Barry Based Producer Up For Top Award
By admin
Issued on behalf of Waitrose
A Barry ice cream producer is in line for a prestigious accolade in the hotly-contested Waitrose Small Producers Awards.
Cardamom Queen, run by Barry mum Uma Sims (44), has beaten off tough competition from small food companies nationwide to become one of only three finalists in the Dairy & Ice Cream category with its Kulfi ice cream. Kulfi is a traditional handmade, pure vegetarian (egg free) ice cream, with added pistachios and almonds – perfect to end a meal or enjoy in the garden in the summer.
There are five categories in the awards: Dairy and Ice Cream; Drinks; Fresh Produce; Grocery and Bakery; and Fruit and Vegetables.
The winner of each category, along with the Supreme Champion (chosen from the five category winners), will be announced at the Royal Show in Warwickshire on 3rd July. Each category winner will receive £5,000 with the Supreme Champion winning a further £5,000. Presentations will be made by Steven Esom, Managing Director of Waitrose.
Cardamom Queen was established by cookery tutor Uma in October 2005 to provide genuine, high quality Indian food to customers in the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff areas.
Mum-of four Uma, who lives in the West End of Barry, uses locally sourced produce where possible, exclusively Welsh Lamb in the meat dishes (Lamb Pasanda and Lamb Rogan Josh), and organic potatoes in the Bombay Aloo. With every dish also free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives, Cardamom Queen is passionate about providing luxury, freshly prepared meals full of natural flavours that reflect the true taste of India.
Robbie James, Waitrose Local and Regional Buyer, says: “Waitrose launched the Small Producers Awards six years ago with the aim of reconnecting customers with regional foods in their area, highlighting the excellent quality produce available and honouring the hard work and innovation of Britain’s small producers.
“It is always a pleasure seeing the passion and expertise that entrants have. We have thoroughly enjoyed learning about the variety of products and their backgrounds, meeting the producers, and not least tasting lots of high quality and often innovative foods.
“This year’s entries have been of a very high standard and it’s great to see such a diverse range of products in the final round of judging – from top quality Indian food produced in South Wales to Arbroath Smoked Haddock from Angus!”
Three further awards will be announced at the Royal Show in July, all aimed at celebrating Britain’s wealth of food expertise and quality production. Finalists have the option of entering The Financial Mail on Sunday’s Business Award, allowing them a chance to win a further £5,000 prize to invest in their business. BBC Good Food Magazine is looking for the Best Independent Food Shop, and the best Young Farmer Producer Award is presented in association with Farmers Guardian. There is again a £5,000 award for each of these categories.
