A poultry supplier that has been rearing chickens in the Yorkshire Wolds for over 70 years is celebrating a UK-wide win for its flagship product.
Middleton-on-the-Wolds based poultry business T.Soanes and Son took top honours in the From the Field (primary) category of the 2017 delicious. magazine Produce Awards after the judges gave the free-range whole chicken their seal of approval.
The company’s product triumphed over a number of other meat, poultry, game, honey and egg producers from across the UK in one of the awards’ four ‘primary’ categories. The business won through to the regional finals earlier this year when it was nominated alongside seven other companies in the North East region, each representing a different category.
General Manager Nigel Upson said: “We are delighted to win this incredible award, especially given the calibre of the other food producers we were competing against from other English regions, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
“We are dedicated to the provenance of our product and animal welfare, and are committed to working sustainably in our environment and within our community, so it is a real honour for the whole team to win this award.”
82 products from 69 producers were shortlisted for the final tasting that was held in London in July.
Judges for the final included food writer, critic and author Matthew Fort; food presenter, chef and restaurateur, Andi Oliver; blogger and journalist, Clerkenwell Boy and delicious. editor, Karen Barnes.
The judges said: “The welfare of the chickens and the environmental credentials are very impressive” and they praised the substantial impact of T. Soanes and Son’s environmental efforts. They also commented that the chicken had “tremendous flavour with a robust, dense texture.”
The delicious. Produce Awards were launched in 2016 to showcase and honour the best of British artisan producers, growers and farmers.