Cumbrian food and drink producers have been named among the best in the UK by prestigious awards.
Several have picked up accolades at the Farm Shop & Deli Products Awards, which review the overall business model of producers and are judged by leading farm shop and deli retailers, top wholesaler buyers and owners and industry experts.
Organisers said there had been a record number of entries.
Among the winners are John Farrer & Co Tea and Coffee Merchants, Torpenhow Farm Dairy, Eden Yard, Winter Tarn Dairy and Home by Simon Rogan.
Home by Simon Rogan won four gold awards for its Lemon & Thyme Oil, Mushroom Salt, Coal Oil and Fennel Salt. It was the first time it had entered the awards.
The products are created by teams led by chef Liam Fitzpatrick and events and e-commerce head chef Danny Cunningham, using surplus seasonal produce from Our Farm, Simon Rogan’s Farm in the Cartmel Valley.
E-commerce and events manager Brooke Vanhinsbergh, said: ‘’Winning four Farm Shop & Deli Product Gold Awards is truly amazing. The individual products themselves are part of a whole range of oils, vinegars, condiments, rubs, salts, infusions and specialist kitchen items we’ve developed for aspiring home chefs and food lovers.”
Torpenhow Farm Dairy won gold for its Trusmadoor cheese.
Farrers, based in Kendal, won gold for its Italian Blend Coffee and Lungo Coffee Pods.
In the silver category, Farrers won for its English Breakfast Tea. Also winning silver were Eden Yard for its cold pressed rapeseed oil; Torpenhow Farm Dairy for its Darling howe and its Lemoncurd Gelato.
Winning bronze was Farrers for its Colombian Coffee Bags and Winter Tarn Dairy in Kendal for its Farm House Salted Butter.
North West supermarket Booths also picked up bronze awards for its Monsoon Malabar coffee, Donas Do Cafe Roast beans and Earl Grey loose leaf tea.
The annual awards now in their third year have quality and excellence at their heart. Supported and the Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards recognises and rewards the best in specialist food and drink products.
Harry Jackson, of Winter Tarn, said: ‘’It’s great that Winter Tarn’s Farm House Salted Butter was recognised by the judging panel. Receiving a bronze award shows that we’re creating an excellent product that appeals to a broad audience and stands out from many of its peers on the national stage.
“Recognition like this is a real achievement for the whole team and recognises everything that they do day in and day out to make the business the success that it is.’’
