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Winners of the 2023 Free From Food Awards!
This year we welcomed over 550 entries and during the course of 12 weeks our dedicated judges scrutinised, tasted and discussed each and every one. We are delighted to share with you those products our judges felt stood out within their respective categories.
Each winner has useful product information including a “where to buy” link. Please note the information, supplied by the entrant, was correct at the time of entry. Queries? Please contact them directly.
The International Recognition category winners
Products of the Year sponsored by
Food Product of the Year 2023 is Borough 22's Fried Gluten Free Vegan Custard Filled Doughnut
"Wow! Heaven in a doughnut! And not any ‘alternative’ doughnut even though it is gluten, milk, egg and sesame free - this is the real deal! And what a labour of love! It has taken over 10 years to reach this level of doughnut perfection - but worth every day of it! A worthy winner of the Free From Food Awards’ highest accolade!"
Retailer Product of the Year is M&S Made Without Cheddar Cheese New Yorker
“You could give this to a muggle without them knowing. With bread like a multigrain regular bread, good punchy cheese & the pickle and leaf which gives it crunch. Looks great - lovely texture and colour contrasts. A delightful surprise!”
Drink Product of the Year is Pure Vision Wines' Zero Shiraz 2021
“The best non-alcoholic red wine the judges had tasted. Plum coloured, full bodied; jammy and a little spicy with notes of cranberry, hints of blackcurrant and some drying tannin.”
Independent Brands of the Year sponsored by
Micro Independent Brand of the Year is Voakes Free From
“They continue to WOW our judges, this year it was their pasty, a celebration (and personalised) pork pie and some innovation to rival Greggs: a gluten free Breakfast Wrap! It’s fantastic to see the Free From arm of Voakes Pies move from strength to strength through the years!”
Small Independent Brand of the Year is Liberate
“Their Crumpets blew judges away back in 2020 so it is great to see an expansion of their range and the potential to supply in to food service too. Their free from credentials, especially for their Classic and Fruit & Spice English Muffins, impressed as much as the quality and our Child & Teen judges were big fans of the Belgian Style Waffles.”
Large Independent Brand of the Year is NOMO
“They nail it every time. Their gluten free, milk free, soya free and totally delicious nut safe chocolates are a stunning evolution from their trusted Kinnerton brand. All-age-inclusive, attractively packaged and innovative. Who could resist Crispy Mo, the Freddo of free from!”
Retailers of the Year sponsored by
Convenience Retailer of the Year is the Co-op
"The Co-op’s range has been carefully tailored to the convenience shopper’s needs, and offers an excellent range of free from products from their gold winning free from spaghetti to a nut free birthday cake."
Retailer of the Year is Asda
"Between their vegan and their free from ranges Asda now offer a really impressive selection of foods for the allergic community - and at really competitive prices while still maintaining the quality of their products. A massive step towards including those on free from diets in the general community.”
Start Up of the Year sponsored by
Start Up of the Year is Cheeky Nibble
"A nut free granola (already a rarity) which is top 14 allergens free and comes in big crunchy clusters to make it yummily snackable - what is not to like about that? It could go far."
Digital Presence sponsored by Digital Jen 
Best Digital Presence of the Year is FREEE
"What we’ve been looking for in this category since the outset. Screen lickability, clear search filters, purpose, story, beautiful imagery, ideas and recipes, baking tips, honest and pragmatic answers, no digging to find extra ingredients, well thought out navigation and user experience."
Free From Hero Award sponsored by
Free From Hero 2023 is Dr Rosy Wells & paediatric allergy clinicians, St George's Hospital
"The team keep food allergic children safe in their local schools by giving out free allergy bags with AAIs and other medication. The bags are refreshed annually & after use. They also give allergy training to school nurses and first aiders. The dream is to get every hospital trust in the country to do the same."
This may be a staple category but there was much here that excited our judges. From an array of granolas varying in flavour and form to cereals that are sure to please kids of all ages. And not forgetting baked goods where the offer is certainly no longer restricted to a slice of gluten free toast. It was universally agreed that Breakfast products are by no means restricted to breakfast with Granolas & Cereals in particular frequently being used to satisfy snacking occasions both in & out of home.
Acti-Snack, High Protein Peanut Butter Granola, £5
This is different and I love the concept. A good peanut flavour and liked the added fibre from chicory. High protein is useful for some, making this a welcome addition to the free from space.
Asda Free From, 4 Teacakes, £2.20
These have a lovely, delicately spiced aroma when heated. Milk, egg & gluten free which aids inclusivity. Well done for listing the spices.
Asda Free From, Cornflakes, £1.40
Good colour & a nice crispy flake that delivers on flavour expectations. Pleased to see it's fortified too.
Asda Free From, Frosted Flakes, £1.50
A family pleaser. Crispy, sweet without being too sweet, and with a nice corn flavour coming through.
Asda Free From, Golden Oat Breakfast Biscuits, £1.80
Surprisingly clean ingredients, good simple flavour & a convenient solution when on the go.
Asda Free From, Muesli, £2.20
Love the blend of fruit and seeds and liked the size of the oats which gave a great bite.
Great to have no may contains for the top 14 allergens.
Asda Free From, Pancake Shaker, £1.60
A good instant pancake mix that makes a pleasing textured pancake. And the shaker is a great option for free from, minimising cross contamination risks.
Asda Free From, Pure Porridge Oats, £1.70
A simple product at a good price. Creates a really creamy mouthfeel with some bite from the oats. There's nothing groundbreaking here but it is a tasty oat. I love the fact these carry no 'may contain' warning as it's becoming increasingly difficult to find this. And they call out the beta glucans with a handy explanation.
