The First Choice Coffee team has just celebrated 20 years of success with a rip-roaring night of celebrations at Warwick Castle.

In the last two years alone, the company has grown at an exceptional rate with a 50% increase in the number of staff, a 40% increase in the number of live customer sites and a 65% increase in the quantity of coffee sold.

The focal point of the night was the First Choice Coffee awards, which reward members of the team who have made an outstanding contribution to the company. Based on on-going KPIs and customer service targets, the awards were the perfect introduction to a presentation given by Elaine Higginson on the vision for the company.

"It's an exciting time for First Choice Coffee; we've grown at a phenomenal rate over the past few years and that success is all down to our biggest asset; our great people," said Elaine Higginson, Managing Director, First Choice Coffee.

The night started with an introduction to Warwick castle from a real-life knight in shining armour, followed by a champagne reception, a three-course meal, a spectacular firework display and was rounded off with some dancing.

First Choice Coffee has just launched a new corporate identity with the strapline "Make first choice your choice" and will be show-casing it together with its latest Italian and Swiss-manufactured equipment at Hotelympia 2008.

Winners of the First Choice Coffee awards:

Outstanding Customer Service award
Short-listed: Paul Huckle, Ian Short, Jason Dancer, Andrew Miller

Winner: Ian Short

Outstanding Manager award
Short-listed: Pat Cooke, Dave Short, Ray Holland, Peter Pearson

Winner: Ray Holland

Outstanding Contribution award
Short-listed: Andy Abernethy, Richard Hall & John Scudamore

Winner: Jon Scudamore

Outstanding Business Development award

Winner: David Porteous

STAR (Service, teamwork, attitude and reliability)
Short-listed: Dawn Goss, Darren Wilcox, Rebecca Leigh & Lisa Mercer-Leach

Winner: Darren Wilcox

Outstanding Newcomer award
Short-listed: Malcolm Buckenham, Rebecca Leigh, Lauren Hanson, Daniel Pannell

Winner: Rebecca Leigh