Ballymena sweetens Great Taste 2025 with caramel sauce, chutney & biscuits
- Love Ballymena
- Jul 30
- 8 min read
Some of Northern Ireland’s most talented food producers have been recognised on the international stage following the announcement of the Great Taste 2025 results on 29 July by the Guild of Fine Food — the world’s most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme.
A total of 410 Northern Irish products were entered into this year’s awards, with 140 receiving stars from the rigorous panel of over 500 expert judges.
These included 94 one-star, 36 two-star, and 9 three-star awards – a strong showing in what was a record-breaking year with 14,340 entries submitted from 110 countries.
Granny Shaw’s Fudge Factory Takes Two Stars for Salted Caramel Sauce
Also celebrating success is Granny Shaw’s Fudge Factory, a beloved Ballymena business known for its nostalgic handmade confections created using Victorian-era recipes and natural ingredients.
Their indulgent Salted Caramel Sauce impressed judges and earned a 2-star Great Taste Award, while their Sticky Toffee Sauce secured a 1-star award.
Granny Shaw’s daily handmade range includes fudge, tablet, macaroon, coconut ices, and the well-loved “Shut Yer Gob” Toffees, all crafted with real Irish butter.
Rich, creamy, moreish — and unmistakably made with care — Granny Shaw’s treats continue to delight loyal customers and newcomers alike.
Ballymena’s Annie’s Delights earns star for festive favourite
Annie’s Delights, a one-woman artisan producer based in Portglenone, was among this year’s Northern Irish stars, earning a 1-star Great Taste Award for her festive Boxing Day Chutney.
“Yesterday we were delighted to have won at the Great Taste Awards,” said owner Ann Marie Collins.
“This new Chutney which made a brief appearance last Christmas, Boxing Day Chutney, picked up a coveted One Star Award.”
Judges described it as:
“This chutney offers a pleasing visual appeal and aroma with hints of Christmas.”
Annie’s Delights specialises in small-batch jams, chutneys, marmalades, and home bakes, using local produce and selling across Northern Ireland through markets, food fairs and independent retailers.
Cottage Kitchen LTD wins for Chocolate Oatmeal Biscuits
Also representing Ballymena on the winner’s list is Cottage Kitchen LTD, a family-run business established in 1973, which received a 1-star award for its Chocolate Oatmeal Biscuits.
Baked following a time-honoured recipe, the biscuits were described as:
“The perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea or coffee… a drizzle of chocolate on top, just enough to sweeten each bite.”
Cottage Kitchen prides itself on producing high-quality handmade traybakes and biscuits, committed to quality and value for customers across Northern Ireland and the generations to come.
Other local stars: Butter, chocolate and honey
Other standout winners from Northern Ireland include:
Abernethy Butter’s Cep Miso Butter 100g, which secured a prestigious 3-star award
Daisies Belfast for their 70% Drinking Chocolate, which received 2 stars
Bellahill Bees, awarded 1 star for their Bellahill Honey
What makes Great Taste so respected
Established over 30 years ago, Great Taste is renowned for its rigorous blind-tasting process. Entries are judged with no branding, no packaging, and no prior knowledge of origin. Each product is evaluated on flavour first, then appearance, aroma, texture, and mouthfeel.
This year, only 273 products globally (1.9% of all entries) achieved the highest 3-star rating. Every entrant receives constructive written feedback, regardless of outcome, making the awards an invaluable experience for producers.
Northern Ireland in the running for Golden Fork Awards
Three Northern Irish entries have also been nominated for the prestigious Great Taste Golden Fork awards, set to be announced on 9 September at Battersea Arts Centre, London, where the Supreme Champion will be revealed:
Basalt Volcanic Rock Gin – Basalt Distillery (Bushmills)
Razma – Barrel Aged Keptinis Beer – Our Brewery at Geterbrewed (Randalstown)
Untamed – Barrel Aged Wild Ale V1 – Our Brewery at Geterbrewed (Randalstown)
The Golden Fork from Northern Ireland is sponsored by Invest NI.
Global growth and new judging locations
In a year that saw entries from Algeria to Zimbabwe, Great Taste also expanded its international presence with the first-ever judging panel held in Italy, offering smaller artisan producers in Europe a local route to global recognition.
