Celebrating Success at the Smithfield Awards
We’re thrilled to share the fantastic news from The Smithfield Awards, which took place yesterday. Our Caramelised Onion Sausage Roll Garland has been awarded a prestigious Diamond Award, and our Topside & Cheddar Meatballs have secured a Gold Award. It’s an incredible achievement for our team, and we couldn’t be prouder!
The Smithfield Awards, hosted at The Butchers’ Hall in London, are run by the Q Guild of Butchers—an esteemed organisation representing Britain’s best independent meat retailers. The awards celebrate the highest standards of craft butchery, with products judged by a panel of industry experts, chefs, and food critics. Winning these awards is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our butchers, pie makers, and kitchen team.
Judging at the Smithfield Awards is a rigorous two-stage process. Products are first assessed by industry experts, with only the very best receiving a coveted Gold Award. These Gold-winning products are then judged again, with the best in each category earning a prestigious Diamond Award. While Diamond represents the pinnacle of excellence, achieving Gold is still a remarkable achievement, as it recognises the finest products competing at the highest level.
We’ve been serving customers since 1914, proudly upholding traditional butchery skills while embracing innovation. With a dedication to sourcing high-quality local meat and crafting outstanding products, we remain committed to delivering the best for our customers. Our food halls offer a wide selection of fresh, handcrafted goods, from award-winning sausages to expertly prepared pies and ready-to-eat meals.
Our Caramelised Onion Sausage Roll Garland is a refined take on a classic, featuring our signature caramelised onion sausage meat wrapped in golden, flaky pastry. This handcrafted creation impressed the judges and secured the highest possible accolade in the Alfresco Dining category: a Diamond Award.
Our Topside & Cheddar Meatballs, which won Gold, are made using tender topside beef and creamy cheddar cheese, blended with tangy tomato chutney. These meatballs are available from our butchery counters as part of our Simply Cook foil range, offering a convenient way to enjoy restaurant-quality meals at home. They are also available on the hot counter in our food halls, ready to eat.
A special mention goes to Jamie Collins, who was shortlisted for the ‘Young Butcher of the Year’ award. While he didn’t take home the title, we are immensely proud of his achievement and the skill and passion he brings to his role. Being recognised at a national level is no small feat, and we know he has a bright future ahead.
Reflecting on our success, Peter Potts, our Senior Area Retail Manager, shared his thoughts:
“Winning a Diamond Award and a Gold Award is an incredible achievement for the team. The passion and skill that go into crafting our products is second to none, and it’s brilliant to see that recognised. We’re also extremely proud of Jamie for making it to the final shortlist – it’s a great achievement, and we know he’ll continue to thrive.”
These awards reinforce our commitment to producing high-quality, locally sourced products that our customers love. We can’t wait for everyone to try our award-winning products and celebrate this success with us!