The Guild of Fine Food has released the results for Great Taste 2024 and Gloucestershire has come up trumps.
Gloucestershire has won a total of 105 awards, including 58 one-star, 34 two-stars and 13 three-stars, the highest accolade available at this level.
Winners from Gloucestershire include Great Taste 3-star: Hayles Cox Orange Pippin Apple Juice from Hayles Fruit Farm in Winchcombe, Great Taste 2-star: Seeded Wild White Sourdough from Hobbs House Bakery in the Cotswolds and Great Taste 1-star: Hawkstone Lager and Vodka from Jeremy Clarkson's Hawkstone Brewery in Bourton-on-the-Water.
The Artisan Kitchen in Gloucester scooped the most awards with eight Great Taste 3-star awards for an array of jams and marmalades.
It also got 10 Great Taste 2-star awards for more of its jams and marmalades as well as its orange bitters and sherry too, along with a further two Great Taste 1-star awards.
Nearly 3,500 companies from 115 countries around the world entered Great Taste this year, between them offering 13,672 products for review. The UK entered 8,008 products from 2,528 companies.
Each entry was blind-tasted by the Guild’s expert judging panel of more than 500 food critics, chefs, recipe creators, buyers, retailers, and other specialists in the field of food and drink.
Entries were analysed across 92 judging days, each receiving detailed feedback, whether or not they obtained an award.
Only 1.9 per cent of all entries (266 in total globally, 131 from the UK) received a 3-star award, given to ‘extraordinarily tasty food and drink’.
A strong 10.1 per cent, 1,386 in total globally, have been awarded 2-stars, ‘above and beyond delicious’ and 28.8 per cent, 3,938 in total globally, have been awarded one-star, ‘food and drink that delivers fantastic flavour’.
John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, said: 'It’s hugely important to us at the Guild to inject some positivity into the speciality food and drink industry.
'Given the economic headwinds that both independent retailers and small and medium producers are facing, the announcement of the 2024 crop of Great Taste stars is now an annual fillip for us all.
'And it’s not just excellence from the UK, but from across the world, as we celebrate the best from 115 countries. We’re doing our bit for cultural relations across the planet when there is so much legislation trying to prevent it.
'It’s a real privilege to support and underpin independent makers through the process of Great Taste.'
The awards are globally recognised as a mark of excellence and eagerly sought after by producers and food-lovers alike.
