CityLife

Food stars shine in regional awards

Asparagus from Church Farm is highly recommended

YOU wouldn't usually expect to see organic asparagus and ready meal producers honoured at the same event - but that sums up the breadth of categories in the Food Northwest Awards 2009, which were presented yesterday (June 25) in two wings: fine foods; and business.

Though bear in mind, when CityLife says 'ready meal', we don't mean the kind of plastic-cheese-coated, unreal-textured-meat-filled, microwaved splat nonsense you get from the basic-value range at your local supermarket.

No, in this case we refer to tasty, well-made dishes that you actually get excited about eating - created by companies such as the award-winning mass producer Authentic Foods of Sharston, winner of a business award for Corporate Social Responsibility; and The Gunnery in Tarvin, Cheshire, which won the Fine Food Prepared Meals category for its game pie.

The Hilton Manchester Deansgate hotel hosted a gala dinner in celebration of both sets of awards, which are organised by agency Food Northwest.

'Outstanding'

Other winners of the ten Fine Food awards included chocolate and orange curd by Friendly Food And Drink of Cumbria; cider by Cheshire's Eddisbury Farm; and mutton cutlets by Glossop butcher JW Mettrick And Son.  

And another Greater Manchester name was among the business honours, as Katie Coleman of Leigh's Victoria Foods was named as an Industry Rising Star.

The Fine Food Northwest Awards received 400 entries, with 50 judged as subcategory winners earlier this month.

As well as the ten main awards, two overall honours - Fine Food Producer Of The Year 2009 and Best New Speciality Product 2009 - were both bestowed upon Friendly Food And Drink of Cumbria.

“This year’s entries were outstanding and the judges had a real task in deciding the overall winners," says Pat Foreman, chief executive of Food Northwest.

"They should all be proud of their achievements  - it is their hard work and innovation that makes the north west home to some of the UK’s finest foods.”

All winners are detailed below.

For more information, visit the link on the right.

WINNERS: FINE FOOD NORTHWEST AWARDS 2009

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
Asparagus
Church Farm Organics - Thurstaston, Wirral
Grower John Bentley says: "We are delighted that our hard work and commitment to producing the finest quality asparagus has been recognised in these prestigious awards. We think that we produce outstanding, fresh, flavoursome fruit and vegetables, but to have it verified by industry professionals, and benchmarked against our peers is invaluable to us. It also serves as a reminder to local people that there is a lot of food produced on their doorsteps. We try to educate people about local food and farming and this is a great help in that process."

CHUTNEYS AND PRESERVES
Chocolate And Orange Curd
Friendly Food And Drink - Staveley, Cumbria
Co-owner Lorraine Stobbart says: “We have worked hard to produce our winning Chocolate and Orange Curd and are delighted that it has been so well received. The curd is made with diabetic chocolate, so it is a real achievement to stand up to other chocolate sauces, let alone win a whole category.”

BEVERAGES
Cheshire Cider
Eddisbury Farm, Kelsall
Michael Dykes, joint owner of Eddisbury Fruit Farm, says: “Our cider has nothing taken out and nothing added. It has a long history and has been made at Eddisbury Farm for over 70 years. We are delighted to receive this accolade.”

FRESH MEAT
Mutton cutlets
JW Mettrick And Son (butcher) - Glossop
John Mettrick says: “We’re absolutely over the moon to win this award. This is a great product and with the award behind it, it will hopefully be a great success. Most importantly, the award serves as recognition for everybody involved in our supply chain from the farmer, through to the slaughtermen and the butchers  – everyone has had a hand in its success, from farm to plate. The award will give the staff a real lift and serve as a great motivation for us to continue to strive to make great products.”

SAUSAGES
Leek and black pudding sausages
Kevin Berkins (master butcher) - The Eagle at Barrow, Clitheroe / The Fence Gate Inn, near Burnley
Kevin says: “I am delighted to scoop this award. Winning is always good and to be judged by professionals and peers in the industry is a real accolade. I am always striving to create new and exciting products, and I am very pleased that the leek and black pudding with a hint of sage sausage has been so well received.”

PREPARED MEALS
Game pie
The Gunnery, Tarvin, Cheshire
Co-owner Sally Harris says: “We are delighted. Our aim at The Gunnery has always been to create home made signature dishes, using free-range, seasonal ingredients. This award represents a great starting point and I can’t wait to show it to the chefs.”

FISH AND SEAFOOD
Genuine Southport Potted Shrimps In Butter
Southport Seafoods - Shellfield Road, Southport
Owner Christian Peet says: “We are over the moon to win this award. I have done this job all of my life and it is wonderful to receive recognition. My father, brother and my wife Tuk have worked hard to make the business a success and I’m sure my mother, who sadly passed away a short time ago, would be very proud of our achievement.”

CAKES, PUDDINGS, SWEET PASTRIES, BISCUITS AND CONFECTIONERY
Chocolate Damson Brownie
Ginger Bakers - Kendal
Owner Lisa Smith says: “We believe that good food needs high quality simple ingredients and attention to detail – it builds healthy people - and creates a healthy planet. Since setting up just three years ago, we have developed an exciting and inspiring range, which appeals to people who care about how their food is made, and where the ingredients come from  - we are delighted to be recognised in these awards.”

CURED AND COOKED MEAT
Dry/sweet cure smoked bacon
Broughs (butcher) - Birkdale
Manager David Allen says: “We continue to strive to develop new products, working seasonally. Winning an award like this gives us a great kick start and helps us to get feedback, and reach a wider audience, encouraging customers to visit us from across Merseyside and Cheshire, and sample our new products.”

DAIRY
Mrs Kirkham's Tasty Lancashire
Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese
Manager Graham Kirkham says: “The cheese we submitted is exactly the product our customers are buying, and enjoying, so it is wonderful that this has also been singled out by experts. It is a real honour to be recognised in these awards. Since we set up the new dairy last year we have all worked very hard to make it a success and it is fantastic to have our efforts rewarded in this way.”


WINNERS: FOOD NORTHWEST AWARDS 2009 (BUSINESS)

The Food Northwest Award for Small and Medium Size Enterprises
= Delifonseca – Liverpool, Merseyside – WINNER
= Clippy’s Apples – Sale, Cheshire – HIGHLY COMMENDED
= Moorhouses Brewery, Burnley – HIGHLY COMMENDED

The Food Northwest Award for Supply Chain Solutions
= The Moody Baker – Alston, Cumbria - WINNER
= Transfresh – Warrington, Cheshire – HIGHLY COMMENDED

The Food Northwest Award for Innovation
= Vimto Soft Drinks – Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside – WINNER

The Food Northwest Award for Skills
= Dunbia – Sawley, Lancashire - WINNER

The Food Northwest Award for Environmental Sustainability
= Dewlay – Garstang, Lancashire – WINNER

The Food Northwest award for Corporate Social Responsibility
= Authentic Food Company – Sharston, Greater Manchester - WINNER

The IGD Award for the Northwest Food Industry Rising Star
= Katie Coleman, Victoria Foods – Leigh, Greater Manchester - WINNER

The Food Northwest Excellence Award
= Cheshire Farm Ice Cream – Tattenhall, Cheshire - WINNER

The UKTI Award for International Trade
= Thwaites Brewery – Blackburn, Lancashire

Fine Food Producer of the Year Award
= Friendly Food and Drink, Staveley, Cumbria - WINNER

Best New Northwest Speciality Product
= Friendly Food and Drink, Staveley, Cumbria – WINNER