Wales strikes gold in the Great Taste Awards

Welsh food and drink producers strike gold in this year’s Great
Taste Gold Awards proving that food and drink from Wales has a
deserved reputation for quality and taste.

A remarkable 165 products from across Wales have made the shortlist
of producers, with 121 entries achieving 1-star, 39 products getting
2-star and five products being deemed worthy of the 3-star accolade.

The Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, is the
acknowledged benchmark for fine food and drink, and is described as
the ‘Oscars’ of the food world.

Wales hosted the judging this year which was attended by a host of
experts, including Nigel Barden, Charles Campion, Felicity Spencer and
many other chefs, buyers, restaurateurs and writers. Judges
unanimously agreed that the following Welsh products delivered that
‘Exquisite! Wow! Taste That! prominence and 3 stars were awarded:

·      Coedcanlas Organic Welsh Blackcurrant Jam by Coedcanlas

·      Mummy’s Carrottop Chutney by Miss Daisy’s Kitchen

·      Monty’s Dark Secret by Monty’s Brewery Ltd

·      Welsh Faggot by N S James

·      Rack of Welsh Lamb – 4 boned by the Welsh Venison Centre and Beacons Farm Shop

Congratulating all the Welsh producers Cabinet Secretary for
Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said,

“I am delighted at the number of awards so deservedly won by Welsh
food and drink producers. I would like to take this opportunity to
congratulate them all on their achievements in this year’s Great
Taste awards.

“We all know that Welsh food and drink is of high quality and
excellent taste and it is important the sector is recognised for this.
Our food and drink businesses play a vital part of the Welsh economy
and we are confident that we are on track to grow the sector by 30% by
the year 2020.”

John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food and
organiser of the Great Taste awards, was delighted at the strength of
the Welsh winners,

“The standard of Welsh entries this year has been outstanding. A
Great Taste award, whether it’s a 1-, 2- or 3-star, is a fantastic
achievement and a tangible sign of quality and excellence, which
reflects the ever increasing commitment to producing top notch food
and drink emanating from the country.

The announcement of the winner of the Golden Fork Awards, as well as
the Great Taste Supreme Champion will be made in London on 4
September, as part of the Speciality & Fine Food Fair.

A full list of results can be viewed on the Great Taste Awards
website [1].