Meridian Meats from Tetford is celebrating after winning a prestigious Great Taste Award.
The company, a long standing TJS customer, has been presented with a much-desired Gold Great Taste Award for its
Plain Rare Breed Short Back Bacon.
Regarded as the industry Oscars, The Guild of Fine Food's annual Great Taste Awards are the UK's largest independent evaluation of fine food and drink.
Each year, almost 4,500 foods are blind-tasted by up to three separate teams of experts before the awards are made. Since May there have been nearly two weeks of tasting by over 400 independent judges. As a result, 530 Great Taste Awards have been given out for excellence in taste, texture and flavour.
Bob Farrand of the Guild of Fine Food, said: "These awards have been running for 14 years now and are a recognised mark of excellence that consumers can trust and rely on.
"The winning products have been through a thorough judging process and we are able to assure consumers that the Great Taste logo, which all award winners can use, signifies genuine, proven fine food. It's not just a supermarket premium marketing slogan that bears almost no relation to the quality of the food in the packet.
"The Great Taste Awards reflect what is happening in the fine food halls, delicatessens and farm shops throughout the UK and during judging we tasted some fantastic gourmet delicacies from all over the world."
Meridian Meats, based in the 'Heart of the Wolds' at Tetford near Horncastle, are Lincolnshire's Traditional Breeds Meat Marketing Accredited Butchers specialising in beef from their own herd of pedigree Longhorn cattle, lamb from their rare breed sheep and local rare breed Gloucester Old Spot and Berkshire pork. They produce all their own dry cured bacon and gammon as well as sausages, black puddings, haslets, pork and speciality pies, Lincolnshire stuffed chine and a range of ready meals.
Jim Sutcliffe of Meridian Meats, said: "
We are delighted with this award. Winning a Great Taste Award recognizes the craft and dedication that goes into making superb food. Our bacon is special as I dry cure it to my own traditional recipe and uses rare breed pork that comes from outdoor bred rare breed pigs that grow slower than commercial varieties and as a result have much more flavour."
