BUSINESSES in the food and drink industry have just one more week to enter this year’s Taste of the West Hospitality & Retail Awards. Taste of the West is renowned for recognising excellence and dedication throughout the food and drink industry. In addition to these awards, there are the Product Awards, the Carol Trewin South West Producer of the Year award and a Local Food in Schools & Colleges award. Taste of the West chief executive John Sheaves said: “We have been running awards now for over two decades and they have become a benchmark for the highest quality services and products offered in the region and are sought out by those looking for reassurance that they’re buying the best, whether it’s a take away, meal out or item of food or drink.”

Categories for the Hospitality and Retail Awards include cafés and tea room, dining pub, restaurant, bed & breakfast and local food takeaway. The breakdown for the retail categories includes speciality retailer/delicatessen, farm shop, butcher’s shop, on-line retailer and local store. The judges’ criteria include looking at the extent of local sourcing, communication of local sourcing in the establishment, quality and speed of service, quality of meal, atmosphere and ambience of the place and value for money.

The ‘Product Awards’ are made up of 25 classes. Judges evaluate each product individually, assessing its appearance, aroma, texture, packaging and, most significantly, its taste. Gold, silver and bronze awards are awarded entirely on merit and judges are not limited on the number of awards that can be given.

Final entries for product awards must be in by Friday, June 14, while the closing date for all other Taste of the West awards is June 17.

For full details about entering the ‘Product Awards’ and a fact sheet visit tasteofthewest.co.uk and go to the ‘Awards 2013’ page to download an entry form.