The Sunday Times Great Taste Awards

The Sunday Times Great Taste Awards

One of the most interesting parts of the Sunday Times Food Show is the Great Taste Awards.

The food show will..

The Great Taste Awards

"What we aim to do is to recognize and reward the superior standard of foodstuffs by small producers across the country," says Susan.

The judging process is meticulous, with a panel made up of leaders and experts in the industry.

SAFM's seasoned food broadcaster Peter James Smith who is a member of the judging panel says, "Products that don't normally make it onto the shelves of the supermarket chains are the ones we want to acknowledge and celebrate here."

Judging process
Winners will be announced

Proliferation of small producers worldwide

"We at the Sunday Times understand the importance of promoting and acknowledging small producers…

Six years on and that prediction couldn't have been more true. Local and regional food is moving from the niche to the mainstream and is high up on the shopping lists of every foodie in Britain. Our Local and Regional Initiative now includes over 1000 product lines in our shops, and this number is still growing fast. The Waitrose Small Producers' Awards not only allow us to support Britain's farmers, growers and producers (something which has historically been at the heart of Waitrose) but they also give us the great pleasure of meeting the best British small food and drink producers. And the truly fantastic products we have savored over the last five years are a testament to the talent, vision and flair of hundreds of food producers around the country. As a food lover it's been fantastic to see and taste an array of lovingly crafted artisan foods - bread from small scale bakeries, fish from century-old smoke houses or smoothies from family run dairy farms.

Sunday Times, in association with Pick 'n Pay, BBC Food and DStv will be hosting the Sunday Times Food Show from 5 to 8 July 2007 at the Sandton Convention Centre. Billed to become an annual highlight on the food calendar, the Sunday Times Great Taste Awards celebrates and promotes South African producers of homemade products. Designed to stimulate the development of South African cuisine, the Great Taste Awards focuses on individuals and enterprises involved in growing, manufacturing and creating products that have the potential to stimulate the industry and our economy.

The competition is open to delis, shops and producers that are Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) involved in the manufacture of South African products. The judging panel will be assessing the taste and quality, the attractiveness and suitability of the packaging, the promotion and marketing of the product and company as well as its availability at retail outlets. Another vital factor that will influence the judges is if the products utilize local ingredients and produce and promote a unique South African cuisine. To be eligible for entry, you must be a producer who has been in business for at least one year.

Winners in each of the Sunday Times Great Taste Awards categories will receive R10 000 and will be entitled to include the Sunday Times Great Taste Award 2007 emblem on their packaging.