The Guild of Fine Food has revealed its Great Taste Award winners for 2026, and North West-based Lovingly Artisan Bakery, which operates in Altrincham, Manchester, and Kendal in the Lake District, has been awarded two two-star awards and two one-star awards.
The four Lovingly Artisan award-winning products are:
Two-star awards
- Ancient Emmer & Kombucha
- Danish Rugbrøad
One-star awards
- Wholemeal Barber Wheat Sourdough
- Sourdough Malt Tea Loaf
Catherine Connor, co-owner of Lovingly Artisan Bakery, remarked: “Winning four Great Taste Awards, including two coveted two-star honours, means the world to us. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at Lovingly Artisan; our team is always exchanging ideas and pushing our craft forward, all in pursuit of one goal: putting exceptional, carefully made bread into the hands of every customer.
“Being a family-run business is something we take great pride in, and none of this would be possible without the hard work, skill, and heart our entire team pours into every day. This award belongs to them, to the early mornings, the late nights, and the relentless commitment behind the scenes. To every single person in the Lovingly Artisan family: thank you for continually giving your very best. We couldn’t be more grateful.”
Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards criteria
Over 15,000 products were put through the competition’s rigorous blind judging process this year; only 4,286 products were awarded a Great Taste 1-star (‘simply delicious’), 1,596 were awarded a Great Taste 2-star (‘outstanding’), and 306 were awarded a Great Taste 3-star (‘exquisite’).
Recognised as a stamp of excellence and actively sought out by food lovers and retailers alike, the Great Taste accreditation scheme, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, values taste above all else. Every entry is judged on its own merit as a standalone product and tasted completely blind — with all packaging removed, so there is no hint of provenance or who made it, just a factual description provided by the producer as guidance.
Judges consider flavour first and foremost, followed by appearance, aroma, texture, and mouthfeel, before determining whether a product warrants one of the famous black and gold seals of approval.
This year, judging took place over 105 days, with a panel of more than 800 judges putting entries to the test. The line-up saw food and drink products submitted from an extraordinary 116 different countries across the world. Now in its 33rd year, Great Taste is considered the largest, longest-standing, and most respected food and drink accreditation scheme in the world, championing artisan and speciality producers.
Commenting on Lovingly Artisan’s two-star award-winning Danish Rugbrøad, the judges remarked: “This rustic-looking loaf tastes as good as it looks. The rye comes through clearly on the nose and the palate; the chew is deeply satisfying; the seeds add textural and flavour interest and contrast, whilst the crumb is moist and deeply flavoured. The crust is a joy in its own right. A long, lingering taste that smacks of healthy living at its best.”
Remarking on the two-star award-winning Ancient Emmer & Kombucha, the judges added: “This loaf looks magnificent. It’s scored well, has had a hot bake, but it’s even and pleasing. The crust is lovely, with an excellent chew and proper sourness. The crumb is moist, sour and tangy, with plenty of complex flavour, long and nutty. It’s a generous size and a decent height – ideal for sandwiches and toast. It would enhance any dining table.”
📍You can try them for yourself at Lovingly Artisan, Altrincham Market, Central Way, Altrincham WA14 1QU | Lakeland Food Park, Unit 7 Crook Rd, Kendal LA8 8QJ.
