Sweet Taste Of North Devon Success

Cranfields Foods a small artisan preserve maker on the fringes of Exmoor is enjoying a sweet start to 2011 after winning a silver and a bronze award at the annual World's Original Marmalade Awards, held at Dalemain Mansion near Penrith, Cumbria on 12th and 13th February 2011.

Over a 1,000 marmalades were blind tasted and marks awarded for appearance, colour, consistency, aroma and flavour. Against Artisan Marmalade makers across the Country and beyond Cranfields Blood Orange Marmalade shredded the competition to gain a silver and is now stocked in Fortnum and Masons in London with 4 other Artisan winners.

Company owner Victoria Cranfield said she was delighted that the blood orange marmalade had retained the Companies place in Fortnums marmalade hall. "We were delighted when Fortnums stocked our Grapefruit and Ginger Marmalade last year after it won a silver at Dalemain, this year only the flavour has changed and we have retained our position. It is such a boost to a small Company to be able to say we are in a flagship London Store!"

Marmalades from as far afield as The British Virgin Islands were sent by both artisan producers and amateur makers to the organisers of the quirkily British awards for judging by a prestigious panel of marmalade experts.

Awards and Festival organiser Jane Hassell-McCosh said "We've been amazed by the number and quality of entries this year which exceeds last year on every count. It just goes to prove that quality-produced marmalades are still firm favourites for British consumers".

Fantastic news was to follow for Cranfields when Fortnums confirmed that they were contracting them to make a range of Fortnum and Mason label seasonal chutneys to complement their in-store range starting next season.

Victoria said "the seasonal emphasis is on English grown fruit, much of it will be very local so bringing a slice of Devon into the heart of London, it is very exciting for us to be chosen by such a prestigious store. We will be making 2 chutneys per season which has also made me scurry to my library of cook books for inspiration!"

Cranfields two cooks, Victoria and Louisa are now hard at work making the marmalade while blood oranges are still available. If you want to try any of their marmalades or chutneys they are available online at www.cranfieldsfoods.com or from Darts Farm Topsham or Ballantynes Deli in Barnstaple