Scotland has excelled at the Great Taste 2024 awards, securing a total of 296 accolades.
The awards include 207 one-star, 78 two-star, and 11 three-star ratings, the highest honour available.
Among the top Scottish winners are:
- Great Taste 3-star: Buck Russian from Seabuckthorn Scotland CIC
- Great Taste 2-star: Argyll Kiln Roasted Salmon from The Argyll Smokery
- Great Taste 1-star: Lemon and Ginger Infused Honey from CarnieBees
This year, nearly 3,500 companies from 115 countries entered the competition, submitting 13,672 products for review.
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The UK alone contributed 8,008 products from 2,528 companies. Each entry was meticulously blind-tasted by the Guild’s expert judging panel of over 500 food critics, chefs, recipe creators, buyers, retailers, and other specialists.
Entries were analysed over 92 judging days, with detailed feedback provided to all participants.
Only 1.9% of entries (266 globally, 131 from the UK) received a three-star award, signifying ‘extraordinarily tasty food and drink’.
Additionally, 10.1% (1,386 globally) earned two stars, indicating ‘above and beyond delicious’, while 28.8% (3,938 globally) were awarded one star for ‘food and drink that delivers fantastic flavour’.
Three-star winners progressed to a further stage of the competition, with the best from each region nominated for a Golden Fork, considered the ‘Oscar of the food and drink world’. The nominees for Scotland are:
- Scottish Sea Salt Flakes from Blackthorn Salt
- Lussa Gin from Lussa Drinks Company
- The Wee Comrie from Strathearn Cheese Company
John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, said: “It’s hugely important to us at the Guild to inject some positivity into the speciality food & drink industry.
“Given the economic headwinds that both independent retailers and small & medium producers are facing, the announcement of the 2024 crop of Great Taste stars is now an annual fillip for us all.
“And it’s not just excellence from the UK, but from across the world, as we celebrate the best from 115 countries.
“We’re doing our bit for cultural relations across the planet when there is so much legislation trying to prevent it. It’s a real privilege to support and underpin independent makers through the process of Great Taste.”
The Great Taste awards are globally recognised as a mark of excellence, highly sought after by producers and food enthusiasts alike. For a full list of this year’s winners and a guide on where to purchase them, visit the Guild of Fine Food’s directory from 2pm BST today.
