THE SEARCH IS ON FOR REGION’S BEST FOOD AND DRINK

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The search is on for the very best food and drink from Yorkshire and Humber with the launch of the eighth annual deliciouslyorkshire awards.
The awards recognise and celebrate the crème de la crème of the region’s food and drink sector, showcasing its fantastic produce and celebrating the outstanding achievements of producers, retailers and the hospitality sector.
New for 2012 is the Innovation Award, vital to keep the UK’s food sector ahead of the trends and maintain essential market share, and Best Multiple Retailer of Local Produce which will be awarded to the retailer most committed to listing and promoting regional produce. The latter award is also open to non-deliciouslyorkshire members with more than two outlets.
The awards, considered the Oscars of the food and drink sector in the region, received more than 280 entries last year from producers, hotels, manufacturers and farm shops around the region. This year there are 19 award categories recognising among others, farmshops, meat, poultry and game producers, deliciouslyorkshire brand champion, outstanding newcomer and the overall supreme product of 2012. Judging is by an independent panel comprising celebrity and award winning chefs and producers, chaired once again by renowned food writer and former chef Elaine Lemm and will take place in August. Deadline for entries is 20 July.
Mark Farnsworth of William’s Farm Kitchen which won the Best Retailer of Local Produce category last year says: “It was a brilliant surprise for us to win last year on what was a fantastic evening. The award has been incredibly useful in helping to raise our profile and the much needed publicity as you start a new business. It’s also been incredibly powerful with customers who see the deliciouslyorkshire award above the door!”
Comments deliciouslyorkshire judge and Radio Two foodie, Nigel Barden: “Yorkshire’s fantastic range of eateries and food outlets couldn’t be a success without the magnificent ingredients from the region. The deliciouslyorkshire awards are a guarantee of the finest of quality, having been rigorously taste tested by our experienced team of judges before they make it anywhere near the winners’ podium.”
Deliciouslyorkshire director Judy Bell says: “These are our eighth awards and they continue to grow year-on-year as companies increasingly recognise and reap the benefits of winning awards. Award-winning companies enjoy a real competitive advantage, enjoying an improved financial performance after just one year of winning their first award ““ and the benefits continue to grow.”
Sponsors for the 2012 deliciouslyorkshire awards include the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Proudfoot Group, manufacturers organisation EEF, food hub Transfresh, Lawyers Ward Hadaway and Sheffield Hallam University.
The winners will be revealed at the prestigious deliciouslyorkshire annual awards dinner on 25 October at the National Railway Museum. Entry to the awards is at www.deliciouslyorkshire.co.uk/awards.
Deliciouslyorkshire aims to increase awareness of the fantastic range of food and drink from Yorkshire and Humber. The brand can only be used by companies producing food and drink within the region and enables consumers to source produce of local provenance at-a-glance. Membership starts at £200 for companies which have been trading for under two years. New members will receive their first entry to the awards free of charge.