Fine food businesses recognised in regional awards

The winners of the Fine Food Northwest Awards, which recognise the best fine foods in the region, were selected by a panel of 'foodie' experts at a full day's tasting session held at Ewood Park in Blackburn (June 2, 1010). The ten category winners are as follows: 1. Chutneys and Preserves The Farm Burscough – Lime Curd Burscough, Lancashire 2. Prepared Meals Cranstons Quality Butchers – Lentil and Ham Soup Penrith - Cumbria 3. Baked Goods Alison's Home Made – Stem Ginger Biscuits Sandbach, Cheshire 4. Dairy Scoop! Ice Cream Cafe – Rich Chocolate Indulgence Ice Cream Warrington, Cheshire 5. Fresh Meat Deliciously Wild – Venison Medallions Penrith, Cumbria 6. Cured and Cooked Meat Brough's of Birkdale Dry Sweet Cure with Sunflower Honey Bacon Birkdale, Merseyside 7. Sausages Shaw Meats – Pork and Sun-dried Tomato Sausage Wigton, Cumbria 8. Fish and Seafood Southport Seafoods – Genuine Southport Potted Shrimps in Butter Southport , Merseyside 9. Beverages Halal Kitchen Ltd – Mango Lassi Prestwich, Manchester 10. Fruit and Vegetables Wareings of Tarleton – Lettuce Tarleton, Lancashire These companies will all now go on as finalists in two categories of the Food Northwest Business Awards - the Fine Food Producer of the Year Award and the Best New Northwest Speciality Product 2010. Pat Foreman, chief executive of Food Northwest, said: "We have been delighted with the response to our awards programme. We are very proud to be able to recognise the business achievements of our region's food and drink companies, as well as the outstanding products they make here in the Northwest. "A small amount of encouragement and support can be a catalyst for great success. The industry continues to thrive and the awards acknowledge the dedication, and commitment it takes to produce the fabulous food that our region is famous for."