Looking ahead
With each award valid until 2028, consumers can look out for the iconic black and gold Great Taste labels on certified products across delis, farm shops and independent outlets worldwide.
John Farrand, Managing Director of the Guild of Fine Food, reflected on the event’s global significance:
“Great Taste continues to play its part in international food & drink diplomacy. Whilst the world is in slight chaos, barriers continue to be broken down as our experts assessed entries from over 100 countries.”
Full list – all of Northern Ireland’s 2025 Great Taste Award Winners below:
Three ★★★ Great Taste Award Winners
Basalt Volcanic Rock Gin (70cl, 42.1%)
Bushmills
Blackberry & Thyme infused Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
Armagh
Cep Miso Butter 100g
Cookstown
Corndale Farm Chorizo Picante
Limavady
Kettyle Salt Moss Aged Ribeye Steak
Lisnaskea
Morelli's Sicilian Pistachio Ice Cream
Coleraine
Our Brewery Low Land - Barrel Aged Oud Bruin Brown Ale
Randalstown
Our Brewery Razma - Barrel Aged Keptinis Beer
Randalstown
Our Brewery Untamed - Barrel Aged Wild Ale V1
Randalstown
Two ★★ Great Taste Award Winners
'NDUJA
Enniskillen
21 Day Himalayan Salt aged Leg of Lamb
Banbridge
Ballyboley Dexters Speciality Steak and Vegetable Roll
Newtownards
Basalt Volcanic Rock Gin (50cl, 50%)
Bushmills
Basalt Volcanic Rock Vodka
Bushmills
Belfast Red
Banbridge
Cavanagh Free Range 6 Large Eggs
Newtownbutler
Charcoal sourdough with sesame seeds
Lisburn
Clandeboye Estate Greek Style Yoghurt
Bangor
Confit Shoulder of Lamb, Roasted Artichoke & Braised Red Cabbage Scotch Pie
Craigavon
Cooper's Original Biltong
Newtownards
Corndale Farm Fennel Salami
Limavady
Daisies Drinking Chocolate 70%
Belfast
Dragon Brand Katsu Ketchup
Strabane
Fenner's Original Air-Dried Steak Biltong
Newtownards BT237SZ
Gourmet Crunch Thai Sweet Chilli
Golden Popcorn LtdAntrim BT41 2RZ
JUST LIVE A LITTLE Cocoa & Toasted Hazelnut Granola
Craigavon, Portadown
Kettyle Salt Moss Aged Striploin Steak
Lisnaskea
Morelli's Cherry Frozen Yoghurt
Coleraine
Morelli's Clotted Cream Ice Cream with Maple Variegato & Caramelised Pecans
Coleraine
Our Brewery - Do You Wanna Funk? - NEIPA
Randalstown
Our Brewery - Prime Time of Your Life - Belgian Triple
Randalstown
Our Brewery Light Up Gold - West Coast IPA
Randalstown
Our Brewery Séasúr - Barrel Aged Mixed Ferm Saison
Randalstown
Our Brewery Terra Nocturne Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
Randalstown
Premium Irish Moiled Steak Burger
Coleraine
Salted Caramel Sauce
Ballymena
Scotts Crispy Onions Gluten Free Steak
Coleraine
Shorthorn Steak & Young Buck Pie
Dungannon
Sobrasada
Dungannon
Sticky Korean Sauce
Belfast
Stout and treacle wheaten bread
Bangor
Umber Plus
Moy
Wheaten Bread
Newcastle
Wilson's Bronze Turkey
Dungannon
One ★ Great Taste Award Winners
Apple & Blackberry Organic Kombucha
Dungannon
Apple Crostata
Craigavon
Armagh Craft Cider Medium
Naas
Ballyboley Dexters 28 Day Dry Aged on the Bone Steak Strips
Newtownards
Ballyboley Dexters Caramelised Onion Sausage Roll
Newtownards
Ballyboley Dexters Northern Irish Sausage Roll
Newtownards
Bellahill Honey
Belfast
Boxing Day Chutney
Portglenone
Broighter Gold Hickor Smoked Rapeseed Oil
