A BRADFORD food seasoning firm has bounced back from adversity to secure a nomination for an award recognising business nous.

Gordon Rhodes & Son, which was forced out of its headquarters six months ago after a fire ravaged its factory and offices, has made the shortlist for the Garbutt & Elliott Yorkshire Food Entrepreneurs Awards.

The company, which is part of the Dalesman Group, is one of four companies from the region nominated for the Yorkshire Grit Award.

This is the first time the awards have been held, organised by accountancy firm Garbutt & Elliott, to recognise Yorkshire’s best food and drink producers and retailers.

The award categories include innovation, growth, partnership working, branding, market resilience, exporting and taste.

The winning companies will be crowned at a ceremony on Wednesday, March 7, at The Hospitium in the grounds of the Yorkshire Museum in York.

Gordon Rhodes & Son produces a range of award-winning sauce mixes, meat rubs, stuffing mixes, and a range of gluten-free mixes.

More than 20 fire crews from across West Yorkshire to the company’s old headquarters in August 2017 to fight the fire which completely destroyed the building.

The firm restarted production on a new site just nine days after the fire, working round the clock to meet customer demand.

Russell Turner, managing partner of Garbutt & Elliott, said: “Judging was difficult because the calibre of both the entries and the businesses involved was extremely high.

“We were looking for businesses doing things in a different way and saw those who had bounced back from some incredible adversity, those who are ‘better together’ and those who are operating in a sustainable manner.

“Gordon Rhodes has shown its ability to navigate the world of business and thrive in an entrepreneurial and notoriously competitive sector.

“We advise food and drink businesses throughout Yorkshire and beyond and see daily how forward-thinking and innovative, and at the same time, supportive of each other the sector is.

“Good luck to all those who have been shortlisted and we look forward to revealing the winners next month.”