Each year thousands of food products are blind-tasted and marked by a distinguished panel of judges (this year's included the critic Charles Campion, chef Mark Hix, and Blur bassist-turned-farmer Alex James); winners are chosen on the taste of their prodcuts, not their marketing know-how. The Great Taste Awards are organised by the
Guild of Fine Food, which is acknowledged as a benchmark for quality speciality food and drink.
Father and son team Peter and Ian Craig were the highest achievers this year, having put fruit sorbets back on
the menu in hotels and restaurants across the North of England – Beckleberry’s, their ice cream, sorbet and patisserie business, was crowned Supreme Champion for its Blackcurrant & Kirsch Sorbet, made with real fruit and completely free of artificial colourings and flavourings.