Asda Free From, Rainbow Hoops, £1.50
Really tasty and exciting for kids (and adults alike) with a good crunch and a perfect level of salt in there. Nice use of natural colours, not overly sweet and they didn't go soggy in milk. An accessible & fun option.
Bio&Me, Berry Burst Gluten Free Granola, £3.99
Interesting & unusual range of ingredients for a cereal but it works. Good crispness, colour & loved the '15 plant based' ingredients on pack.
Bio&Me, Cashew & Almond Gluten Free Granola, £3.99
I like the clean ingredients deck and lovely to see more unusual ingredients for a granola. Good even dispersion of nuts and fruit & I love the pumpkin in there. Nice earthy flavour and not too sweet.Nice to see so many plant points.
Cheeky Nibble, Victoria Sponge Granola, £5.99
Look at those clusters! Compressed, dense & intensely snackable. I love the flavour; jammy and mellow vanilla; this is naughty & would be a real treat but how amazing to have some nut-free options now available in free from.
Hale & Hearty, Puffed Protein Cereal Apple & Cinnamon, £4.69
A more unusual product with a great nutrition profile with high fibre probiotics and protein, Great visual, consistent size with tangy apple pieces. Very tasty & nutritious. These were liked a lot!
Libby's, Gluten Free Croissant, £2.60
Visually looks beautiful, wonderful to see a fresh croissant - great lamination on the outside.
Liberate, Classic English Muffins, £3.79
The free from credentials are the real winner here ......top 14 allergens free! The nature of the product & its free from from credentials make this a really versatile product.
Liberate, Classic Gluten Free Belgian Style Waffles, £3.99
Visually a really authentic option, would be useful for fancy breakfasts.
Liberate, Gluten Free Belgian Style Cinnamon Waffles, £3.99
Strong cinnamon aroma and a pleasing authentic shape. Nice to have a flavoured waffle option.
M&S Made Without, 4 Nut & Flame Raisin Granola, £3.70
I really enjoyed the texture of the lovely big clusters, an enjoyable eat .... and good for snacking!
Nairn's, Gluten Free Scottish Porridge Oats with Maple Syrup, £2.50
Has a lovely creaminess & the grains have a great bite. A good natural flavour with a pleasing balance between sweet & salt. A very well rounded, naturally delicious product.
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Free From, Chocolate & Coconut Granola, £2.90
The dark chocolate is a nice addition and generously included. A little dry for snacking so one to enjoy with milk or your favoured alternative.
Tesco Free From, 6 Scotch Pancakes, £2.20
Visually these without doubt deliver ..... and they smell good too. So nice to have a milk & gluten free ready made pancake and at a reasonable price point too.
Tesco Free From, Choco-Nut Pillows, £1.50
A tasty, fun product with good fortifications but obviously as a sweetened cereal, not for everyday use but a great & inclusive treat.
Tesco Free From, Fruit & Nut Granola, £2.75
I liked the puffed rice and loved the big & crispy clusters. A fair price for a free from granola.
Voakes Free From, Breakfast Wrap, £3.40
Love the concept here & generously filled and great to see a savoury breakfast bake. And with a few tweaks this could be a real knockout!
Warburtons Gluten Free, 4 Cinnamon & Raisin Sliced Fruity Buns, £2.90
A great product whether straight from pack or toasted. Conveniently sliced, these have a lovely soft texture with good pieces of fruit and a pleasing level of spice.
A category for all those staple products that are otherwise taken for granted but we’d be lost without.
Innovation here is broad but most notably we found this to be inclusivity; having an ambient sauce that can be used to create a midweek supper that the whole family can enjoy.
Our judges found there to be some real gems!
Gigi's Cupcakes Gluten-Free, Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes Kit, £16.99
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free
Soya
Produced in an area that handles nuts. Allergens are highlighted in bold.
Lovely idea for a kit, and it produces a great result. The bake is fluffy, light and squidgy and with a very pleasant flavour. Not cheap but we all need a treat from time to time!
Asda Free From, Hoisin Stir-Fry Sauce, £0.50
A good looking product, with a great consistency and a lovely aroma. A good addition to any kitchen needing to be gluten free and sesame free! Impressed! Good, strong flavour delivery with sweetness and spice - very comforting.
Asda Free From, Chow Mein Stir-Fry Sauce, £0.50
Lovely colour, aroma, consistency & flavour profile. A great balance of flavours with the perfect spice heat at the end. Very impressive to be gluten free, sesame free and soya free. And the price point is equally impressive.
Asda Free From, Gravy Granules for Beef, £1.20
Good texture, flavour and price positioning. This product isn't a compromise. Flavourings work well to deliver meatiness and this certainly lives up to expectations.
Asda Free From, Chocolate Brownie Mix, £1.70
Good chocolatey flavour hit and nice additional of the chips. Texture is lovely and moist and holds together well. Looks just like a brownie and smells great. A good staple to have in the cupboard and a good price.
Natural Umber, Umber Plus Apple Cider Vinegar, £8.99
Good tart apple flavour and nice smooth mouthfeel. Vitamin addition is a good bonus as adds more than just gut health. Would enjoy as a good for you / feel good drink. Great flavour delivery.
Marigold, Vegan Bouillon Organic Reduced Salt Stock Powder, £2.50 - £2.59
Mixes well, with a pleasant aroma, taste and colour. Quite versatile too.
Freja, Chicken Bone Broth, £6.99
Tastes rich and smooth with a good depth of chicken flavour.
SHORE, Miso Ramen Broth, £3.80
Fresh ginger and earthy aroma with a real depth of flavour; the miso, ginger and mushroom come through well. A really convenient way to cook a delicious, healthy meal at home that's full of flavour. A great product!
