Tendai Taruvinga, Founder & CEO of Veafy Ltd, wins Green Leader of the year at the West Midlands Leadership Awards 2026
Tendai Taruvinga, Founder and CEO of Veafy Ltd, has been named Green Leader of the Year 2026 at the prestigious West Midlands Leadership Awards, held in Birmingham on Thursday, 26 March 2026, hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com. This latest accolade marks an exceptional milestone, completing a hat-trick of major award wins in Q1 2026 for the fast-growing plant-based food-tech company.
The award was decided by an independent panel of judges comprising leading business figures, entrepreneurs, and public officials from across the region. The rigorous judging process and calibre of the panel underline the prestige and credibility of this award, recognising individuals who are delivering measurable impact in sustainability and enterprise.
Veafy was selected for its pioneering work in building a purpose-driven, plant-based food brand that champions environmental responsibility, public health, and cultural food diversity.
Tendai Taruvinga, who received the ‘Green Leader’ prize on the night, was also a finalist for “Emerging Entrepreneur Leader”.
About the West Midlands Leadership Awards
The West Midlands Leadership Awards 2026 celebrate the very best in business excellence, innovation, and leadership across the region. Bringing together influential leaders from across multiple industries, the awards recognise individuals and organisations that are making a significant contribution to economic growth, community development, and social impact.
Each category is judged through a robust and competitive process, with nominees evaluated on criteria including innovation, leadership, measurable impact, and long-term vision. The judging panel, made up of respected business leaders and sector experts, ensures that winners represent the highest standards of achievement.
Widely regarded as a benchmark for regional success, the awards provide a platform to showcase forward-thinking businesses and leaders who are shaping the future of their industries, particularly in areas such as sustainability, inclusion, and technological innovation.
A Recognition of Sustainable Leadership and Sector Impact
The judging panel highlighted our ability to deliver against two critical missions shaping the future of the UK food industry:
- Sustainable food provision through innovative, plant-based solutions
- Diverse representation across the food sector, ensuring underrepresented cuisines and cultures are authentically showcased
Judges were particularly impressed by our work in collaboration with the British Science Association, recognising the importance of bridging science, innovation, and community engagement to drive meaningful change in how food systems evolve.
This dual-impact approach, combining sustainability with cultural representation, was seen as a standout factor, positioning Veafy as a forward-thinking leader in the UK’s sustainable food movement.
Driving Innovation in Sustainable Food
In recent months, Veafy has rapidly gained recognition for its unique approach to sustainable food production and food-tech innovation, including:
- 100% plant-based, environmentally conscious meals
- Sustainable biodegradable and recyclable packaging and low-impact production processes
- Celebrating and amplifying underrepresented cuisines, particularly African-inspired dishes
- Leveraging technology to scale access to sustainable food across the UK
The judges commended Tendai for demonstrating that commercial success, sustainability, and social impact can be successfully integrated into a single business model which has scalable benefits for the region as a whole.
Founder’s Response
After receiving this prestigious award, Tendai said:
“As someone who was born in the region, I’ve always been a passionate advocate for the Midlands as a whole, where I’ve lived for most of my life.
I’m extremely proud to receive this award and to be recognised as one of the leading figures in sustainability and enterprise in our fantastic region, and I will continue to bring pride to the Midlands as we evolve Veafy in the coming months.
Sustainability is paramount at veafy® and it’s fantastic to receive this prestigious award and to be celebrated for our green principles which put people and planet first as an innovative plant-based food brand.”
About Veafy
Founded in 2020 in Solihull, Veafy Ltd is a fast-growing food-tech and plant-based food business dedicated to transforming how people experience sustainable cuisine.
The company was launched with early support from the Prince’s Trust Birmingham, helping turn an ambitious idea into a scalable, meaningful venture. Since then, Veafy has gone on to achieve national recognition, including winning an Innovate UK award for its innovation in sustainable food provision and diverse food representation.
This support enabled the business to:
- Expand its menu with innovative, culturally inspired plant-based meals
- Invest in sustainable process engineering and production systems
- Launch a nationwide mail-order service, increasing accessibility across the UK
Today, Veafy sits at the intersection of food innovation, sustainability, and cultural storytelling, using technology and creativity to redefine the future of food.
Looking Ahead
The team at Veafy extends its congratulations to all winners and finalists who made the West Midlands Leadership Awards such a memorable evening in the second city.
Winning Green Leader of the Year 2026 is not just a milestone, it’s a springboard.
Building on this momentum, Veafy will continue to scale its impact, expand its product offering, and push the boundaries of what a sustainable food enterprise can achieve in the UK and beyond.
