Excellence in Food and Drink Awards 2007
Category: Healthy, Organic and Ethical
Winner: Delicious Alchemy Wheat/Gluten- and Lactose-Free Ginger Mini Loaf
This moist, sticky cake - hailed by the judges as "a great dessert product" - was the first to be designed for the food service, conference and eating-out markets covering the UK's largest allergy group.
It is estimated that 10% of hotel and restaurant guests avoid wheat, gluten and/or lactose, and the retail market for these products is worth œ81m out of the total œ90m market for the entire free-from sector.
Before, caterers had to go to the supermarkets for equivalent cakes, which were sold in wasteful quantities with short shelf lives.
Delicious Alchemy has overcome this problem by selling the individually portioned cakes (which cost £1.05 each) in boxes of 12. They have a six-month shelf life in the freezer and can be quickly defrosted per person as needed.
This is all very worthy, but the proof is in the eating, and the judges backed up Delicious Alchemy's claims that the cake tasted just like a "normal" version, concluding that it "compares well with ones that are not gluten-free". They were lavish in their praise for both the look of the loaf ("looks nice" and "cute" with "a good top") and its taste and texture, which was described as "very pleasant", "summery", "very moist" and with a "strong ginger flavour".
Attractive packaging that clearly spells out the health benefits makes the cakes suitable for presentation at conference buffets, while perforated corner joins on the cake's card tray peel off easily so it can be easily removed for serving on a plate with ice-cream or, in the case of the lactose-intolerant, with fruit or coulis.
Shortlisted
Delicious Alchemy Wheat/Gluten-Free Rolls
Snowbird Foods Low Fat and Low Salt Pork and Leek Sausages
First Choice Coffee Grand Café 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified
Farm Frites Natures Goodness 12mm Chips