The results of EBLEX’s three competitions to find ‘England’s Best Sirloin Steak’, ‘England’s Best Innovative Steak’ and ‘England’s Best Steak Pie’ were announced on 22 April at the inaugural EBLEX Quality Standard Mark Excellence Awards.
The three competitions, which assessed different aspects of quality steak production, were open to multiple retailers and their suppliers, independent retail butchers and farm shops, catering butchers and manufacturers supplying the foodservice industry.
Driving quality and innovation
Mike Whittemore, head of trade marketing for EBLEX, said: “We’re thrilled with how successful the Quality Standard Mark Excellence Awards has been. We introduced the Awards to stimulate product development, as well as to recognise and reward quality, innovation and excellence in beef and lamb production and we have seen some really fantastic products throughout the judging process.
“Competitions like this really help to drive quality and innovation throughout the beef and lamb industry, and it’s been great to see just how many quality products are coming through. What was particularly encouraging was to see the number of added value cuts in the Innovative Steak competition.
The finalists and winners were:
England’s Best Sirloin Steak 2015
Overall Winner – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd with ‘Larder Trim Sirloin Steak’
Independent Butcher Category
Category Winner – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd with ‘Larder Trim Sirloin Steak’
Highly Commended – Barlows with ‘Sirloin Steak’
Highly Commended – Breeding Vison with ‘Wagyu X Sirloin’
Multiple Retailer Category
Category Winner – Musgrave Retail Partners GB Ltd with ‘Budgens “Discover the Taste” Sirloin Steak’
Highly Commended – Buitelaar Production (UK) Ltd with ‘Buitelaar Select Sirloin’
Highly Commended – Linden Foods with ‘Chef’s Larder Premium Extra Mature Sirloin’
Foodservice Category
Category Winner – Mitchells and Butlers with ‘Miller and Carter 12oz Sirloin Steak’
Highly Commended – Walter Rose & Son with ‘Sirloin Steak’
Highly Commended – Solent Butchers Ltd with ‘Southern Pride Sirloin Steak’
England’s Best Innovative Steak 2015
Overall Winner – Aubrey Allen with ‘1 Bone Sirloin Noisette’
Innovative Butcher Category
Category Winner – Aubrey Allen with ‘1 Bone Sirloin Noisette’
Highly Commended – Althams Butchers with ‘Lamb Neck Fillet Steak’
Highly Commended – Wm Morrison Supermarkets with ‘British Beef Denver Steak’
Added Value Steak Category
Category Winner – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd with ‘Denver Fire Steak’
Highly Commended – Aubrey Allen with ‘Sirloin Pavé with Café de Paris’
Highly Commended – Penshaw Farm Butchers with ‘Spicy Sirloin Sizzler’
England’s Best Steak Pie 2015
Overall Winner – Dunkleys for Whitbread with ‘Beef and Merlot Pie’
Retail Category
Category Winner – M Newitt & Sons Ltd with ‘Traditional Steak Pie’
Highly Commended – Measures Butchers with ‘Beef & Bombardier Pie’
Highly Commended – Drewtons with ‘Steak and Caramelised Onion Pie’
Foodservice Category
Category Winner – Dunkleys for Whitbread with ‘Beef and Merlot Pie’
Highly Commended – Owen Taylor & Sons Ltd with ‘12″ Steak & Stilton’
Highly Commended – Proper Pies Ltd with ‘Stout & Black Treacle Marinated Beef Brisket & Guinness Cottage Pie’.
For more information about the Quality Standard Mark Excellence Awards and the work EBLEX Trade carries out throughout the beef and lamb industry click here