Great Taste award success for three local companies

Three local food producers have received gold star awards from the Guild of Fine Food, as the Great Taste 2025 winners were announced on July 29 last.

The famous black and gold seals of approval are a sought-after accolade in the food industry and this year there were 1,481 Irish products entered, 588 of which received awards; 386 one-star, 170 two-star, and 32 three-star.

Tullamore company BiaSol picked up a two-star award for its Oat Bites Chocolate Brownie, as well as a one-star award for its Oat Bites Original.

Rudd's Fine Foods, of Birr, was awarded the one-star accolade for its Rudd's Chef's Table Sausage and Rudd's Chef's Table Sausage Meat.

Meanwhile, organic oils company ÍON Oil, based in Clonanny, Portarlington, received a one-star award for its Hemp Seed Oil.

Great Taste is recognised as the most influential food and drink accreditation scheme in the world, not only because it was established over 30 years ago, but also for the robustness of its multi-layered review process. The judging panel of over 500 industry experts, including chefs, critics, food technologists, retailers, food writers and other specialists, pored over each product over the course of 110 days.

Every entry is judged on its own merit as a standalone product and tasted completely blind. Written evaluation from the judges is shared with the producers, regardless of how the product has scored, meaning that even if there is room for improvement, constructive feedback can help start that journey.