SHORE, Chilli Ramen Broth, £3.80
A good flavour with a serious chilli depth and kick .... one for the serious heat lover.
Vegemite, Yeast Extract Gluten Free, £3.25
Great product, tastes like the original gluten-free version! Good consistency, umami flavours and texture.
NIHKAN, Dehydrated Sprouts - Super 7 Grain Mix, 5.95
A fabulous, versatile product that could be used in many ways and that's full of protein & nutrients. Quick & simple to prepare making this a convenient, versatile & tasty superfood. A very versatile product, that can be used in many ways.
Nairn's, Gluten Free Sourdough Flatbreads, £1.99
A good looking cracker with a really nice snap and texture. A great premium cracker. Loved the flatbread format; this, combined with the subtle flavour profile, makes this a really versatile product.
M&S Made Without, Gluten Free Cheese Crackers, £2.25
Artisanal visual in shape & finish with a good premium cheese flavour that packs a punch and is a real highlight. The salt visuals provide an added premium touch and enhances the flavour delivery. This one sits between a cracker and a crisp and can be enjoyed as both.
Co-op Free From, Sea Salt & Black Pepper Crackers, £2.98
This has a pleasant aroma, nice colour and good texture. The flavour lives up to expectation as well with the tomato bringing acidity, with the cream and mascarpone cheese toning it down complementing each other well. A versatile store cupboard sauce that could be used for more than just pasta. Great to see main category options signposting gluten free options.
Horsham Gingerbread Bakehouse Sussex Alberts, Spicy Sussex, £3.70
These taste amazing. The texture is fantastic and clever, they have a bit of crumble but hold up well. They melt really nicely in mouth delivering tastes of ginger and chilli jam with a nice heat kick coming through at the end. A great balance of sweet with a bit of spice. Tried on its own, with butter, and with cheese - and it complemented all additions.
Bay's Kitchen, Tomato Ketchup with Sundried Tomatoes, £3.95
Tastes fresher and lighter than a regular ketchup which was enjoyed. Fresh tomato flavour comes through well. Top 14 allergens free and FODMAP friendly with no onion or garlic.
Asda Free From, Brown Sauce, £1.10
Good balanced flavours of sweetness and spice which remain on your tongue. Surprising that the brands haven't made the move into gluten free as it's not a compromise.
Asda Free From, Salad Cream, £1.10
This tastes just like the real thing. Impressive that this delivers the same flavour and consistency whilst being gluten free, milk free and egg free! Great price. A credible & accessible alternative.
Asda OMV!, Burger Mayo, £1.50
Really nice consistency and colour, and a pleasant taste with the gherkin & dill flavours coming through very well. The accessible price point makes this a fabulous option for fun and inclusive BBQs with family & friends.
SRSLY Low Carb, Sweet Pickle, £4.99
This is quite special and innovative, offering something very different to what is commonly available among pickled vegetables - the vegetables are lower carbs - swede, cauliflower - and the sweet liquid medium is made using erythritol, a zero calorie sweetener.
The African Foodie, Berber Harissa, £3.50
A fiery harissa paste that does what it says on the tin. It's HOT!
Asda OMV!, Grilled Red Pepper Pesto, £1.00
The red pepper aroma & colour are good as is the flavour, albeit subtle. The taste aligns more to that of a creamy tomato and herb sauce rather than pesto but it's very pleasant and milk free.
Asda OMV!, Pumpkin & Red Chili Pesto, £1.00
The pumpkin flavour and creaminess works well to compensate for no dairy but not more of a stir through sauce than a pesto.
Asda Free From, White Lasagne Pasta Sauce, £1.20
Good texture and subtle, balanced flavour delivery which is just what you'd want from a white lasagne sauce. Great inclusive family offer serving a purpose for those who need speed and convenience and perhaps are not so confident in the kitchen.
Tesco Free From, Carbonara Sauce, £1.20
The flavour profile works, it's hard to get carbonara right, especially when gluten free, egg free and milk free.
A good go to for a quick and easy recipe option for busy families that need something fast!
Asda Free From, Tomato & Herb Pasta Bake Sauce, £1.20
An appealing colour and aroma, and it coats the pasta really well. Surprisingly creamy texture despite being dairy free. An accessible option for many & ideal for those looking for a quick and easy solution.
Co-op Irresistible, Tomato & Mascarpone Pasta Sauce, £1.75
This has a pleasant aroma, nice colour and good texture. The flavour lives up to expectation as well with the tomato bringing acidity, with the cream and mascarpone cheese toning it down complementing each other well. A versatile store cupboard sauce that could be used for more than just pasta. Great to see main category options signposting gluten free options.
Tesco Free From, Hunters Cooking Sauce, £1.20
Great colour & consistency. Sweet to start & sharp at the end. A good rounded family pleaser. A great convenient option that aids inclusivity.
Asda OMV!, Tomato, Roasted Garlic & Balsamic Pasta Sauce, £2.00
Roasted garlic and sweetness from tomatoes comes through delivering a delicious, strong flavour. Has a premium feel for a tomato pasta sauce. Not much challenge in making it gluten free however the texture and particulates also make it feel more authentic.
Tesco Free From, Tomato and Herb Sauce, £1.20
A good version of a family favourite. It has a good colour The coconut cream works well to give a nice consistency and finish. Accessible price point.
Asda Free From, Tikka Masala Curry Sauce, £1.20
Gluten & milk free sauce with a good visual, a pleasant aroma, and the taste profile doesn't disappoint, it's well balanced with a slight spicy heat. A good cupboard staple.
