A third-generation baker from Wrexham has claimed the top trophy at the 11th Wales the True Taste food and drinks awards.

Robin Jones of Village Bakery was named this year’s True Taste Champion at the awards ceremony at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on Thursday night.

He used his win to urge other Welsh artisanal food producers to think big in their ambitions. “There are a lot of lifestyle businesses that make excellent artisanal products, but there needs to be more recognition of products that can be scaled up,” he said. “That is where Wales is going to have an impact on the UK stage.”

The True Taste Champion award - which is sponsored by The Grocer - was accepted on Jones’s behalf by his father, Alan (pictured, centre, with Welsh deputy minister for agriculture, food and fisheries Alun Davies and The Grocer’s fresh foods editor, Julia Glotz) on the night.

Davies used the occasion to reassure Welsh food and drink producers of the Welsh government’s commitment to the sector. “The Welsh government will continue to provide significant commercial benefits to food sector businesses by enhancing their capacity to compete and achieve profitability,” he said.

The other Gold award winners recognised on the night were:

  • Best lamb: Welsh Venison Centre for its rack of Welsh lamb
  • Best beef: Cwmcerrig Farm Shop and Grill for its beef sirloin
  • Best pork: Glasfryn Farm Shop for its pork tenderloin filled with pork and garlic stuffing and wrapped in pen Llyn bacon
  • Best poultry & game: Usk Vale Poultry for its speciality large barn reared chicken
  • Best burgers & sausages: Coity Bach Farm Produce for its sweet chilli sausages
  • Best other value-added meat product: Trealy Farm Charcuterie for its Merguez salami with Welsh lamb
  • Best milk, yoghurt, butter and cream (small producer): Llaeth y Llan Village dairy for Llaeth y Llan
  • Best cheese (small producer): Trethowan’s Dairy for its Gorwydd Caerphilly
  • Best ice cream (small producer): Mario’s Ice Cream for its luxury Brecon honey dairy ice cream
  • Best milk, yoghurt, butter and cream (large producer): Rachel’s for its fat-free peach and passion fruit yoghurt
  • Best cheese (large producer): Carmarthenshire Cheese Company for its Carmarthenshire White
  • Best ice cream (large producer): Subzero for its Donatella Roche
  • Best sweet product: Forte’s Ice Cream for its Raspberry sorbet
  • Best savoury product: Hardwick Hampers for its cheese sable biscuits
  • Best confectionery: Siocled Moethus Sarah Bunton Luxury Chocolates for its Earl Grey Tea
  • Best non-alcoholic drink: Brecon Carreg Mineral Water for its Brecon Carreg Still
  • Best beer, cider and perry: The Hurns Brewing Comp for its Blodwen Beer
  • Best wine, spirits and other alcohol: Condessa Welsh Liqueurs for its sloe gin
  • Best added-value fish and seafood product: Claws Shellfish for its Pembrokeshire seafood platter
  • Best fruit: Carreglefn Nursery for its kiwi fruit
  • Best vegetable: Carreglefn Nursery for its Thai lemon grass
  • Best condiments, sauces and chutney: Inner City Pickle for its Mostarda di Frutta
  • Best jams, marmalade and honey: Pant Glas Bach Preserves for its blackcurrant and liquorice jam
  • Best other speciality food: Claire’s Kitchen for its lemon curd
  • Best healthy option: Subzero for its blackcurrant sorbet
  • Best special dietary option: Munchcake Gluten Free Goodies for its gluten-free carrot and pecan cupcake
  • Best Welsh exports: Rhug Organic Farm for its organic meats
  • Best local sourcing: Cwmcerrig Farm Shop

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