Gloucestershire's food and drink producers are among the very best in the country, with the county achieving over 100 one-, two- and three-star awards at the Great Taste Awards 2022.
Gloucestershire three-star winners included The Artisan Kitchen in Gloucester, which achieved the top award for its Blaisdon red plum jam; Tarocco blood orange marmalade; blood orange marmalade 'Vino de Naranja'; and pink grapefruit vanilla marmalade - along with a swathe of one- and two-star awards, too.
Jess's Ladies Organic Farm scooped three stars for its kefir; Martins Meats in Toddington took three stars for its lamb hogget chops, while Cheltenham-based Cotswold Kombucha also took home a three-star award.
Two-star winners included Falafeleat in Cheltenham; Cherry Moo Ice Cream in Quedgeley; Tewkesbury's Café au Chocolat; Wholly Gelato in Gloucester; The Scenic Supper supplier Todenham Manor Farm near Moreton-in-Marsh; Stroud-based Non Solo Pasta; The Cotswold Guy in Guiting Power; and Cotswold Lakes Brew Co; and among the one-star winners were Gloucester-based Tubby Tom's, Gloucester Brewery and SGGLA Food/Drink Producer of the Year, Hetty's Kitchen, as well as Bespoke Brewing Co in the Forest of Dean.
The Great Taste judging panel is made up of more than 500 food and drink professionals, spanning chefs, recipe creators, critics, journalists, buyers and broadcasters, with the 2022 line-up including head buyers from prestigious department stores Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason, as well as Whole Foods and Waitrose; BBC Good Food editor Keith Kendrick; delicious. editor Karen Barnes; contestants from The Great British Bake Off and MasterChef: The Professionals; alongside restaurateurs, food writers and more.
The south west region, which includes Gloucestershire, won a total of 529 awards after being blind-tasted by over 500 judges - achieving 29 three-star awards, 159 two-star awards and 341 one-star awards.
The highest scoring producers are also in with a chance of winning one of 10 Golden Fork trophies, as well as the Supreme Champion award for the highest scoring three-star product of the year, at the Great Taste Golden Fork Ceremony on Monday 5 September 2022.
Managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, John Farrand, said: 'We are chuffed to be unveiling the list of award-winners for 2022. It’s been another exceptional year of high quality, innovation and creativity. We’re seeing a steady increase in plant-based products year-on-year and the fermented and functional foods are really starting to hold their own in terms of taste.
'I was extremely impressed to see that many of the entries have come from businesses which started trading in the last year or two, these are companies who incorporated in the middle of the most challenging period in economic and social history. And they’re thriving.
'It isn’t easy doing what these producers do, neither for the start-ups nor the established businesses. Growing a business and a brand in the food industry has so many variables to consider, from standards to policies, learning to sell and market your products, and that’s before you think about aiming for excellence in the taste and flavour of your products. I have the utmost admiration for them all.'