Tesco Free From, Korma Cooking Sauce, £1.20
Asda OMV!, Saag Masala Cooking Sauce, £2.00
A growing category, with milks from various sources such as potato and hemp and it was milk alternatives that dominated the field again this year but look hard and you’ll find a few other gems in the line up below!
Tesco Free From, Soya Alternative to Fromage Frais 2 x Apricot 2 x Banana, £1.20
An accessible option that delivers a good overall flavour and texture. Great flavours, and nice sizes.
Naturli', Organic Vegan Spreadable, £2.25
Lovely to have a truly spreadable spread, a great option for crackers and breads - especially gluten free breads that are prone to tearing. Great natural ingredients. I like that it's a whipped spread, rather than the usual heavy oil based spreads.
Unsweetened Mighty M.LK, (Pea Milk), £1.90
You can smell the pea immediately but that said, the colour is exactly that of milk as is the consistency. I would have no problems using this like-for-like in baking and it behaves well in hot drinks The barista claims were put to the test and the froth was plentiful.
Lidl Vemondo, Oat Unsweetened, £1.09
A lovely golden colour with a very pleasant malty flavour, I can imagine having this in a hot chocolate or a smoothie. The price point makes this a crowd pleaser.
Healthfullicious'ly, Creamy Plant Based Hemp Drink, £3.00
Great colour and mouthfeel. Top 14 allergens free and it didn't split when added to coffee. The use of hemp is great, as a sustainable crop.
DUG®, Barista Potato, £1.80
A good colour and delivering a lovely full bodied, creamy taste. The great neutral smell adds to its versatility of use and it doesn't split. Good colour. It frothed really well, holding the froth for some time. A great and sustainable alternative.
Lidl Vemondo, Oat Barista, £1.29
A nice appealing colour with an interesting malty aroma and taste, without being too overpowering. Would be great with chocolate for hot drinks or also for smoothies. A great product and a very pleasing price. Froths well and holds the bubbles for a good cappuccino!
Glebe Farm Food Ltd PureOaty, Creamy & Enriched, £1.99
Love the golden creamy colour, like fresh full cream milk used to be. A lovely, but not overly, sweet flavour and so creamy too. Loved drinking this! Love that this uses gluten free oats, a rarity in the ever growing oat milk category and I like that this is fortified.
Glebe Farm, Pure Oaty Barista, £1.99
A lovely flavour milk alternative which frothed well and didn't separate. In the glass this looks just like milk and is a less sweet than other options available.
Chocolate MIGHTY, M.LK Shake, £1.60
Good consistency, doesn't separate. Good mouthfeel, pleasantly creamy with no strange aftertaste. Good grab and go option.
Biotiful, Oat Kefir Drink Vanilla, £2.95
Kefir is not for everyone but I love the twang from this product, it literally bubbled in the glass, an excellent sign of life! Wonderful to have considered the coeliac community who struggle to maintain healthy guts especially after diagnosis or contamination and great to have a vegan kefir. Lovely subtle vanilla flavour with a good overall taste.
Tesco Plant Chef, Soya Alternative To Greek Style Yogurt, £1.35
As a dairy free person I found it difficult to remember what Greek yogurt tastes like. Savoury taste, good with granola or honey or even added to a dressing for a salad Lovely thick texture, creamy and smooth.
Lidl Vemondo, Soya Classic, £1.05
A very neutral aroma and the flavour is as described - natural. This could be a a breakfast staple with some granola or mixed berries.
Lidl Vemondo, Soya Vanilla Flavour, £1.05
Love the fact that you get the 'dots' of vanilla in this product. Would be good to use on top of cereal or granola.
SOON, Oat Banana & Grated Coconut Yoghurt Alternative, £2.59
A really unique product. The banana aroma and flavour is not too overpowering, and neither is the coconut - both are in harmony with each other. The shredded coconut throughout is an interesting surprise, and not unpleasant mouthfeel. It's not too sweet, so could appeal to both children and adults. Impressed with the organic ingredients and commitment to this ethos along with the eco packaging.
Cocos Organic, Mixed Berry Organic Coconut Milk Yoghurt Alternative, £5.25
This is amazing. I have been dairy free since 2017 and this is the best free from yoghurt I've ever tried. The price reflects the organic and natural ingredients but it's worth every penny and a little goes a long way. Refreshing to see a product of this nature with quality ingredients and not compromising ensuring that all customers' needs are met across the spectrum.
Lidl Vemondo, Soya Blueberry, £1.05
Lovely to have bits in this free from yoghurt, that's quite rare and considered a bit of a treat!
Great colour, lovely flavour and another accessible option.
A free from staple and for many the single most important product to ‘get right’ hence this is always a popular category for entrants & amongst judges and this year was certainly no different.
As ranges have evolved we judge not only by product type but also production methods hence recognising supermarkets, large retail brands and smaller independent brands as they all bring something very different.
Marks & Spencer Made Without, Seeded Loaf, £3.10
Nice crust & colour and the poppy seeds are a great addition, adding to both the texture & flavour.
Good Grain Bakery, Organic seeded gluten free sourdough, £5.75
An organic loaf which is gorgeous to look at, it delivers completely on its promise. The flavour profile is what you look for in sourdough; acidic but not over-powering and the structure is impressive.
Asda Free From, 4 White Rolls, £1.75
A very competent soft textured roll with a neutral flavour. Well-risen, looks fresh, and soft & fluffy on the inside. This will be a very reliable base for filling, also child-friendly and a competitive price.
Libbys, Gluten Free Bagel, £1.50
This smells, has the texture of and tastes like a crusty white roll, really nostalgic. This is not what you expect from a bagel in terms of texture but I rather like it. Beautiful glaze and a good clean label adds to the appeal.
