A trio of Welsh companies has received one of the food industry’s highest honours: a three star Gold award at the 2007 Great Taste Awards.
Welsh Lady Preserves of Pwllheli, Chef on the Run Foods from Hay-on-Wye and Black Mountains Smokery from Crickhowell were amongst just 46 companies out of 4,500 entries from across the UK to be given the illustrious award.
All the foods entered were subject to a rigorous judging procedure. Following five weeks of independent blind tasting, around 800 products collected Gold awards, with 44 of them from Wales. Most received a one-star grading for their general excellence in taste, texture and flavour, with 100 across the UK given two stars, 12 of them from Wales.
A three star Gold award is a mark that the expert panel of judges considered them faultless.
Welsh Lady Preserves won for its Mild Horseradish Cream. Owner Marion Jones who runs the company with her husband Dio and son John said:
“We are thrilled to bits. The award is so prestigious and it gives us a lot of confidence to carry on.”
The company has been established for 41 years and also won a two-star Gold for its Premium Strawberry Conserve. Last year they won two Great Taste awards for its Lemon Curd and Apple and Cinnamon Curd.
Chef on the Run’s Mike Carnell is also delighted to have won a three-starred Gold with his Grapefruit and Ginger Marmalade and a one-star Gold for his Whimberry and Apple Jam. He said:
“I am over the moon. It is the 12th award we have won from Great Taste in the four years we have been in business. Our preserves always sell but this award can increase demand and encourage people to try other preserves in our range.”
Black Mountains Smokery’s Smoked Gressingham Duck Breasts were the third Welsh product to take the top honour.
The company was established in 1996 by Joanna and Jonathan Carthew. Joanna said:
“We are delighted to receive this award. Our success has only been achieved through the supply of excellent food from local producers, the loyalty of our customers old and new, and our own hard work and dedication.”
Elin Jones Minister for Rural Affairs said:
“I congratulate all the Welsh winners at the awards for showing just how talented Wales is at producing high quality food and drink.
“There is no higher accolade than a three star Gold award and goes to prove that when it comes to producing food, Wales is home to the best of the best.”
MORE DETAILS:
Leigh Roberts: 01656 788336
The full list of winners is below.
Wales
CAKES, BISCUITS & SNACKS
Gold ** Celebration Rich Fruit Cake Maureen's Cakes 01558 668141 Carmarthenshire
Gold ** Whisky Fruit Cake Clam’s Hand Made Cakes 01873 812283 Powys
Gold ** Lemon Curd Sponge Clam’s Hand Made Cakes 01873 812283 Powys
Gold ** Chocolate Cake Clam’s Hand Made Cakes 01873 812283 Powys
Gold ** Blackcurrrant Flapjack Siwer a Sbeis 01492 641940 Conwy
Gold * Welsh Bara Brith Welsh Cottage Cakes 01558 824213 Carmarthenshire
CHEESE & DAIRY
Gold ** Pont Gar - Blue Carmarthenshire Cheese Company 01267 221168 Carmarthenshire www.carmarthenshirecheese.co.uk
Gold * Llaeth Y LLan Natural yoghurt The Village Dairy / Llaeth Y Llan Cyf 01745 540256 Denbighshire www.villagedairy.com
Gold * Daioni Strawberry Flavour Organic Milk Trioni Limited 01239 682572 Pembrokeshire
Gold * Luscious Low Fat Summerfruits Probiotic Drinking Yogurt - Organic Rachel's Organic Dairy 01970 625871 Ceredigion www.rachelsorganic.co.uk
Gold * Other Smoked Cheese Hard Teifi Farmhouse Cheese 01239 851528 Cardiganshire
