LLANDYSUL cheese producer Caws Teifi took pride of place among award-winning food businesses at a special celebratory event.

Products from Wales recognised earlier this year in the prestigious Great Taste awards were being showcased at St David’s Hotel, Cardiff.

Presented by the broadcaster and chairman of the Great Taste Awards, Nigel Barden, the event followed the format of a market-style 'meet the producer', and provided a platform to display the finest Welsh food and drink products available.

A range of trade buyers from the retail and hospitality sector and Welsh Assembly Members were in attendance.

More than 40 award-winning producers and 150-plus products attended the event including Caws Teifi, which recently topped the bill by receiving the top accolade of Golden Fork from Wales, the ultimate accolade from the Great Taste Awards.

And the business had a double cause for celebration after striking gold and the award for best Welsh cheese at the 2018 World Cheese awards held at Bergen, in Norway.

A record-breaking 3,500 cheeses from every corner of the globe lined up in the judging hall at Bergen’s Grieghallen on November 2 and were judged by an international panel of 230 experts from 29 nations, with Caws Teifi's Golden Promise again taking top honours.

Caws Teifi Cheese, based at Glynhynod Farm, Llandysul is the longest established artisan cheesemaker in Wales, having produced award-winning raw milk cheeses for over 30 years.

It was founded back in 1982 by co-founder John Savage-Onstwedder, who came to Wales from Holland to follow his dream of organic farming and reviving the lost tradition of using raw milk and local ingredients to make high-quality artisanal cheese.

John said: “To be awarded three stars in the Great Taste Awards is a testament to the skill and dedication of the whole team here at Caws Teifi Cheese. It also reflects the quality of the milk produced here in Ceredigion and we must give credit to Mr and Mrs Williams of Cilcert Farm, Ffos-y-Ffin, Aberaeron who produce the milk that makes our cheese.

“That the most highly awarded cheese in Britain is produced here in Ceredigion proves that both Welsh milk and cheeses are something we can all be proud of.”

Welsh Government cabinet secretary for energy, planning and rural affairs, Lesley Griffiths visited the event and said: “It is fantastic to see Welsh food and drink businesses showcasing their high quality produce.

“Every one of the winners from the 2018 Welsh Great Taste Awards should be commended for their sterling efforts. I’d also like to say congratulations to the 15 Welsh products which have achieved European Protected Food Name status. This accolade should confirm their status as trusted brands and inspire confidence in consumers in their quality and provenance.

“In these challenging times ahead of Brexit, it is more important than ever that we champion Welsh produce and support food and drink businesses in every way we can in these uncertain times.”