Limavady
Bushmills Whiskey Vanilla Fudge
Bushmills
Cavanagh Free Range 12 Mixed Weight Eggs
Newtownbutler
Chestnutt's Farm Greek Style Yoghurt
Portrush
Chicken, Bacon & Mushroom Scotch Pie
Craigavon
Chocolate Oatmeal
Ballymena
Citrus infusedPearl Bursts
Armagh
Confit Duck
Downpatrick
Cooper's Chilli Biltong
Newtownards
Cooper's Garlic Biltong
Newtownards
Coppa
Dungannon
Corndale Farm Wild Sika Venison Salami
Limavady
Cranberry Sauce
Downpatrick
Donegal Rapeseed Oil Classic
Raphoe
Drayne's Achill Island Sea Salt Caramel Dairy Ice Cream
Drayne's Double Cream
Drayne's Honeycomb Crunch Dairy Ice Cream
Drayne's Pure Bainne Dairy Ice Cream
Drayne's Semi Skimmed Milk
Drayne's Whipping Cream
Drayne's Whole Milk
Dukes Sloe Gin
Omagh
Embark Protein Bar - Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter
Irvinestown
Everything croissant
Lisburn
Favourit 'Perfect for Air Fryer' Fajita Seasoning
Belfast
Favourit BBQ Seasoning
Belfast
Favourit Cajun Seasoning
Belfast
Fennel Salami
Dungannon
Forest Feast 60% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Sour Cherries
Craigavon, Portadown
Get'er Brewed Ltd t/a Frankie and Eileen's Craft Gin
Randalstown
Ginger & Turmeric Shot
Tandragee
Gourmet Crunch
Antrim
Gourmet Crunch Irish Salt & Balsamic Vinegar
Antrim
Grove Dairy 'Old Traditional' Barista Milk
Castlederg
Holywood Honey
Holywood
Honey
Newtownards
Indie Bay Pretzel Thins
Craigavon, Portadown
Indie Fude Dunvilles Fig Chutney 215g
45 Tullywiggan Road
Irish Heritage Apple infused White Condiment
Armagh
Lamb Burger
Ballymoney
Lír Red Crest Irish Whiskey
Belfast
Make It Really Saucy Korean Mayonnaise
Strabane
Make It Really Saucy Taco Sauce
Strabane BT82 9GU
Make It Really Saucy Tikka Mayo
Strabane
Mango Tango
Belfast
Marshmallow Fluff Dubai Pistachio Chocolate Bar
Armagh
Melting Pot Fudge Salted Caramel
Belfast
Morelli's Ricotta & Caramelised Fig Ice Cream
Coleraine
Omi Seasoning
Portrush
Original BBQ sauce
Bushmills
Ormo® 2 Sodas
Belfast
Ormo® Buttermilk Wheaten Bread
Belfast
Our Brewery - Once In A Lifetime - Outmeal Stout
Randalstown
Our Brewery - The Crunch - Brown Ale
Randalstown
Our Brewery Orderly Fashion - Rice Lager
Randalstown
Ox Cheek & Truffle Scotch Pie
Craigavon
Paula McIntyre Rum Christmas Pudding
Portstewart
Pistachio ice cream
Carrickfergus
Plain Pancake
Craigavon
Potato Bread
Belfast
Pumpkin Spice
Portrush
Rich Coffee Rub
Bushmills
Rock A Doodle Do - Mango Habanero
Bangor
Rock A Doodle Do - Whiskey In The Bottle
Bangor
Rock A Doodle Do - White Sesame & Nori BBQ Sauce
Bangor
Snow Patrol - Signal Fire
Bangor
Sticky Toffee Sauce
Ballymena
Strawberry and Mint White Wine Vinegar
Armagh
The Stuffing Company Wild Sage & Onion Stuffing
Castlewellan
Thompson's Punjana
Belfast
Thompson's Signature
Belfast
Twisted Tropical Whiskey Ice Pops
Hillsborough
Two Stacks Fruit Drops - Irish Whiskey - Blackberry Brandy Cask Finish
Newry
Unsweetened natural yogurt
Newry
Vanilla Marshmallow Fluff
Armagh
Vegan Ginger Wine
Tandragee
Vegan Hot Honey
Newry
Vegetable Broth
Belfast
Wee Willie
Banbridge
Wheaten Bread
Craigavon
Wild Garlic, Salt and Pepper Mill
Armagh
Wilson's Naked Mash
Craigavon
Zataar and Date infused Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
Armagh
