The Great Taste Awards 2024 has once again highlighted the exceptional quality of Welsh food and drink, with numerous producers being recognised for their outstanding products.
In a remarkable showcase of culinary prowess, Welsh producers have been honoured with a remarkable 149 awards, with 97 products achieving 1-star, 45 receiving 2-stars and 7 earning the gold stamp of approval with 3-stars.
The awards come following recent statistics showing the food and drink industry in Wales grew by 10% in the last year, with businesses in the sector having a total turnover of £24.6bn in 2023, compared to £22.3bn in 2022.
Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, has expressed his delight at the success:
“The remarkable success of our producers at the Great Taste Awards is a clear reflection of the exceptional quality and innovation that our producers bring to the global food and drink scene.
“These awards are not just accolades; they are a testament to the hard work, dedication, and rich culinary heritage that Wales is known for. I look forward to working with these producers into the future as we continue building on the recent successes of the industry and elevating Wales as a beacon of food and drink excellence.”
Among the extraordinary Welsh products awarded 3 stars are:
- Anglesey Fine Foods Ltd – Black Label Shoulder of Anglesey Fat-Tail Lamb
- Black Mountains Smokery Ltd – Smoked Duck Breast
- Black Welsh Lamb – Organic, pasture-fed mutton shoulder
- Dá Mhile Distillery – Dá Mhile Absinthe
- Gwenyn Gruffydd – Welsh Wildflower Honey
- Moch Coch – Chorizo
- Pâtisserie Verte – Whisky and Chocolate Tart
Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, is the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme that tests both food and drink. The awards are globally recognised as a mark of excellence and eagerly sought after by producers and food-lovers alike. Each entry was meticulously blind tasted by the Guild’s expert judging panel of over 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.
These Great Taste award winners can now proudly display the iconic black and gold Great Taste logo as a symbol of outstanding quality.
John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food comments:
“It’s hugely important to us at the Guild to inject some positivity into the speciality food & drink industry. Given the economic headwinds that both independent retailers and small & 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.”
Those that have received 3-stars went on to be judged in a further stage of the competition. The best of those 3-stars from each country or region have now been nominated for a Golden Fork, an ‘Oscar of the food and drink world’.
The three nominees for the regional title of Golden Fork for Wales include Smoked Duck Breast from Black Mountains Smokery Ltd; Dá Mhile Absinthe from Dá Mhile Distillery and Chorizo from Moch Coch. The Great Taste Golden Fork winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony and tasting at the Battersea Arts Centre in London on Tuesday 10 September 2024.
A full list of this year’s winners and where to buy them can be found at www.greattasteawards.co.uk
