The FoodTalk Awards 2018 finalists revealed
Following the first round of judging, the finalists of The FoodTalk Awards 2018 have been announced.
In addition, the judges have chosen a host of Gold Award winners, who all get to showcase their winning products on the awards evening for a chance to win the people’s choice Big Apple award. The judges must now decide several category winners in time for an awards ceremony this summer.
Judges had entries from more than 200 companies. All the winners of the national awards this year will be announced at a ceremony at the Banking Hall in the City of London on 15 June.
“Congratulations to all our entrants who made it to the last, most demanding stage of The FoodTalk Awards competition,” says FoodTalk show presenter and awards judge Sue Nelson, who is a food writer, former CEO of NW Fine Foods and CEO of Breakthrough Group the sponsors behind The FoodTalk Show.
“Getting this far is an amazing achievement because choosing the finalists was one of the hardest tasks I’ve had on any judging panel. Now, perhaps, the very toughest part is about to begin – honing our search on the eventual winners!
“To all those companies that just missed the final cut this time, please take heart. This is a tough awards competition across all sectors and choosing our final shortlist was incredibly difficult as the bar was set so high. You have it all to play for next year.”
Tickets are £140 plus VAT on general sale but will be discounted to £120 plus VAT to finalists who can purchase their first two tickets at that price, but then, full price for additional tickets.
The finalists for the FoodTalk Awards 2018 are:
All in the Taste Award – food
A food product that uses unusual ingredients and combinations.
The following are gold award winners:
o Baked by Neelu – Signature chocolate brownies (gluten, dairy and soya free and vegan)
o Kinomi Nuts – Bari bari barus (wild nut grown in pods in Brazil’s Cerrado savanna)
o Fifth Dimension Chocolates – Soy caramel sauce (soya sauce-based caramel)
o Rubies in the Rubble – Banana ketchup (made with food waste bananas)
o Morocco Gold – Single estate extra virgin olive oil (Morocco’s first extra virgin olive oil)
The People’s Choice award will be chosen by guests at the awards dinner.
All in the Taste Award – drink
A drink product that uses unusual ingredients and combinations.
The following are gold award winners:
o YumCha – Moroccan mint ice tea (using gunpowder tea leaves that make berber whisky)
o World of Zing – Bordeaux barrel aged negroni (aromatic and complex bitter cocktail)
o Dalston’s – Cola (cola nuts, citrus, spices and lavender)
o Longflint Drinks Co – Hibiscus, gin tonic (cold brewed hibiscus flowers in gin and tonic)
o Double Dutch – Pomegranate and basil tonic water (herbaceous aroma with sweet finish)
The People’s Choice award will be chosen by guests on the night of the awards dinner.
Clean Eating Award
A traditional factory-produced food or drink product that has been stripped of preservatives, additives or other ingredients and now offers a healthier, cleaner choice.
The following are finalists:
o Moose Maple – Moose maple butter (just British butter, maple syrup and a touch of salt)
o Hunter & Gather – Avocado oil mayonnaise (just avocado oil, egg yolk, cider vinegar, salt)
o On The Menu – Real good ketchup (78% less salt and xylitol from sustainable birch forests)
o Green Cola – Green Cola (using stevia and natural caffeine from green coffee beans)
o Urban Cordial – Apple, lemon and fennel cordial (just apple, lemon, fennel, sugar)
o Eat First – Teriyaki tofu (vegan, dairy and gluten free using GM-free soy beans)
Two silver awards and the gold winner will be chosen by the judging panel for announcement at the awards dinner.
Free-From Award
A food or drink product where traditional allergens or ingredients have been removed, but you would never know it.
The following are finalists:
o Nutcrafter Creamery – Ancient cheddah (vegan)
o Bonnie Yau – Thai style satay sauce (vegan and peanut free)
o Mr. Singh’s – Punjabi cooking paste (vegan and gluten free)
o La Cremerie – Vanilla yogurt (dairy and sugar free)
o Champion & Reeves – Dessert nougat (gluten and gelatine free)
o Oast to Host – Pastry mix (gluten and wheat flour free)
Two silver awards and the gold winner will be chosen by the judging panel for announcement at the awards dinner.
Smart Packaging Award
Product innovation to protect and transport food and drink, whether for retail, takeaway or delivery.
The following are finalists:
o Wool Cool – Sustainable packaging
o WK Thomas – Eco-friendly range
o T Sticks of London – T stick
o Snact – Plastic-free packaging
o Tiggs – Tiny Tigg pack
o Cornware – Biodegradable sushi tray
Two silver awards and the gold winner will be chosen by the judging panel for announcement at the awards dinner.
Smart Tech/Kitchen Award
Smart gadgets, apps and technology to make cooking, preparing or analysing food simple.
The following are finalists:
o Sous Vide Tools – iVide cooker
o Mr Lees – Noodle kiosk
o Kafoodle – Kafoodle
o Teapy – Teapy
o Still on the Move – Mobile distillery
o Yumpingo – Food intelligence platform
Two silver awards and the gold winner will be chosen by the judging panel for announcement at the awards dinner.
Presenters’ Award
The winner will be the product that is different but clever at the same time.
The following are finalists:
o The Vurger Co – 100% plant-based burgers
o Dunnet Bay Distillers – Holy grass vodka
o The Chocolate Smiths – Cheese and cracker chocolate
o St Ewe – Boost the roost free range eggs
The gold winner will be chosen by presenters for announcement at the awards dinner.
