Emerging artisan food businesses encouraged to enter

Three new Golden Fork trophies have been added to Great Taste for 2013 – the world’s largest and most respected blind-tasted food and drink awards scheme.

Chefs working in delis and farm shops are being encouraged to enter their favourite signature dish; producers making artisan foods using heritage breeds or varieties will be honoured with a special Nigel Barden Award, and one emerging new artisan business will receive valuable mentoring as part of its prize.

“In 2012 we had a handful of completely new artisan producers who entered Great Taste including one producer in Cumbria who achieved a 3-star Award for an exceptional sweetmeat, and we would like to encourage more to come forward and take part in Great Taste 2013.  Even if a producer is working completely on their own or with one other person to produce food or drink that is exclusively sold through farmers’ markets or local shops, we would very much like them to take part.  The winner will be offered an opportunity to receive valuable mentoring from established food experts.  Great Taste has been credited with changing the lives of the winners of the Supreme Champion Award, and while we want to hear this kind of great news from our winners, we also want to encourage very small artisan producers,” said John Farrand, organiser of Great Taste 2013.

Also, the growing number of micro-breweries and UK and Irish winemakers will be able to enter into an expanded drinks category.

Since 1994, Great Taste has been organised by The Guild of Fine Food and over the last 19 year over 70,000 products have been blind tasted by judges including top restaurateurs, chefs, food critics, fine food retailers, buyers and cookery writers.

In 2013 over 10,000 entries are expected and the robust judging process will ensure only the finest food and drink will be declared worthy of the Great Taste stars. The announcement of the Supreme Champion 2013 sponsored by Harrods, will be made on the 9th September.

For further information please contact any of the following:  Joanne Myram at Positive PR on:joanne@positivepr.co.uk 01935 389497

Or tortie.farrand@finefoodworld.co.uk  or john.farrand@finefoodworld.co.uk  orbob.farrand@finefoodworld.co.uk | 01963 824464

Guild of Fine Food, Guild House, Station Road, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 9FE

www.finefoodworld.co.uk www.greattasteawards.co.uk

Notes

Nigel Barden is a food and drink broadcaster and chairman of the Great Taste judging panel. He is well known for his culinary slots on BBC radio and is a huge supporter of heritage varieties and of lesser known fish!

What do Great Taste judges look for?  

They look for great texture and appearance. They judge the quality of ingredients and how well the maker has put the food or drink together. But above all, they look for truly great taste. Working in small teams, experts taste 25 foods in each sitting, discussing each product as a coordinating food writer transcribes their comments directly onto the Great Taste website which producers access after judging is completed. Over the years, numerous food businesses, start-ups and well established producers have been advised how to modify their foods and have subsequently gone on to achieve gold standard.  Any food that a judging team believes is worthy of a star is judged by at least two further teams. Only when there is a consensus will a star be awarded.  For 3-star Gold, every single judge attending the session, which can be as many as 30 experts must unanimously agree the food delivers that indescribable ‘wow’ factor.

★★★ EXQUISITE. WOW! TASTE THAT   ★★ OUTSTANDING  ★ A VIRTUALLY FAULTLESS FOOD