BFree, Pitta Breads Stone Baked, £2.75
After toasting you can enjoy a pitta experience and it pockets well.
Asda Free From, 4 Seeded Brown Rolls, £1.75
Light and with some spring the integrity of the roll is good and the seeds are dispersed well.
Yummzy, Keto Le Pain (Mini Baguettes), £16
You firstly need to accept that this is by no means a baguette but it is an excellent example of keto & low FODMAP baking. The flavour is excellent, with both the coconut and the almond coming through but it's not too overwhelming. A real achievement. This really ticks the bread box - flavour, density, richness.
BFree, Wholegrain Pitta Breads Stone Baked, £2.75
Preference is definately for toasting. Has a strong list of alternative flours so has good wholegrain credentials & fibre content.
Asda Free From, 2 Plain Naans, £1.90
A little flat but the seed inclusions adds quite a lot flavour. It's moist, has a good flavour and would perform well 'mopping up' a curry.
Dillon Organic, Keto Bread Original Flax, £4.99
A beautiful bread, reminiscent of German rye. Has a hand-made look and feel. The seeds add amazing flavour and texture. Lovely clean label with very strong free from credentials.
Genius, Handcrafted Tiger Bloomer, £3.30
A great tiger loaf with a pleasing texture and good tight crumb. A great product that could be enjoyed by the whole family ..... and the experience of slicing a gluten free bread should not to be overlooked.
Promise Gluten Free, Soft White Loaf, £3.25
Overall looks a good white-bread colour, is springy to touch, texture consistent throughout the loaf. Flavour – one of the closer breads to a non-gluten free bread, enjoyable. Overall very versatile and would please many tasters.
Asda Free From, Seeded White Sliced Loaf, £1.90
Good presence of seeds and good aroma. This won't set the free from world on fire but it's a competent product.
Asda Free From, 50/50 Loaf, £1.75
Has the expected colour of a 50/50 loaf and makes for a good everyday option.
Asda Free From, Brown Sliced Loaf, £1.90
Fulfils it's purpose as an everyday sandwich and toasting loaf, has a reasonable amount of moisture & good free from credentials.
Good Grain Bakery, Brown Loaf, £5.00
Fresh, organic handmade loaf. It has a good texture and real substance and structure. Tastes like a proper loaf of bread, quite an achievement.
Promise Gluten Free, Chia and Quinoa Loaf, £3.25
A seeded loaf with a white crumb, springy, good texture and flavour both plain and toasted. Has a slight earthiness to the seeds bringing depth of flavour. Price is quite reasonable for being gluten free.
Promise Gluten Free, Multi Grain Loaf, £3.25
Visually appealing with lots of seeds on the top and well scattered seeds throughout the loaf. Fresh, springy loaf with a golden crumb. Tastes wholesome, but ingredient-wise could be cleaner. Nutritionally – as per previous loaf – low sat fat and high fibre are very positive in a loaf like this.
Asda Free From, Multiseed Sandwich Slices, £1.65
Visually appealing due to the seeds - there are plenty of them and there is a real diversity. This does successfully deliver a fresh tasting & visually appealing bread. The consistent size of the slices would make this a great option for sandwiches.
Co-op Free From, Brown Seeded Loaf, £3.35
Seed content is very high. Good nutritional profile which is a real reason to buy. This is a moist loaf with an excellent texture.
Tesco finest* Free From, Seeded Loaf, £2.90
The visual is good with a dusting of flour on top, scoring and good shaping. Would be great for making an open sandwich.
Good Grain Bakery, Organic Gluten Free Sourdough, £5.50
It definitely ticks the sourdough box. It has a good base, good integrity, and would hold lots of toppings. I appreciate the difficulty in making gluten free bread and having this be sourdough as well as organic is impressive.
Libbys, Gluten Free Seeded Sourdough, £6.00
It is impressive for a gluten free sourdough bread to be this good. Has a great texture, the sourness is not too overwhelming and the aroma is the closest to gluten-filled sourdough bread from all sourdough breads tasted today. Visually very appealing with the large amount of seeds on the top. A weekend bread!
The divide is great between products developed for national retail and hand crafted, artisanal options and whilst innovation is impressive at the specialist end of the market, quality in the retail offer continues to improve and there are high expectations as to what we’ll see entered in 2024!
Violife, Original Flavour Slices, £2.75
Replicates a processed cheese making this ideal for sandwiches & burgers. The slices are an acceptable colour & similar to sliced cheddar, which looks natural. The aroma has a mild cheesy note and the flavour is equally mild.
Fully Free, Cashew-Brie Original, £6.15
Beautiful skin with authentic looking mould and rind. Lovely soft texture as you cut through it. Delightfully rich creamy texture combines with a fairly subtle flavour profile. I've not come across such a smooth, creamy interior before and it spreads with ease. Impressively simple ingredients deck. Clearly artisanal and this is reflected in the price.
Fully Free, Creme de Cashew Chive & Garlic, £4.85
Visually more like a whipped cream than a cheese spread but a great texture for dipping. Looks rich and nice to see real pieces of chives mixed in. Nice punchy flavour - salty, garlicky and chives all jump out & stand out well when put on a cracker. Quite a soft texture which melts in your mouth. This certainly feels like a high quality, well crafted product.
Sainsbury's Free From, Greek-Style Coconut based alternative to cheese, £2.25
Nice white colour that suggests and mimics a feta-style cheese. It cuts and crumbles nicely. Medium strong aroma that has a cheesy tang. It has a nice feta taste and texture with delivers a fairly authentic greek cheese experience.
