A Cumbrian gin producer will find out if it has won a major North West award on Friday.
Shed 1 Gin Distillery in Ulverston is just one of three finalists in the Food & Drink Producers category of the North West Family Business Awards 2022 and is also shortlisted in the overall People’s Choice category for the Cumbria region.
The micro distillery has already beat strong competition to reach the finals with a record number of 186 businesses entering the awards from across the North West region.
The awards ceremony will be held in Liverpool and hosted by food writer and presenter, Nigel Barden.
Zoe Arnold-Bennett, co-owner and founder of Shed 1 Gin Distillery, said: “In 2019, the Cumbria Family Business Awards presented us with a special Going Places award. Three years on and we’ve moved to a new larger distillery, which in itself is growing as a visitor attraction, launched new gins, and increased production.
“The judges recognised the potential of Shed 1 back then, so hopefully this is the next step for us. But regardless of the outcome, we’re really looking forward to the event this Friday and meeting some of the other fantastic finalists.”
Awards co-founder and director Sue Howorth said: “We were inundated with some incredible entries, and the judges had extremely difficult decisions to make so the finalists should be extremely proud of themselves!”
Co-director, Dave Clarkson said: “A huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to fill out an application form and enter. We’ve been absolutely blown away by the strength and diversity of applications.”
Jacqui Jackson, of Thomas Jardine & Co and chair of judges said: “The number and quality of applications from across the North West has been outstanding, the businesses are clearly proud to be family businesses and the detail in many of the entries has demonstrated that they are very progressive and innovative.”
