Welsh food and drink producers have triumphed yet again with an array of trophies at the Great Taste Awards 2010.

The winning companies received their awards at the Great Taste Awards ceremony which was held at Fortnum and Mason's as part of the Speciality and Fine Food Fair (September 5-7) at London's Olympia.

Organised by the Guild of Fine Food Retailers the annual Great Taste Awards have been described as the "epicurean equivalent of the Booker prize."

Between them Welsh food and drink producers amassed some 87 three, two, and one gold star awards.

The highest accolade is a three star Gold award, with four Welsh companies - Blas y Ffrwd, Elwy Valley Lamb, Gower Salt Marsh Lamb and Rhug Estate - among the elite 99 products to achieve such status.

While among the major awards was Rhug Estate of Corwen in Denbighshire whose sirloin of beef was named Best Welsh Speciality in the Welsh Assembly Government sponsored category.

The sirloin won a three star gold award with company also winning two star golds for its Salt Marsh Lamb and also Rack of Pork, and a one star gold for its Gammon.

Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones said, "I am delighted that the number of Welsh food and drink companies awarded this year has been so high. I would also like to congratulate Rhug Estate on their continued success. It is important that they are recognised for their achievements and efforts, which help give Welsh food an enviable profile."

Rhug Estate's owner, Lord Newborough said the results were "recognition of the efforts and passion my team has put into producing a top quality product consistently to a discerning market. We are a field to plate operation and every part of the chain has to be perfection. Our concern is to supply our customers with the best tasting meat all the time"

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Notes To Editors

For more information about Welsh food and drink log on to: www.walesthetruetaste.co.uk

For more information on the Great Taste Awards log on to: www.greattasteawards.co.uk

WELSH GREAT TASTE WINNERS 2010

THREE STAR GOLD WINNERS

Blas Y Ffrwd, Llanrhystud,Ceredigion Elwy Valley, Llannefydd, Denbigh Gower Salt Marsh Lamb, Gower, Swansea Rhug Ltd, Corwen, Denbighshire

TWO STAR GOLD WINNERS

Albert Rees Ltd, Carmarthen, Angharad's, Anglesey Farm Foods, Llanfairpwll, Anglesey Anne's Patisserie Ltd, Flint, Avana Bakeries Limited, Newport, Pembrokeshire Bacheldre Watermill, Montgomery, Montgomeryshire Black Mountains Smokery Ltd., Crickhowell, Powys Benporium, Llanagamarch Wells, Powys Blas Ar Fwyd Cyf, Llanrwst, Conwy Blas Y Ffrwd, Llanrhystud, Ceredigion BLUE Whole Blueberries, Whitchurch, Shropshire C. & G. Morgan & Son, Bridgend, Cae Groes Bakery Ltd., Bangor, Chef on the Run Foods, Hay-on-Wye, Powys Condessa Welsh Liqueurs, Llanfaethlu, Anglesey Cwmcerrig Farm Shop & Grill, Gorslas, Carmarthenshire Elan Valley Mutton, Rhayader, Powys Elizabethan England, Pwllheli, Gwynedd Emily Ridley's, Pwllheli, Gwynedd Ferranti Olive Oils, Pencoed, Vale of Glamorgan Cae Groes Bakery Ltd., Bangor, Ferranti Olive Oils, Pencoed, Vale of Glam Lamb, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan Graig Farm / Welsh Farm Organics, Llandrindod Wells, Powys Hilary Jankowska, Llanwddyn, Powys Hurns Brewing Company, Swansea Lovespoon Goat's Milk Gelato, Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire Neuadd Fach Baconry, Llandinam, Powys Otley Brewing Company, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan Rhug Ltd., Corwen, Denbighshire Seren Foods, Bangor on Dee, Wrexham Siwgr a Sbeis Cyf, Llanrwst, Conwy Glasfryn Siop Fferm, Pwllheli, Gwynedd Harvies Ltd., Mold, Flintshire Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, Hawarden, Home Made By Hazel, Bonvilston, Vale of Glamorgan La Creme Patisserie & Catering Co., Baglan Energy Park, Port Talbot Ltd Leonardo's Delicatessen, Ruthin, Denbighshire Lovespoon Goat's Milk Gelato, Newcastle Emlyn Carmarthenshire Merann Foods inc Sarah's Chocolates, Devils Bridge, Aberystwyth N S James Family Butchers, Raglan, Monmouthshire Neuadd Fach Baconry, Llandinam, Powys Patchwork Traditional Food Co, Ruthin, Denbighshire Plas Farm Ltd Rhug Ltd., Corwen Denbighshire Slade Farm Organics, Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgan South Caernarfon Creameries Ltd, Pwllheli, Gwynedd The Breconshire Brewery, Brecon, Powys The Fresh Pasta Company, Merthyr Tydfil Mid Glamorgan The Pudding Compartment Ltd., Abergele, Conwy Tudor Brewery, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire Welsh Dragon Smokery t/a Llandudno Smokery, Llandudno, Conwy

ONE STAR GOLD WINNERS

Angharad's Anglesey Farm Foods, Llanfairpwll Anne's Patisserie Ltd, Flint, Flintshire Avana Bakeries Limited, Newport, Pembrokeshire Simply Relish, Northop, Flintshire Slade Farm Organics, Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgan South Caernarfon Creameries Ltd, Pwllheli, Gwynedd Tan-Y-Castell Welshcakes, Narberth, Pembrokeshire The Breconshire Brewery, Brecon, Powys The Fresh Pasta Company, Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan The Sweet Shop, Aberdyfi, Gwynedd Ty Tanglwyst Dairy, Bridgend, Welsh Dragon Smokery t/a Llandudno Smokery, Llandudno, Conwy Welsh Lady Preserves, Pwllheli, Caernarfonshire Wernddu Wine, Monmouth, Gwent

For more information, please contact:

Sheila Coleman 01792 410 994 sheila@colemanroberts.co.uk