LISHMAN’S of Ilkley has won one of the highest accolades in the UK food industry with its chorizo – based on the ever-popular traditional Spanish pork sausage, but with a made-in-Yorkshire twist.

Lishman’s Yorkshire Chorizo has been bestowed with a highly coveted 3-Star Great Taste award, placing it in the top 165 of over 12,300 products put forward in the 2017 competition. In addition, two further products from Lishman’s renowned charcuterie range – Nduja and Beef & Red Wine Pepperoni – picked up 2-star awards.

The annual showcase, organised by The Guild of Fine Food, celebrates the very best in food and drink and is widely acknowledged as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers.

Products entered are blind-tasted and judged by over 500 of the most demanding palates - food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs and producers, food writers and journalists - who decide which are worthy of a 1-, 2- or 3-star awards. A 3-star Great Taste award means the product was rated by judges as exquisite, while 2-star awards are deemed outstanding.

All three award-winning products are hand-crafted in-house by the shop’s charcuterie team.

Shop owner David Lishman said: “We have been working for over seven years to perfect our home-made salamis, so for us to gain seven Great Taste Stars across three products , including a top-rated 3-stars, is a major first for us – and a feat the entire team here at Lishman’s can be truly proud of.

“Great Taste awards are recognised as a stamp of excellence among consumers. As well as a badge of honour, the unmistakeable black and gold Great Taste label is a signpost to a wonderful tasting product. These prestigious awards are highly respected seals of approval. They are much sought after and greatly valued within the UK food industry.”

As well as always being available in Lishman’s Leeds Road shop in Ilkley, all three award-winning products are also sold at various farm shops and butchers across Yorkshire.

Great Taste 2017 will reach its finale on Monday, September 4, when the world of fine food gathers at an awards dinner at the Intercontinental Park Lane Hotel, London, to find out the Golden Fork winners for each region, with the final applause reserved for the Great Taste Supreme Champion 2017.