Today, 28 July 2026, the Guild of Fine Food has announced the results of this year’s Great Taste.
Among the 3,354 award winning products from the United Kingdom there were a total of 2,355 1-star awards, 858 2-star awards and 141 3-star awards assigned, including:
- 2,655 award winners from England: 1,873 1-star, 683 2-star and 99 3-star
- 366 award winners Scotland: 249 1-star, 96 2-star and 21 3-star
- 174 award winners Wales: 129 1-star, 37 2-star and 8 3-star
- 138 award winners Northern Ireland: 92 1-star, 33 2-star and 13 3-star
This year, over 15,000 products were entered into Great Taste from 3,919 companies in 116 countries, a record number, including products from 9 countries entering for the first time.
Out of all this year’s entries 4,286 (28.50%) received a 1-star award, deeming them ‘simply delicious’, 1,596 (10.61%) received a 2-star award, which means the judges felt they were ‘outstanding’, and 306 (2.03%) received the highly coveted ‘exquisite and extraordinary’ 3-star award.
The much sought after, and distinctive, black and gold logo is recognised by 58% of the UK adult population. Of those adults, 74% say a Great Taste award makes a product more tempting, 73% say the logo is a trustworthy recommendation and 54% use Great Taste as a signpost for discovering new products (YouGov, December 2025).
Over 105 days, across the Guild’s judging rooms in London, Dorset, Ireland and Italy, over 800 industry experts took part in the unique judging process that makes Great Taste the most respected food and drink accreditation scheme in the world. The panel included chefs, critics, product developers, retailers, writers, and other specialists from the world of food and drink. They were presented with each product stripped of all branding, packaging and other identifying features, and had to unanimously decide what rating to give it.
Taste is considered first and foremost, followed by appearance, aroma, texture, and mouthfeel. Each entry is judged on its own merit and not compared to others in the same class. A short factual description from the producer helps guide the judgement with any relevant information.
Perhaps the least well-known element of Great Taste is the judges’ feedback which is shared with the producers irrespective of whether they have achieved a star-rating. This constructive analysis can be instrumental in product development, helping producers refine recipes, improve consistency, and understand how their products perform in a competitive market.
John Farrand, managing director, Guild of Fine Food, comments: “Food security is becoming an increasingly pressing issue across the globe, so it feels more pertinent now than at any other time in our thirty-year history to be supporting and promoting independent producers and retailers. Our directory of award recipients is a rich source of data, guiding people from all walks of life to make informed decisions about their food & drink choices. Great Taste is all about celebrating craftmanship and dedication to well-sourced local ingredients and traditional, often simple production methods which is more important now than ever.”
Lucia Larragoiti founder, La Maritxu, based in London comments: “Starting this business allowed me to turn my passion for our culinary heritage into a way to feed and connect with our community. The inspiration behind it all was to introduce people to the food philosophy of my homeland – the Basque Country, built on honesty, simplicity, and quality. I wanted to prove that you don’t need complicated recipes or fancy decorations to make unforgettable desserts. This cheesecake is a reflection of the rich gastronomic heritage I grew up with, we are a people deeply proud of our food culture, which is built on simplicity, flawless execution, and letting exceptional ingredients speak for themselves. With this recipe, there is no crust, or decoration to hide behind, only good honest ingredients and a well-perfected baking method. Winning a Great Taste 3-star for the second time is a massive honour that celebrates both our heritage and our hard work.”
Iain Burnett, master chocolatier, The Highland Chocolatier based in Scotland comments: “At the Highland Chocolatier, the team has a real passion for excellence and is dedicated to creating deeply flavourful, fruit or spicy, chocolate ganaches. We hand-craft our Velvet Truffles® with all natural ingredients, combining real crushed fruit or exceptional fresh Scottish cream with a rare and intense island cocoa. They don’t have any preservatives or additives and the resulting recipes have received over 100 national and international awards. They are served by Michelin chefs but it has been a long time since we last entered Great Taste. To come back and be awarded a 3-star for not one but two of our products is certainly reassuring for the team – it reminds them that their meticulous work is indeed worldclass and the result is a chocolate that really stands out from the crowd.”
Elinor Davies, founder and owner of Melys, based in Wales comments: “This is my third Great Taste award winner from three entries, but it is my first 3-star and I am incredibly proud. Alongside teaching, I’ve built my baking business around something I’ve always loved. My brownie has become a firm customer favourite, providing a real moment of indulgence. Consistency of flavour and experience is absolutely key: every mouthful needs to be reliably good. Over time, I’ve learned exactly which ingredients matter, and being precise means a consistently good brownie. Balancing part-time teaching with building a small baking business has been a challenge, but receiving recognition from Great Taste has given me real confidence that I’m creating something truly special.”
Stephen McMaster, owner and founder of The Curly Pigs, based in Northern Ireland comments: The Curly Pigs was never part of a personal or business plan. It began with a desire to grow our own food and become more self-sufficient, and a chance encounter with the rare Royal Mangalitsa pig. We are a true farm-to-fork business, with almost every stage of production carried out by us, from breeding and rearing the animals through to curing and selling the finished products. Drawing on traditional charcuterie methods learned through specialist training, we created a slowly cured, air-dried Coppa that reflects our commitment to high welfare farming, craftsmanship and producing food with authenticity, provenance and exceptional taste. We were a Great Taste Bursary winner last year, so to get another 3-star this year means a great deal to us. Achieving recognition for a product created entirely by our small family business is incredibly rewarding.
All 306 products that were accredited with a Great Taste 2026 3-star award were invited to take part in a further round of judging to identify which of them was worthy of a Golden Fork nomination. Winners of the Golden Forks, known affectionately as the ‘Oscars of food and drink’, are considered to be the most highly rated products in the world.
The Golden Fork award ceremony will take place at Battersea Arts Centre in London on 15 September, when the Great Taste 2026 Supreme Champion will also be announced.
