Jersey producers relish their gold awards

Wednesday 20 August 2014

A hand-made Jersey fudge proved more than enough to give judges a treat and has struck gold in the Great Taste awards.

Sue’s Fudge Traditional Tablet picked up three gold stars – the top accolade given to just 150 products out of the 10,000 entered in the national food awards.

MasterChef judge and restaurant critic Charles Champion, BBC Food Programme presenter Sheila Dillon and Great British Bake Off 2013 winner Frances Quinn were amongst the hundreds of judges who spent over four months blind-tasting all the artisan and speciality foods and drink.

It’s the fourth time Sue Le Gresley has entered her fudge in the awards and this year she also won 1-Star Gold for her Ginger and Peanut Butter flavours.

Sue said: ‘I am utterly thrilled to bits with the 3-Star Gold award for my Traditional Tablet. The ingredients are very simple indeed, just Genuine Jersey organic milk and butter, plus sugar and a little condensed milk. The judges called it “a delightful tablet” and commented especially on its “gorgeous creaminess, you can almost taste the clover.

“Their final comment was “evidence of what simple first class ingredients can achieve”. As a very small producer, I feel that being able to attach the GTA star logos to my products gives my business heightened credence and recognition.”

Sue isn’t the only one relishing her moment of glory. The Chilli Kitchen’s Lesley Garton picked up a 1-Star for the second year running for her Twisted Sister relish and another 1-Star Gold for her Sweet Red Pepper and Chilli Relish.

Mrs Garton said: “It is lovely to have someone from outside the Island saying we are doing a good job. As we sell direct, we get feedback from our customers so we know what people’s favourites are but to receive national recognition and from such a respected body is really great.”

The local products will now carry a Great Taste label – a signpost to a wonderful tasting product.

The Genuine Jersey Products Association says the awards will reinforce the Island’s reputation for producing quality local produce.

Chairman Jim Hopley said: “Winning 3-Star Gold is a fantastic accolade and to be in the top 150 out of 10,000 entries is fantastic news for Sue, the Island and Genuine Jersey. All our members are passionate about what they do and that comes through in the quality of their product which is what the judges recognised.”