Cathedral City, Plant Based Deliciously Dairy Free, £3.60
Cuts nicely and the flavour in the mouth is appealing, resembling a dairy-based cheese exceptionally well. Textured more like a Wensleydale. Strong flavour and great maturity! Absolutely excellent, whilst not exactly like a cheddar. But it's not making a claim to be anything except for an alternative to cheese, so it's not nailing its colours to any particular post. Creamy. I want to go back for more, it achieves that umami flavour of cheese well.
Sainsbury's Free From, Cheddar-Style coconut based alternative to cheese, £2.25
Pale in colour with a pleasant cheesy aroma. Cuts nicely and offers a creamy texture that melts in your mouth.
Wicked Kitchen, Coconut Alternative to Cheddar with Caramelised Onion, £2.50
This product does exactly what it says on the pack. Looks a rich pale yellow colour, with texture from the caramelised onion within it. The aroma is of sweet onion notes, with slight coconut tones. The flavour is excellent with the sweet onion notes being fully prominent.
Ilchester® Vegan, Melting Mature Slices, £2.60
Smooth & uniform with a very mild cheddar aroma. It breaks up in an authentic way and has a decent, smooth bite. When it is grilled it browns nicely.
Applewood Vegan®, Slices, £2.60
Clear & appealing smoky aroma with a nice initial bite. The smoky flavours clearly come through. Well suited to the occasion for which it is designed (on burgers or in toasties). A safe and familiar formulation for delivery of a cheese-a-like.
When judging we split entries into chocolate and confectionery, mainstream and premium and the offer has evolved tremendously in terms of both range and quality from own label choc bars & buttons to delectable truffles.
Butterm!lk, Choccy Caramel Bar, £1.50
Great to see another free from choccy bar replicating a main category favourite.
NOMO, XL Cookie Dough Filled Bar, £3
Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Egg Free, Nut Free
No Top 14
None
A nice bar, with an element of crunch which delivers a nice textural impact. Creamy centre and good flavour. An excellent product, which is very good value and with amazing free from credentials.
Asda OMV! Deliciously Vegan, Mini Pink & White Mallows, £1.25
Visually these deliver and they have a good creamy flavour. Perfect for hot chocolates.
Free From Fellows, Strawberry Vegan Mallows, £1.50 - £1.99
These have a nice colour, good fluffy texture and a nice strong flavour.
Sweet Lounge, Vegan Fizzy Blue Raspberry Bottles, £2.25
Well sized and with a nice fruit flavour and subtle fizz.
Booja-Booja, Chocolate Salted Caramel Truffles, £11.99
Visually very artisan, the texture is exceptionally smooth and delightfully melting. The balance of the salt vs. the sweetness is perfect and I would defy anyone to identify this as dairy free. Very decadent and truly delicious.
Freedom Chocolate, Mylk, £4.99
Nice to see that the ingredients list is all natural products. The texture of the product is smooth and the moulding is refreshingly different. Lovely mellow tones and flavours.
Freedom Chocolate, Dark Raspberry, £4.99
Loved the visual, great moulding. The texture is very nice, with good melting qualities. The flavour is a mixture of bitter and sour, so very ‘dark’. A good option for those who love very dark chocolate.
Forest Feast Nutm!lk, ChocoCorn, £3.20
Interesting & different with a pleasant texture & flavour with the lovely salty corn.
Nudders Deliciously Dairy Free, Chocovered Juicy Raisins, £1.55
The chocolate melts well and the raisins are nice & juicy.
Fabulously Freefrom Nudders, Chocovered Caramel Hazelnuts, £1.99
A very pleasant flavour and texture: the caramelisation on the hazelnut gives a great textural element and the flavour is lovely. Cocoa dusting gives a premium visual - proportions are good, lovely melt. Good value for what presents as a premium product.
Tesco Free From, Choc Bar, £1.50
Great price for a larger bar. This would be a great option for baking but is equally great for that chocolate fix! The chocolate has a good snap to it and has a nice finish with a wave detail across each piece. Great for cooking and children's baking.
Asda Free From, Giant Choc Buttons, £1.50
They have a soft crunch to them and the chocolate is very smooth on the tongue. The uniformed size makes these great for cake decorating!
Asda Free From, White Choc Buttons, £0.45
All the attributes expected of white chocolate and a good balance of sweetness. Good visual with some variation which gives a less processed appearance. Great value & great for kids.
Asda Free From, Choc Orange Buttons, £0.45
A good sized button with a nice sheen to the chocolate. Instantly can taste the orange coming through from the button.
Tesco Free From, Choc Orange Bar, £1.50
A lovely balanced orange flavour which is unusually natural. The texture is great, melts beautifully in the mouth and is very smooth on the palate. All the claims make this very accessible and a very reasonable price, which increases the inclusivity further.
M&S Made Without, Chocolate Orange Bar, £0.95
Nice look and texture with a subtle orange flavour.
Asda OMV!, Choc Orange & Caramel Crisp, £1.50
A lovely tasting product, with good texture and great flavour. A missed opportunity with the lack of free from claims.
NOMO, Caramelised Biscuit Choc Bar, £1.00
The chocolate is soft and you can taste the biscuit crumbs. You also get a slight taste of the sea salt that comes through at the end of the chocolate pieces - a well-balanced bar that brings something different to the free from offer.
Asda OMV!, Blond Choc & Almond Bar, £1.50
Lovely creamy texture, the crunch of the nuts balancing very well.
Asda OMV!, Salted Caramel Fudge & Honeycomb Choc Slab, £2.50
Like the design on the back of the bar with the fudge pieces, this gives the bar more texture offering something different. The fudge is the powering flavour with little of the honeycomb.
Ice creams were the heroes this year so feature heavily in our shortlist. All we need now is for the sun to shine and the mercury to rise!
