Tops for good taste

From the archive, first published Monday 5th Dec 2005.

PEMBROKESHIRE food and drink producers were among the winners at the recent True Taste Wales Food & Drink Awards 2005-06.

Regarded as the Oscars of the Welsh food and drink industry, the True Taste Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the industry's ongoing success, and were held at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

Companies of all sizes were among the winners, which spanned all areas of the food and drink industry in Wales.

Gold award winners from Pembrokeshire include Yerbeston Gate Farm Shop whose Welsh black beef fillet steak won gold in the producer category. There were golds too for Haverfordwest Farmers' Market and Ultracomida Delicatessen in the retailer category.

Llaeth Bethesda's Bethesda butter scored silver in the producer category, as did Sharon's Kitchen in the small manufacturer category with its raspberry jam.

Joining the silver list was Caws Cenarth with its Caws Cenarth Caerffili, trophy winners in the organic category.

Bronze awards went to Bethesda Meats' steak and ale pie in the producer category, and Trioni Ltd in the public/private sector food initiative category.

A further ten companies' products were commended by the judges.

Now in their fourth year, the Welsh Development Agency-managed awards are among the most prestigious and sought-after accolades in the industry, a fact reflected in this year's record number of entries.

The eminent panel of judges consisting of chefs, food writers, restaurateurs, and specialists, taste-tested nearly 500 products from 177 companies. After being judged on their business skills the entries were whittled down to 37 finalists.

"We know that being a True Taste winner will bring all the winners vital brand recognition and priceless publicity, which, from previous winners' feedback, we know will help to boost their businesses," said WDA agri-food director, Arwyn Davies.

"The fact they can also use the True Taste logo, which is now gaining recognition as the sign of award-winning food and drink, on their packaging and promotional materials, can also add value."

Once again the awards were sponsored and supported by media, farming, and food and drink industry organisations: ITV Wales; The Grocer; Hybu Cig Cymru/Meat Prom-otion Wales; NFU Cymru/ Wales; the Farmers' Union of Wales; and Spar.

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