05 September 2007, 17:34 PM
  • Presented on 3rd September, Walter Smith (Birmingham) Limited, was crowned Supreme Champion 2007 for its Free Range Pork Pie.

The annual event, organised by The Guild of Fine Food, saw the midland’s butcher win the coveted top prize. Director, Robert Jones, was thrilled with the award, but keen to emphasise this was a team effort. “More than 20 of our shops make their own extremely high quality pork pies,” said Robert.  “The pie that won was made by the butchers in our Cannock shop, but the recipe has always been a winner. In fact it was marked at 99 out of a 100 at the Malvern Food Festival in October 2006.”

Mr Jones and his team were supported in their efforts by Heart of England fine foods, of which Walter Smith is a member. HEFF marketing executive, Neal Harris, added, “Winning Supreme Champion is testament to the high quality of food and drink produced by our members.”

The Great Taste Awards see 4,500 foods blind-tasted by up to three separate teams of experts before the awards are made. Winners vary from small producers, to more well-established brands. This year, gold, silver and bronze was replaced by gold one, two or three star. To earn a three-star grade, an entry needs that indefinable ‘something extra’ - the little bit of magic that sets it apart not just from products of the same type, but in the world of fine food as a whole.

Other winners were as follows:

Supreme Champion - Free Range Pork Pie - Walter Smith (Birmingham) Ltd

Best British Speciality - Free Range Pork Pie - Walter Smith (Birmingham) Ltd
Best English Speciality - Free Range Pork Pie - Walter Smith (Birmingham) Ltd
Best Speciality from Northern Ireland - Hot Smoked Salmon - Drumgooland Smokehouse
Best Welsh Speciality - Grapefruit & Ginger Marmalade - Chef on the Run
Best Scottish Speciality - Rhubarb & Ginger Jam - Nicoll’s of Strathmore

Best Speciality from South West - Tomato Stuffed Olives - Olives Et Al
Best Speciality from the Heart of England - Free Range Pork Pie - Walter Smith
Best Speciality from Northumbria - Pink Grapefruit Sorbet - Beckleberrys
Best Speciality from the East Midlands - Salt Beef - Northfield Farm Ltd
Best Speciality from Yorkshire & Humber - Figit Pie - Andrew Jones Pies Ltd
Best Speciality from Anglia - Binham Blue & Brocolli Soup - Silent Partners Catering
Best Speciality from the South East - Handmade Traditional Velvet Fudge - Hi-T’s
Best Speciality from the North West - Organic Chocolate & Almond Cake - The Village Bakery

Best Irish Speciality - Balsamic Reduction with Sherry & Fig - En-Place Foods/Castle Leslie
Best Italian Speciality - Smoked Anchovy - Avilton/Lorea
Best Spanish Speciality - Beech Smoked Mackeral - Flavours of Spain
Best Continental Delicatessen - Buckingham Delicatessen
Speciality Importer of the Year - Brindisa

Best Fresh Speciality - Salt Beer - Northfield Farm Ltd
Most Innovative Packaging - Teapigs
Best First Time Entrant - John Pettit & Sons

Speciality Producer of the Year - The Tracklement Co Ltd