About the Awards

The prestigious Taste of the West Awards is one of the most highly respected in the food and drink industry, established seventeen years ago. The awards highlight successful and high quality businesses across food and drink production, hospitality and food retail.

The awards cover sixteen food and drink categories which are divided into twenty three classes, alongside four hospitality and two retail classes.

Watch our video of the product judging taking place:

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In recognition of the ever-evolving industry in the South West a number of new awards were introduced in 2008 including:

• Local Food Champion - recognising an individual who has contributed significantly to the development of the local food and drink industry.
• South West Producer of the Year - recognising an entrepreneurial producer of food and drink with an innovative approach to developing his/her business and markets.
• South West Local Food in Schools award - recognising schools that show commitment to sourcing and educating pupils about healthy and locally sourced food

Judging panels are made up of industry experts including chefs, food technologists, food and food preparation trainers/teachers, trade buyers, food writers, home economists etc.

The Awards culminate in a ceremony in the autumn, at which the overall awards are presented. The results of the Awards, and the ceremony feature extensively in local and regional newspapers across the South West, in trade publications and on a number of local radio stations and television news reports.

Watch our video of last year's ceremony (please give it a minute to load).

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The Awards and individual winning businesses have also featured in The Grocery Trader, Speciality Food, The Independent Retailer, Fine Food Digest and Catering South West; plus The Sunday Independent and The Daily Telegraph.

The quality of regional food and drink has reached new heights according to the judges of the Taste of the West Awards.

Once again Musgrave Retail Partners GB (Budgens and Londis food retailers) are the lead sponsors of the awards. Jonathan Bayne, Head of Technical Services, Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs, said "Musgrave works with entrepreneurial Budgens and Londis food retailers to provide the consumer with a food offer that is different and better. The standard and quality of products and establishments entered in the Taste of the West Awards simply gets better each year, reflecting the regard with which these awards are held and so we are delighted to be title sponsor of the Awards for the 12th successive year."

The Awards provide an invaluable marketing tool for the region's producers and proprietors. We are extremely fortunate here in the South West to have so many fine products on our doorstep and many quality catering and retail outlets through which to enjoy local produce at its best. Receiving a gold, silver or bronze award provides a distinct advantage to those operating in such a competitive environment.