Gold * Medium Traditional Cheddar South Caernarfon Creameries Ltd 01766 810251 Caernarfonshire www.sccwales.co.uk
Gold * Haverfordwest - Medium Cheddar First Milk Cheese Co (Haverfordwest Cheese) 01437 762852 Pembrokeshire www.firstmilk.co.uk
Gold * Haverfordwest - Mild Cheddar First Milk Cheese Co (Haverfordwest Cheese) 01437 762852 Pembrokeshire www.firstmilk.co.uk
Gold * Double Gloucester Dairy Farmers of Britain / Llandyrnog Creamery 01824 790215 Denbighshire www.dairyfarmersofbritain.com
CHOCOLATE & CONFECTIONERY
Gold * Goats milk fudge Kid Me Not 01558 685935 Carmarthenshire www.kidmenot.co.uk
Gold * Treacle Toffee Popty'r Bryn 01248 430223 Anglesey
CONDIMENTS
Gold *** Mild horseradish cream Welsh Lady Preserves 01766 810496 Caernarfonshire www.welshladypreserves.com
Gold * Smoked Sea salt Anglesey Sea Salt Company/Halen Môn
01248 430871 Anglesey www.seasalt.co.uk
COUNTRY WINES & LIQUEURS
Gold ** Sloe Gin 25% ABV Condessa Welsh Liqueurs 01407 730191 Anglesey
JAMS & PRESERVES
Gold *** Grapefruit & Ginger Marmalade Chef on the Run 01497 821557 Herefordshire www.chefontherunfoods.co.uk
Gold ** Premium strawberry conserve Welsh Lady Preserves 01766 810496 Caernarfonshire www.welshladypreserves.com
Gold ** Strawberry jam Miranda’s Preserves 01348 872011 Pembrokeshire www.mirandas-preserves.co.uk
Gold * Plum Jam Miranda’s Preserves 01348 872011 Pembrokeshire www.mirandas-preserves.co.uk
Gold * Whimberry & Apple Jam Chef on the Run 01497 821557 Herefordshire www.chefontherunfoods.co.uk
MEAT
Gold *** Smoked Gressingham Duck Breasts Black Mountains Smokery Ltd 01873 811566 Powys
Gold ** Cabanos Salami Trealy Farm Charcuterie 01600 740705 Monmouthshire
Gold ** Smoked Streaky Bacon Glasfryn Park 01766 810044 Gwynedd
Gold ** Smoked Back Bacon Glasfryn Park 01766 810044 Gwynedd
Gold * Traditional pork sausage London House Stores 01341 247235 Gwynedd
Gold * English Pork Sausage Langfords Welsh Sausage Company 07710 279369 Powys www.langfords-foodhall.co.uk
Gold * Traditional Pork Sausage Langfords Welsh Sausage Company 07710 279369 Powys www.langfords-foodhall.co.uk
Gold * Farm assured Pork with cracked black pepper Edwards of Conwy 01492 592443 Caernarfonshire www.edwardsofconwy.co.uk
Gold * Pork and Leek Sausage House of Rhug 01490 413000 Denbighshire www.rhugorganic.com
Gold * Chorizo Salami Trealy Farm Charcuterie 01600 740705 Monmouthshire
PATES & PIES
Gold ** Chicken liver, brandy & herbs organic pate Patchwork Traditional Food Co Ltd 01824 705832 DENBIGHSHIRE www.patchwork-pate.co.uk
Gold * Duchy organic chicken liver, apple chutney & cider pate Patchwork Traditional Food Co Ltd 01824 705832 DENBIGHSHIRE www.patchwork-pate.co.uk
Gold * Duchy organic devilled chicken liver with Madeira pate Patchwork Traditional Food Co Ltd 01824 705832 DENBIGHSHIRE www.patchwork-pate.co.uk
Gold * Wild Salmon, Broccoli and Dill Pie Harvies 01352 751285 Flintshire
Gold * Welsh Leek, Mushroom, Laverbread and Goatís Cheese Pie Harvies 01352 751285 Flintshire
PUDDINGS & DESSERTS
Gold * Tradition Christmas Pudding Maureen's Cakes 01558 668141 Carmarthenshire
SAUCES
Gold * Bramley apple sauce Welsh Lady Preserves 01766 810496 Caernarfonshire www.welshladypreserves.com
SOFT DRINKS
Gold * Pressed apple juice with crushed Herefordshire blackcurrants Radnor Hills Limited 01547 530220 RADNORSHIRE www.radnorhills.co.uk
SOUP
Gold ** Blas ar Fwyd Lobscouse Blas Ar Fwyd Cyf 01492 640215 Conwy
