ProSauce Founder and CEO Stella West-Harling MBE has been recognised among this year’s leading women in food and drink, receiving Highly Commended in the Product Developer of the Year category at the Women in Food & Drink Awards 2026.
The national recognition celebrates women leading the creation, reformulation and innovation of food and drink products that respond to changing consumer, nutritional and operational needs.
For Stella, who received her MBE for services to food and nutrition in Devon and the South West, the award marks another important milestone in the development of ProSauce, a high-protein, plant-based nutrition ingredient delivered through familiar care home meals — while helping reduce catering costs.
Stella is also the founder and operator of the Devon Community Kitchen Hub in Bovey Tracey, a social enterprise community kitchen focused on food, nutrition and local support. The Hub has played an important role in the development of ProSauce, providing a real-world community setting where the product could be tested in high-protein meals, with direct feedback gathered from local customers on flavour, texture, familiarity and mealtime appeal, before further clinical and nutritional research with the University of Exeter and the University of Plymouth.
Created with care providers, dietitians and university researchers, ProSauce has been developed as a practical food-first cooking ingredient to help increase the delivery of protein through everyday meals. Each 100ml serving provides 12g of plant-based protein, around 20% of an older adult’s typical daily protein target, making it especially relevant for care homes, healthcare catering, hospices, community meals and public-sector food service.
Unlike specialist supplements that may sit outside normal mealtimes, ProSauce has been designed to work within the meals people already know and enjoy. Used as a protein-enhanced gravy or cooking ingredient, it supports better nutrition without requiring major menu changes, additional preparation or unfamiliar products for residents.
ProSauce is also officially accredited by the Vegetarian Society and Vegan Society, supporting inclusive menus across care, healthcare and public-sector catering.
Speaking about the award recognition, Stella West-Harling MBE said: “This award adds further recognition that ProSauce is more than a product: it is a credible, purpose-led ingredient developed with practical kitchen use, nutrition and consistency in mind. Our focus has always been on making protein enrichment easier to deliver through everyday food. I am humbled by the recognition for me and my team.”
The Highly Commended recognition reflects years of research, development and determination behind ProSauce, as well as Stella’s long-standing commitment to food innovation with genuine social value.
For care home providers and caterers, ProSauce offers a simple way to support protein intake while helping manage portion sizes, reduce food waste and lower reliance on more expensive protein sources or separate fortified supplements.
James Day, Managing Director of ProSauce, added: “Demand for practical protein solutions is already growing across care homes, healthcare catering, hospices, community food providers, education and public-sector food service. ProSauce has been created to answer a real and immediate need: helping kitchens deliver meaningful plant-based protein through familiar meals, in a way that is simple, inclusive and cost-effective.”
As the food and care sectors continue to focus on nutrition, cost control and practical kitchen solutions, ProSauce is building its reputation as a South West food innovation with wider national relevance.
Stella added: “This recognition is a proud moment, but more importantly it helps shine a light on the nutritional challenges ProSauce was created to support.”
ProSauce’s mission is simple: to make protein enrichment easier, more familiar and more practical through everyday food. For more information and to register for a free sample visit www.prosauce.co.uk and follow on Facebook.
