TRUE TASTE AWARD-WINNERS REVEALED
Excellence and innovation in the Welsh food and drink industry were honoured last night (Thursday, November 24) at the True Taste Wales Food & Drink Awards 2005-06.
Regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the Welsh food and drink industry, the True Taste Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the industry’s ongoing success.
Companies of all sizes were among the winners, which spanned all areas of the food and drink industry in Wales.
Among the companies picking up coveted Gold awards at the Wales Millennium Centre were The Fruit Garden Ltd, which uses its own fruit to make a wide range of ice creams and sorbets marketed under the name Wild Fig. The company took Gold in both the Producer and Packaging categories.
There was Producer Gold too for Yerbeston Farm Gate Shop in Pembrokeshire. A champion of Welsh food, the company received its award for its Welsh Black Beef Fillet Steak.
In the Organic category there were Golds for Denbighshire based House of Rhug’s Home Reared Rhug Organic Lamb; and Muscovy Duck from Cambrian Organics Ltd which sells the locally-reared ducks under its new Cambrian Hills brand.
Co-operation along the food chain was an award-winning formula for farmers on the National Trust’s Dolaucothi Estate in Carmarthenshire, who picked up the Gold Farming Partnership trophy. Working in partnership with Oriel Jones they supply their Dolaucothi National Trust Estate Lamb to Sainsbury’s.
Created with the hospitality market very much in mind, TAU is the latest brand from Ty Nant Spring Water Ltd and winner of the Large Manufacturer category Gold award.
After four decades in the business Welsh Lady Preserves from Pwllheli knows what makes a good Horseradish Sauce, and were Medium Manufacturer Gold winners.
Bread and beer both took Gold in the Small Manufacturer Category. Powys based Caroline’s Real Bread Company’s New York Rye Bread was a hit with the judges as was Lambs Gold Light Ale from Penlon Cottage Brewery in Ceredigion, both winning Gold awards.
Winners of a Gold award in the Public/Private Sector Food Initiative category were Hughes Meats Company Ltd from Bangor, who through their partnership with Welsh Health Supplies and T H Sutcliffe supplies hospitals across North West Wales with beef from local markets.
There were four Gold awards in the Retailer Category, reflecting different aspects of the retail sector. Ultracomida Delicatessen from Narberth in Pembrokeshire won the Independent Retailer Gold, Haverfordwest Farmers’ Market in Pembrokeshire picked up the Farmers’ Market award, Welsh Farm Organics in Powys were Gold winners in the Web-based section, and Swans Farm Shop in Flintshire were awarded Gold in the Farm Shop section.
Each year an Ambassador is chosen as the face of the Welsh food and drink industry, and north Wales butcher Ieuan Edwards was last night named as True Taste Ambassador 2005-06.
The farmer’s son from Conwy was just 21 when he opened his first butcher’s shop. Since then he has succeeded in building up a thriving business - including a sausage manufacturing unit - employing over 40 staff and serving around 6,000 customers every week.
“As Ambassador my message will be one of team work and how important it is to work together from Government level down. Welsh food and drink is in vogue for the right reasons and we have got to capitalise on this,” says Ieuan.
Now in their fourth year, the Welsh Development Agency managed awards are among the most prestigious and sought after accolades in the industry, a fact reflected in this year’s record number of entries.
The eminent panel of judges consisting of chefs, food writers, restaurateurs, and specialists, taste-tested nearly 500 products from 177 companies. After being judged on their business skills the entries were whittled down to just 37 finalists.
"Congratulations to all the winners of this year’s awards. We know that being a True Taste winner will bring all the winners vital brand recognition and priceless publicity, which, from previous winners’ feedback, we know will help to boost their businesses," says WDA Agri-Food Director, Arwyn Davies.
"The fact they can also use the True Taste logo, which is now gaining
recognition as the sign of award-winning food and drink, on their packaging
and promotional materials, can also add value."
Once again the awards are sponsored and supported by media, farming, and food and drink industry organisations, namely: ITV Wales; The Grocer; Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion Wales; NFU Cymru / Wales; the Farmers' Union of Wales; and SPAR.
The awards ceremony will be broadcast by ITV1 Wales in an hour long special
on Monday, November 28.
MORE DETAILS: Menna Evans, 01686 613175 / 07769 883266 or Sarah Galloway, 02920 828945
For more information on the True Taste Awards log onto www.walesthetruetaste.com
JUDGES
The judges included the following:
Dudley Newbery, Tom Parker Bowles, Lynda Brown, Elisabeth Luard, Peter Jackson, Aylie Cooke, Guy Wooley, Roger Biddle, Julian Hunt, Mike Cook, Charles Campion, Jono Clark, Will Oakley, Marc Pasternac, Andrew Eliel, John Whiting, Martin Orbach, Rufus Carter, Lyndy Wildsmith, Glynn Christian, Paula Stain, Lorna Rhodes, Sara Jane Evans.
