The Guild of Fine Foods has released the results for Great Taste 2024 and York is well represented.
Described as “the world’s most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme”, the Great Taste panel judged thousands of products from 3,500 companies from 115 countries around the world.
Winners are ranked within a 1-3 star system, 3 being the highest accolade available.
There are 520 awards for foodie products in the North of England, with 13 hailing from York.
The 3-star winning entries were St Helen’s Farm Natural Live Goats Milk Yoghurt, from Seaton Ross, and The Hooting Owl Distillery’s South Yorkshire London Dry Gin. The full list is below.
Only 1.9% of all entries (266 globally and 131 from the UK) were awarded with 3 stars, given to ‘extraordinary tasty food and drink’. Just over ten per cent were given 2-stars for ‘above and beyond delicious’ entries, and 28.8% awarded 1 star, ‘food and drink that delivers fantastic flavour’.
Each entry was blind-tasted by the Guilds judging panel of over 500 food critics, chefs, recipe creators, buyers and retailers. This was done across 92 judging days, each contestant receiving detailed feedback, regardless of whether or not they obtained an award.
John Farrand, MD 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.”
Here are our local winners
3 stars
- St. Helen’s Farm Ltd, Seaton Ross –St. Helen’s Farm Natural Live Goats Milk Yoghurt
- The Hooting Owl Distillery Ltd, Rougier Street, York – South Yorkshire London Dry Gin
2 stars
- Puckett’s Pickles, Shires Bridge Mill, York Road YO61 – Blackcurrant Jam
1 star
- Bessie’s Yorkshire Preserves, York – York Gin Rhubarb & Raspberry Jam
- Puckett’s Pickles – Oriental Carrots
- The Hooting Owl Distillery Ltd – The Hooting Owl Distillery East Yorkshire London Dry Gin Wass Farm Shop, Ampleforth – Herbes De Provence Salami
- York Drinks Ltd – York Gin Chocolate and Orange
- York Drinks Ltd – York Gin London Dry
- York Drinks Ltd – York Gin Old Tom
- York Drinks Ltd – York Gin Rhubarb
- Yorvale Ice Cream, Acaster Malbis – Blueberry Waffle Flavour Ice Cream