Yorkshire Food Awards shortlist revealed

The Garbutt and Elliott awards, now in their third year, celebrate Yorkshire’s growing food and drink industry and businesses from across the region who are making a real impact and who support its growing position in the national and international food and drink market place. This year’s awards are made up of 15 categories with a total of 57 shortlisters. The winners of each of the categories are entered into an Overall Winner category which is judged by Garbutt & Elliott and Chef Consultant, Stephanie Moon.

More than 150 businesses entered the awards and shortlisted entrants include businesses from across the region including those based in York, Harrogate, Malton, Leeds and Skipton.

Skipton-based dairy farm and Skyr yoghurt producer, Hesper has been nominated for two awards in the Business Innovation and SME below £500k categories. The plant-based desserts company, Freaks of Nature, based in Ossett has also been nominated for two awards in the Yorkshire Brand of the Year and Business Innovation categories.

Harrogate-based producers are shortlisted across a variety of categories, including SME above £500k, for Ripley’s Harrogate Tipple distillery, Yorkshire Brand of the Year for The Wild Plum restaurant and authentic Indian food producer Young Business of the Year for and Business Innovation award for healthy food producer Kirsty’s.

Four businesses from Malton are also hopeful of winning including Visit Malton Food Lovers Festival who have been nominated for Spirit of Yorkshire and Yorkshire Wolds Apple Juice who are nominated for the Quench Yorkshire award. Other shortlisters Gilly Robinson, Head Tutor at the Malton Cookery School is nominated for Yorkshire Ambassador of the Year and Yorkshire Tonics, nominated for Young Business of the Year are also based in Malton.

York-based shortlisters are in the running with Galtres Lodge Hotel nominated for Young Business of the Year, York Gin for SME above £500k and restaurants Ambiente Tapas and Partisan both nominated for the Nourish Yorkshire award, with York Food Festival nominated for the Spirit of Yorkshire award.

A celebratory awards evening had been planned to be held in September, however the coronavirus restrictions have meant that instead, shortlisters are being invited to be part of an ‘awards roadshow’ ahead of the winner’s announcements on 21 October. Chef Consultant and ‘Overall Winner’ category Judge, Stephanie Moon, and members of the Garbutt & Elliott team are visiting their premises to take a ‘behind the scenes’ tour and interview the shortlisters. As part of the celebrations, the roadshow will be shared across Garbutt & Elliott’s social media pages to showcase the short listed businesses far and wide in the build-up to the winner announcements.

Tony Farmer, Partner, Garbutt & Elliott said: “We are delighted to celebrate our annual Food and Drink business awards with alternative celebrations this year. It has been a difficult time for the Food and Drink industry with the challenges faced as a result of COVID-19, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to be able to showcase and celebrate the achievements of the region’s finest food and drink producers.”

Stephanie Moon, Category Judge & Chef Consultant said: “The Garbutt and Elliott Food and Drink awards going virtual is virtually fantastic because it’s taking the Food and Drink awards and making it open to everybody. It gives the winners the chance to have their moment, tell their family and friends and everyone can see their moment which is brilliant”.

For more information, visit garbutt-elliott.co.uk/food-awards