Asda Free From, 10 Waffle Cones, £2.00
Good crunch and really good vanilla flavour.... Nice colour and good waffle markings. Full size!! Seem fairly robust. Safe to say the taste, texture and crunch all came together perfectly with a good hint of vanilla and the nostalgia of an old fashioned ice cream cone. It says gluten free but it should say egg, nut and milk free too! I’d be happy to eat this even though I don’t need gluten free, you can’t really tell the difference! (S aged 11)
Co-op Free From, Strawberry & Vanilla Cones, £2.70
A nostalgic experience and there is even a good fill of chocolate at the bottom of the cone!
Doughlicious Dough-Chi, Chocolate Chip, £4.50
OMG That's amazing - just the right sweetness and smooth texture and so much better than mochi - the visual looks great too.. You wouldn't know they were vegan. The combination of textures is divine and the flavour is spot on. Not over-sweet, but quite decadent. Love the texture and the layers and depth of the flavours. It's very satisfying - great that it's bite size too.
Wicked Kitchen, 3 Berry White Sticks, £3.00
Good visual with the raspberry pieces visible and the sauce running through the middle. The texture of the ice cream is good. This makes a refreshingly different option - a mini size would be great!
Booja-Booja, Mango & Raspberry, £5.49
Great visual in the tub......swirls of raspberry sauce.... The raspberry sauce is really tart and sweet and delivers well. Not over-sweet. Lovely balance of flavours. A good premium ice cream that would hold its own against and good dairy ice cream. Very creamy, great taste and texture. Sunshine on a plate and would buy that again and again.
Booja-Booja, Cookie Dough, £5.49
The cookie dough pieces have a nice texture and good crunch. Nice to see an ingredients list thats clean and clear. Really delicious, great tasting ice-cream with the a velvety texture - hard to believe it's vegan.
Booja-Booja, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, £5.49
Really good flavour and delivery - packs a punch! Really solid chocolate chocolate flavour - very good, not too sweet, beautiful flavour, smooth, looks like real chocolate ice-cream should look.
Asda Free From, Salted Caramel Ice Cream, £2.20
A really accessible option that children will love. It's not sophisticated but then it's not trying to be.
Booja-Booja, Deeply Chocolate, £5.49
Lovely colour and flavour and the pieces of dark chocolate in are are beautiful and melt perfectly. Rich and deeply chocolate with a rich cocoa back-hit. Simple ingredients. Very decadent. Wouldn't know this is vegan. Would hold its own against good quality dairy ice cream. Excellent quality. Feels like a treat, which is what ice-cream is all about!
We Love Cake When Life Gives You Lemons, Lemon Tarts, £2.50
Great visual & impressive free from credentials. Being egg free makes this a challenging & innovative bake. Subtle lemon flavour.
Tesco Free From, Lemon Loaf Cake, £2.50
This presents & cuts well. A little dry so would be nice with berries & ice cream.
Sue's Gluten Free Kitchen, Victoria Cupcakes, £3.90
Authentic homemade vibes from the taste of these little cupcakes. An excellent way to bring cupcakes into the home for children's parties - they can be put in the freezer and taken out when needed. Quite a moist sponge with a nice texture.
English Cheesecake Company, Smooth Vanilla Cheesecake with Lotus Biscoff, £4.20
Good texture and flavour and like the tie in with Violife dairy free- good layers. The Biscoff flavour is quite mild, the texture is great with a real creaminess. A most enjoyable cheesecake.
It's a Mousse Trap, Vegan Chocolate Mousse Cake, £46
Clearly made with quality ingredients, pride and skill & the elegant simplicity is a delight. The sponge is really light and not overly rich but the top mousse is rich and indulgent.
Asda OMV!, 4 Choc Brownies, £2.00
Rich and chocolatey with a good chocolate flavour & not overly sweet. Good price point for a basic brownie.
Asda Free From, Sticky Toffee Sponge Pudding, £1.20
Good price for a serving so accessible to the gluten free community. Easy to prepare & the sauce is smooth & glossy.
Asda Free From, Syrup Sponge Pudding, £1.20
May Contain: Nuts
Great value for money. The sponge is nice and moist, Yes it's sweet but you expect this. To have a warm pudding at home, with such a small price tag is superb, and the single portions make it very convenient.
We Love Cake Choc-A-Lot, Chocolate Pudding, £3
Love the dark colour. Nice shiny, thick yet fluid sauce. Good sponge texture... airy and light. Nice flavour that isn't over-sweet. Good cocoa hit, with a sort of earthiness. Impressed that it is top 14 free, so very accessible (although does have 2 'may contains'). Quite a different product to other chocolate loaf cakes on the market. I liked it!
Always a popular category with a varied entry from biscuits and cake to doughnuts and celebration cake.
There were very few ‘new’ products entered but lots of good products and a handful of real stand-outs.
Asda Free From Extra Special, 8 Sicilian Orange & Belgian Dark Chocolate Cookies, £2.00
Nice soft texture. Nice refreshing orange sweetness Good balance of chocolate and orange. Really pleasant eat, softer baked cookie, good inclusions of chocolate chips and lovely orange flavour, not too sweet and no nasty residues or aftertastes.
Asda Free From, 5 Brownie Slices, £2.25
Simple look and finish with a slightly crisp top & gooey cake part. Lacks a real chocolate punch but is a pleasant sweet treat.
Nairn's, Dark Chocolate & Coconut Chunky Oat Biscuit Breaks, £1.99
Strong coconut smell, which follows through into the taste, nice baked colour & super convenient to take out & about.
