same care and attention we bring to everything we do, we would love to help.
