At JJ Foodservice, we know that the success of any food operation depends on a huge amount of work that often goes unseen. Across purchasing, transport, contracts, culture, HR and customer service, our teams keep the business moving every day.

That’s why we’re proud to share that four members of our team have been named finalists in the Women in Food and Drink Awards, a new national event designed to recognise women working across every part of the food and drink supply chain.

Here are our finalists:

Suna Durakoglu, Category Manager (pictured second, left) 

Suna leads our sustainability‑focused packaging development. She has introduced a range of eco‑friendly options – from kraft containers to bagasse clamshells – helping customers move away from plastic without compromising performance.

She also refreshed our ripple cup range with new colours, giving operators simple ways to improve their branding.

Suna spots gaps in the market and turns them into practical, commercially successful solutions. Her work is shaping the future of foodservice packaging, while supporting customers who want more sustainable choices.

 
Praveena Premchand, Delivery Supervisor (pictured far right) 

Praveena joined JJ just over a year ago as a Delivery Administrator at 25. She is now a Delivery Supervisor leading a team of 40 drivers, supporting customer service, vehicle maintenance and day‑to‑day delivery operations – starting every morning at 4:30am.

As the first woman in our delivery office, she has brought confidence, positivity and a strong sense of inclusion to a traditionally male‑dominated area of the business.

 
Sushmitha Venkatesh, HR Co‑ordinator (pictured second, left) 

Sushmitha has played a key role in developing JJ’s approach to health, safety and wellbeing. She introduced epilepsy awareness training, created personalised health plans, and led the development of JJ’s Wellbeing Plan.

She also helped ensure every JJ branch now has a trained Mental Health First Aider. Sushmitha completed her own Level 3 Adult Mental Health: Workplace First Aider qualification, giving her the skills to support employees across the business.

 
Cheyenne Aymer, Transport Administrator (pictured far, left) 

Cheyenne has made a strong impact as the first Transport Administrator Co‑ordinator at JJ. She helped introduce a new Reprimand Procedure that reduced direct driver charges from 234 to just 16, improving compliance and cutting costs.

She also updated our Delivery Manual and works closely with suppliers, including insurers, to secure better prices and fairer outcomes. Her attention to detail and problem‑solving skills are raising standards across the transport team.

 
These are the categories our finalists have been shortlisted for, with winners announced on 6 May:

• Innovator of the Year: Suna Durakoglu
• Policy & Advocacy: Cheyenne Aymer and Sushmitha Venkatesh
• Rising Star: Praveena Premchand
• Sustainability Champion: Suna Durakoglu
• Supply Chain & Logistics Leader: Praveena Premchand

Congratulations to Suna, Praveena, Sushmitha and Cheyenne. Their achievements represent just a small part of the talent, commitment and leadership shown by women across JJ every day.

For more information, visit: https://wifdawards.com/WIFDA26/en/page/home