Northern Ireland’s food and drink producers are celebrating after securing 145 accolades in this year’s prestigious Great Taste awards, including 92 1-star awards, 33 2-star awards and 13 of the highest three-star honours.
The annual awards, run by the Guild of Fine Food, recognise the very best products from around the world, with this year’s competition attracting more than 15,000 entries from nearly 4,000 companies across 116 countries.
Among the standout Northern Ireland winners were The Curly Pigs, Mashdown Brewery, Baronscourt Estate, Lisdergan Butchery, The Curious Farmer and Hannan Meats, which secured an amazing six awards. Each received coveted three-star recognition, highlighting the exceptional quality of their products.
Three Northern Ireland products have also been nominated for the coveted Golden Fork awards, which celebrate the highest-rated products in the competition. The shortlisted entries include two products from Hannan Meats (Buttermilk Dry Cure Bacon Rack and Buttermilk Bone in Pork Chop) plus The Curly Pigs’ award-winning Coppa.
The success highlights the continued growth and reputation of Northern Ireland’s artisan food and drink sector, with producers gaining international recognition for quality, craftsmanship and locally sourced ingredients.
Stephen McMaster, founder of The Curly Pigs, said receiving another three-star award was a significant achievement for the family-run farm-to-fork business.
He explained: “The Curly Pigs was never part of a personal or business plan. It began with a desire to grow our own food and become more self-sufficient, and a chance encounter with the rare Royal Mangalitsa pig.
"We are a true farm-to-fork business, with almost every stage of production carried out by us, from breeding and rearing the animals through to curing and selling the finished products. Drawing on traditional charcuterie methods learned through specialist training, we created a slowly cured, air-dried Coppa that reflects our commitment to high welfare farming, craftsmanship and producing food with authenticity, provenance and exceptional taste.
"We were a Great Taste Bursary winner last year, so to get another 3-star this year means a great deal to us. Achieving recognition for a product created entirely by our small family business is incredibly rewarding.”
The Great Taste awards are judged by more than 800 food experts, including chefs, critics, retailers and industry specialists, with products assessed on taste, aroma, texture and overall quality without judges seeing branding or packaging.
The Golden Fork winners, including the Supreme Champion, will be announced at a ceremony in London on September 15.
John Farrand, managing director, Guild of Fine Food, added: “Food security is becoming an increasingly pressing issue across the globe, so it feels more pertinent now than at any other time in our thirty-year history to be supporting and promoting independent producers and retailers. Our directory of award recipients is a rich source of data, guiding people from all walks of life to make informed decisions about their food & drink choices. Great Taste is all about celebrating craftmanship and dedication to well-sourced local ingredients and traditional, often simple production methods which is more important now than ever.”
The Golden Fork from Northern Ireland is sponsored by Invest NI, www.investni.com.
The full list of valid award holders and where to purchase them can be found at www.gff.co.uk/directory
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Hannan Meats Ltd's Buttermilk Boneless Pork Loin Joint Photo: u
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Hannan Meats Ltd's Salt Aged Buttermilk Bone in Rind on Pork Belly Photo: u
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Hannan Meats Ltd's Buttermilk Bone in Pork Chop Photo: u