Heavenly Tasty Organics Win at UK Great Taste Awards

The north has broken all previous records in this year’s UK Great Taste Awards after 99 companies secured 264 awards, including 11 in the highest three-stars category.

The pick of the crop now go forward to the final stage of the awards in London next month, when the Supreme Champion Award will be announced along with other category winners.

And the results, especially the new food ideas, are already attracting the attention of major British retailers, with many of the locally-made products expected to end up on the shelves of the likes of top retailers Harrods, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason.

Northern Ireland companies will also be in the running to be included in the Top 50 Foods in the competition, which is organised annually by the UK Guild of Fine Food.

“This is an outstanding set of results in what is the most significant and trend-setting food and drink event in the British Isles and Europe,” Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster said.

“It demonstrates the quality, outstanding taste and creativity of producers, mostly smaller businesses and artisan enterprises, and the spread of award winners to virtually every part of Northern Ireland recognises the strength of our food industry.”

Northern agri-food firms achieved more three-star golds this year than ever before, an overall total of 349 gold stars, and more than any other region of the UK and Republic.

Hannan Meats in Moira, winner of the Supreme Champion Award in 2012, gained an unprecedented seven three-star golds, the highest ranking in the awards, for its beef and bacon that’s dry-aged in the world’s biggest Himalayan Salt Chamber.

This year’s awards included the first ever judging session held in Belfast.

Some 405 judges, including leading retail buyers, chefs and food writers, were involved in the judging process which involved 10,000 individual products from the UK and Republic.

The Minister added: “The Executive recognises the potential of the food industry to strengthen rural communities in terms of wealth creation and greater employment opportunities and supports the Agri-Food Strategy Board‘s Going for Growth Action Plan.

Invest Northern Ireland is already working closely with many of the award winners to help them to turn their achievements in the competition into business with key retailers in Britain and further afield.

Source: irishnews.com

Congratulations Heavenly Tasty Organics Baby Food

Not one but TWO of Heavenly Tasty Organics Baby Food products have won Great Taste Gold in the worlds largest blind tasting food awards.

Their spaghetti Bolognese and Lentil and vegetable soup were both awarded 1 Gold Star each – a huge achievement for a baby food company.

Both these products have previously won Silver and Bronze in the Irish Food Awards in 2013, so to win additional taste awards really confirms just how good they taste.