UK bakeries are celebrating the results of this year’s Great Taste 2013 awards.

More? based in Staveley, near Kendal, received three Gold stars for its Lakeland treacle breads at the rigorous food awards scheme involving over 400 judges and hours of blind tasting.

Craft baker J G Ross was awarded Gold stars for its Gluten Free biscuits; Coconut & lime and Lemon Ginger along with Pulsetta Bread and Pulsetta Rolls developed in partnership with Pulsetta Foods.

Overall, more than 12 judges taste and comment on each product presented. This year’s awards attracted a record number of entries. In total 9,738 food and drink products were blind-tasted, tested and discussed during two months. 

Of the 9,738 products entered, only 33.8% were awarded a star

Patrick Moore, owner and director at More? said: “I am very proud of my Team at More? Not only were we the only bakery to achieve 3 Gold stars for bread, we received it for both the Walnut & Raisin, and Raisin, Rosemary & Fennel Lakeland Treacle Breads.”

The artisan bakery also won 2 Gold stars for its Wild English White Sourdough and Monty’s Revenge Bloomer: Montgomery cheddar and whole garlic cloves wrapped in a Sourdough.

Moore added: “We have consistently achieved over the past 5 years at the GTA with at least one product winning 3 Gold stars.”

A spokesperson for J G Ross said: "This is the second year we have entered the great taste awards. Gluten-free foods are a very recent venture for us, and this year, we have been awarded gold stars for 4 products, which is absolutely fantastic. 

"Pulsetta, in partnership with Plenta Foods, has won a 2 Great Taste Awards, for the Pulsetta Rolls as well as the Pulsetta Loaves, and 2 of our gluten-free biscuits – Coconut & Lime and Lemon & Ginger - are also awarded a gold star each this year, joining our Cranachan biscuit which won 2 gold stars last year."

Elsewhere, Shipley based bakers and patissiers, Just Desserts, won 1 Gold rating for its pear and plmond Franzipan.  The tart is part of a new downsized dessert range aimed at the foodservice and hospitality market.

Stag Bakeries was also awarded a 3 Gold star rating for its Stornoway water biscuit with hebridean seaweed. 

Out of almost 10,000 products entered into Great Taste 2013, 125 have been awarded 3-star.  All 3-star products have been re-judged by a panel including Masterchef judge and restaurant critic Charles Champion, food buyers from Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Whole Food Markets and Michelin Star chef Russell Brown who have together decided on the 2013 Top 50 Foods, the Golden Fork Trophy winners as well as the new 2013 Supreme Champion.     

On Monday, 9 September at the Awards’ Dinner at the Royal Gardens Hotel, London, the winners of the Golden Fork Awards and the Great Taste Supreme Champion 2013 will be announced.

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