Over a dozen local food establishments and producers have been shortlisted for the 2017 Food and Drink Devon Awards.

With a record number of entries this year, the South Hams has done exceptionally well to have so many businesses in the shortlist for a variety of categories. After months of blind tasting and judging, 250 products, 63 producers, 65 hospitality and 25 retail establishments have been narrowed down to a reduced list of successful food establishments. Shortly the winners will be revealed at a prestigious ceremony at the beautiful Deer Park Country House Hotel on Monday, October 9.

Numerous local businesses in the food industry have made it to this stage such as Favis of Salcombe, Salcombe Distilling Co, South Hams Brewery, Salcombe Dairy, Bell and Loxton and South Devon Chilli Farm who have all been shortlisted for the Taste of Devon Product Award. Salcombe Distilling has been successful in three other categories including Best Packaging, Best Cookery School and Best Overall Producer. Also shortlisted in Best Packaging is the Bell and Loxton. Local hotels have also been successful with Thurlestone Hotel being shortlisted for the Best Fine Dining Restaurant and South Sands Hotel for the Best Hotel Restaurant. Further success in Salcombe comes from the Victoria Inn who has been shortlisted alongside the Journeys End Inn at Ringmore for the Best Pub and for the Best Pub Restaurant alongside the Anchor Inn in Ivybridge. For the Best Cafe category, The Pantry and the Valley View Cafe in Kingsbridge have been shortlisted. Lastly, Aune Valley Meat has been chosen for the award of Best Retailer.

Other household products from Devon also made the shortlist such as Luscombe Drinks and Burts Chips.

The company behind the awards, Food and Drink Devon was created with the aim of representing like-minded businesses dedicated to producing food and drink of high quality. They are also committed to the continuous aim to make ‘Love The Flavour’ a nationally recognised brand for sustainable food and drink.

Barbara King, Chair of Food and Drink Devon says: “As an organisation we champion Devon’s producers and food and drink industry. We have been seriously impressed with everything entered this year. We have so much outstanding produce on offer here in Devon and the quality of hospitality across the board is second to none.

“We would also like to thank our award sponsors for all their support.” These include Luscombe Drinks, Raw PR & Marketing, Peplows, M C Kelly, Black and White Asset Finance, Stephens Scown, Zip Water, Tastebuds, Inkreadible and Hedgerow Print.

In celebration of Devon’s best produce, there will be Platinum awards given out to any of the 250 tasted products given a perfect score of 100%, Gold awards for any product achieving 90-99% and Silver to those scoring 85-89%.

A full list of those shortlisted can be found on the Food and Drink Devon website at http://www.foodanddrinkdevon.co.uk/awards/2017-award-winners-shortlist.

Many of the shortlisted producers and makers of Devon’s best food will attend the black tie event to find out the winner of each category which is going to be hosted by food and drink broadcaster and BBC Radio 2’s Nigel Barden. Best of luck to all local establishments shortlisted.