FOOD AND FARMING What the previous winners of the Food and Farming Awards are doing now
As excitement builds for this year’s BBC Food and Farming Awards on 13 June, we look back at previous winners and reveal what they’re doing now
As the longest-running food event of its kind in the UK, the BBC’S Food and Farming Awards have captured changes in food and drink over the last 18 years. Launched in 2000 to mark the 20th anniversary of Radio 4’s The Food Programme, its mission statement is ‘to honour those who have done the most to promote the cause of good food’. The inaugural event was held in St James’s Palace with the support of Prince Charles, and Stephen Fry acting as host. Since 2014, the awards have been held in Bristol. Previous winners tell stories ranging from the expansion of the UK street-food scene to the revolution in school food. In 2018, over 3,000 entries have been received.
AND THE WINNER WAS… LOCH ARTHUR CREAMERY, DUMFRIES 2011 Best Food Producer
The creamery is part of Loch Arthur village, established in 1985 to provide a working community for people with special needs, mainly through farming. One of the members had a disability that ruled out everyday tasks, but someone had the idea that he could make butter in a churn while seated. It was the start of artisan cheesemaking at Loch Arthur and it has gone from strength to strength.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
Loch Arthur has expanded from 28 people with learning difficulties to 75, with around 30 in supported tenancies, and the 500-acre farm is home to a bakery, veg garden, wood and weaving workshops and a creamery. All of the activity at Loch Arthur is geared towards making the lives of their disabled residents better, and one of the judges, chef Richard Corrigan, said ‘they do this fantastically well’.
AND THE WINNER WAS…
HANG FIRE SMOKEHOUSE, SOUTH WALES 2015 Best Street Food or Takeaway
After a six-month smokehouse pilgrimage across the USA, Samantha Evans and Shauna Guinn decided to cure and cook local pork, poultry and beef at home. They launched Hang Fire, an American-style smokehouse business, based in Barry, South Wales, and initially made their name with street-food and pop-up restaurants.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
Since winning, Samantha and Shauna opened their first restaurant in Barry, released a cookbook in May 2016 and created a range of craft sodas with Pipes Brewery in Cardiff under the banner Triple Soda Co. More recently, they were given their own TV cookery series on BBC One, Sam and Shauna’s Big Cook-out, where they hit the road to celebrate achievements of other community champions across Wales. hangfiresmokehouse.com
AND THE WINNER WAS…
ALMELEY MARKET & DELI AT THE BELLS INN, HEREFORDSHIRE 2016 You and Yours Best Food Retailer
Before parents and pub owners Lisa and Jason Hudson opened their shop inside The Bells Inn in 2007, villagers in Almeley had to make a 30-minute round-trip to buy food. Now they can find everything they need from homemade brownies and quiches to gourmet cheeses, charcuterie, local lamb, plus the household essentials – and a pint or two of beer!
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
Since being handed the award by chef Yotam Ottolenghi, the Bells has become a hub for the local community. ‘It’s had a kind of domino effect,’ says Jason, ‘it’s become a kind of meeting place.’ The locals now pitch in, taking it in turns to run the shop every Wednesday so that Lisa and Jason can spend time with their two young children.
AND THE WINNER WAS… THE PEMBROKESHIRE BEACH FOOD COMPANY 2014 Best Street Food or Takeaway
Founded by Jonathan Williams in 2010, street-food beach shack, Cafe Môr (part of The Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company), is based at Freshwater West and specialises in seaweed products.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
The FAFA victory led to more awards for Jonathan and his products, culminating in landing his first order with a major retailer – his Ship’s biscuits went on shelves in Marks & Spencer. Funded by Pembrokeshire National Park Authority, Jonathan adapted his flagship beach shack to run on solar and wind power. It is now one of only two mobile food outlets to be powered this way. beachfood.co.uk