Taste Lancashire Producer Awards 2027 launched during Producer Showcase Event
Marketing Lancashire is delighted to launch the latest Taste Lancashire Producer Awards in partnership with Booths; Lancashire’s family-owned grocers who have been selling top quality produce since 1847.
The Taste Lancashire Producer Awards 2027 were launched during a special Taste Lancashire Producer Showcase event which Marketing Lancashire hosted in partnership with Farm Yard Brew Co at their site in Cockerham, Lancashire, on Monday 5th October.
The event saw over 25 local food producers showcase their products to key decision makers from the tourism, hospitality and retail sector in Lancashire and beyond. Exhibitors included previous Taste Lancashire Producer Award Winners and finalists Farm Yard Ales, Oato, Sandgrown Spirits, The Pie Hole, Lancashire Mead, Crave Marinades and Atkinsons. As well as Great Taste Award winning Loom Kitchen, Lucela’s Chocolate Rum and Freda’s Peanut Butter. For a full list and details of the exhibitors, visit the Marketing Lancashire website.
Buyers and chefs had the chance to speak directly with the producers, discuss how their products could work in their recipes and stores, and sample the produce too. Buyers included Eden Project Morecambe, Booths, and Westmorland Family, with chefs such as Taste Lancashire Ambassadors Maurizio Bocchi from La Locanda and Chris Bury from The Cartford joining the attendees.
Danny Ellridge, Executive Director at Farm Yard Brew Company said: “The Lancashire Producers Showcase was an idea born to put some of the county’s producers’ stage and centre, in front of a host of the incredible business owners and decision makers across the North West and that we did!
“It was a great day full of great people getting to show off what they do best and I’m certain many, many new partnerships were forged, I’m already looking forward to the next one!”
The Taste Lancashire Producer Awards were launched during a special producer-only segment of the day in which John Gill, Head of Trading & Supply at Booths, offered advice for those hoping to sell within the leading Lancashire retailers stores.
The awards will once again run alongside the Lancashire Tourism Awards with the winners announced at a joint ceremony in February 2027, hosted at King George’s Hall in Blackburn.
Lancashire is 80% rural, with 137miles of coastline, and bountiful in produce from both land and sea. This cherished landscape is integral to the food and drink grown and made here, and its exceptional producers and produce celebrated in the UK and beyond.
These awards aim to support and champion the food and drink heroes that make Lancashire a food destination like no other.
For its third year, applications for the awards have changed, allowing businesses to complete a simple application form and send samples for a tasting panel ahead of shortlisting. Those shortlisted will then be invited to Booths Central Office in Preston for an interview; giving the producers the valuable opportunity to meet independent industry experts as well as Booths’ buyers, who will jointly select the winners.
Vikki Harris, Marketing and Partnerships Director at Marketing Lancashire said: “Lancashire is known as a destination for food tourism, and the food producers in the county have a strong part to play in that reputation. These high calibre producers not only play their part in delivering an incredible hospitality experience, but many help put Lancashire on the map when visitors buy products and take a little bit of Lancashire home with them.
“The event yesterday was a huge success with many of the exhibitors and attendees commenting on just how varied the landscape and how incredible the produce is in Lancashire. To be able to bring these producers together in one place and allow the fantastic introductions to be made was exactly what we hoped it would be.
“We had some outstanding applications the last two years of the awards. I am looking forward to seeing which businesses put themselves forward for the awards this year and working alongside Booths to crown the 2027 winners.”
John Gill, Booths Head of Trading & Supply said: “Working with local producers has been at the heart of Booths since 1847, and we’re fortunate to have exceptional food and drink producers right on our Lancashire doorstep. The showcase was a fantastic opportunity to meet the people behind the products, hear their stories and taste the quality for ourselves.
“We’re delighted to partner with Marketing Lancashire on these awards again. They give producers a valuable opportunity to put their products in front of buyers, share their ambitions and gain recognition for their skill and hard work. I’d encourage Lancashire’s food and drink producers to enter—we’re always keen to discover something exceptional.”
Applications for the Taste Lancashire Awards 2027 are now open and can be found at www.tastelancashireproducerawards.com, along with criteria for entrants. The deadline for applications is 6th November, samples will need to arrive by 13th November with the the shortlist due to be announced in late November. Those shortlisted will then be invited for interview and tasting session in January 2027 at the Booths HQ in Preston, with the winners announced as part of the Lancashire Tourism Awards ceremony in February 2027.
If you would like to support or sponsor the Taste Lancashire Producer Awards, or Lancashire Tourism Awards, please contact Maria Moriarty-Eames at [email protected]
ENDS
_____________________________________________________________________
For media enquiries please contact:
Anna Izza, Head of PR and Communications
Tel: 07918 714881
Raimy Greenland, Senior PR & Content Executive
Tel: 07918 714887
Notes to Editors
- Marketing Lancashire is charged with promoting Lancashire nationally and internationally, as a leading leisure, learning and business destination powered by Lancashire County Council. Activities through our Visit Lancashire brand, Visit Lancashire Partnership and stakeholder engagement help attract 66.7* million annual visitors, who generate £5.4 billion for the local economy, which in turn supports 57,311 jobs. (*source STEAM research 2023)
- Marketing Lancashire, leads the Lancashire LVEP (Local Visitor Economy Partnership). Part of a national portfolio of strategic and high-performing LVEPs that work in collaboration locally, regionally and nationally on shared priorities and targets, to support and grow the visitor economy. The Lancashire LVEP is a partnership between Marketing Lancashire and VisitBlackpool, with the support of Lancashire’s District Councils.