Nairn's Gluten Free Oaties, Choc Chip, £1.50
A handy handbag size with a good aroma & flavour. Impressive to see these being 30% less sugar.
Nairn's, Chocolate Chip Oat Biscuit Breaks, £1.99
Good chocolate distribution across the biscuit. Good with a cup of tea & structurally these could be a good dunker!
Asda Free From, Custard Creams, £1.30
Nice everyday biscuit. Great visual, classic custard cream, aroma vanilla, slightly firmer and than a standard custard cream. Good balance of filling and biscuit.
Asda Free From, Lemon Creams, £1.20
Nice biscuit, "grown up" version of a jam ring. Nice flavour in the lemon and combination with the cream, a good mix of flavours. Good lemon aroma, natural, very pleasant.
Asda Free From, Cookies & Cream Biscuits, £1.20
Very sweet, with a good chocolate hit. Great visual, good contrast of colour, softer eat which is nice, good cocoa powder taste. Great price for the sugar hit and reasonable pack weight.
Rhythm 108, Vegan Hazelnut Chocolate Praline Biscuit Share Bag, £3.00
Great praline and a good flavour.
Horsham Gingerbread Bakehouse Honey Sussex Alberts, £3.85
Great baked aroma. Nice rich buttery biscuit. Biscuits not quite uniform which adds to the "local product charm" Nice natural ingredients.
Sweet FA Gluten Free, Peanut Butter Organic & Vegan Cookies, £2.95
Good aroma of peanut, good delivery of nuts, very sweet, clear labelling, strong peanut butter flavour and although quite sweet very flavoursome.
Wicked Cookies, Vegan/Dairy Free & Gluten Free Snickerwoodle Cinnamon Sugar Cookie, £2
This is a seriously delicious cookie. Love the big shape, lovely soft yet crunchy texture like the chocolate one. Flavour is really good too - Iove the cinnamon sugar / snickerwoodle flavour. A light eat, with good cinnamon flavour.
Co-op Irresistible, All Butter Fruit and Oat Cookies Gluten Free, £3
Good amount of fruit, great buttery flavour, nice soft eating texture, great flavour, very lovely biscuit, giving fruit cake vibes in a biscuit, finding bits of all the inclusions, raisin, coconut and apricot which is a positive.
Sweet FA Gluten Free, Oat & Raisin Organic and Vegan Cookies, £2.95
A light coloured biscuit with a strong cinnamon kick.
Asda Free From, 8 Stem Ginger Cookies, £1.20
A lovely colour and you get a good kick of ginger from every bite with pieces of crystallised ginger.
Tesco Free From, Stem Ginger Cookies, £1.20
Great baked colour with pleasing ginger flavours and visible pieces of candied ginger.
Tesco Free From finest*, Dark Chocolate Ginger Cookies, £2.00
Good coverage of chocolate with a subtle ginger flavour. This is one for the grown ups!
Asda Free From Extra Special, 8 Belgian Dark Chocolate Ginger Cookies, £2.20
These feel luxurious and indulgent with a good chocolate coating.
Co-op Gro, Choc Chunk Cookies, £1.65
Good texture and a pleasing distribution of choc chunks.
Sweet FA Gluten Free, Double Chocolate Chip Organic and Vegan Cookies, £2.95
Good solid snap and the chocolate chips are plentiful.
Angelic, Double Chocolate Plant Based Cookies, £2.95
Solid chocolate biscuit with dark chocolate colour and visible chunks. Nice snap. Does what it says on the tin. Good chocolate cookie for being free from 13 allergens.
M&S Made Without, Triple Chocolate Cookies, £2.25
Crunchy and strong butter taste and texture, not overly sweet or chocolatey so not sickly. Good delivery of flavour from the butter and chocolate chunks, great aroma, lovely premium chocolate chunk cookie.
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Free From, Triple Chocolate Cookies, £2.35
A buttery biscuit for the chocolate lover.
Co-op Irresistible, All Butter Triple Chocolate Cookies Gluten Free, £3
Good visual with real chocolate chunks.
Wicked Cookies, Vegan & Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Cookie, £2.00
This cookie is SPECIAL. Love the big shape, lovely soft yet crunchy texture. Flavour is really good too - I'd 100% purchase these as a gluten free vegan myself. Looks very chocolatey with visible chunks all over. Very tasty, enticingly plump chocolate cookie - nice soft middle and good crunchy exterior.
Asda Free From, Milk Chocolate Viennese Fingers, £2.20
Good balance of chocolate. Feels indulgent with buttery shortbread. No aftertaste. Love them. Lovely smooth eating, lovely visual, really lovely biscuit.
Tesco finest*, 4 Millionaire Shortbread Slices, £3.00
Strong caramel flavour. Good crumbly shortbread biscuit. Good thick layer of chocolate. Very pleasant sweet treat, nice premium product.
Lazy Day, Salted Caramel Crispies, £2.65
A neat product with good caramel delivery.
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Free From, Salted Caramel Crispy Squares, £2.30
These have a neat appearance and a nice caramel flavour.
Borough 22 Doughnuts, Cereal Milk Fried Doughnut, £4.50
I honestly think its the best thing I've ever eaten in my 14 years of free from and I'm not sure anything will ever be better. These are absolutely knockout, the texture taste, feel and eat is a revelation. Finally a free from product that is a better eat than normal products. Beautiful finish and love the aerated look of the dough with nice firm texture. This has just the right level of naughty but nice.
Borough 22, Fried Gluten Free Vegan Sugared Ring Doughnut, £4.50
It's just knock out. Perfect looking fried doughnut with a sugar coating. Lovely golden even fried outer with a soft, bouncy interior. You wouldn't know it was free from, despite being free from everything but oats. Sweet as a doughnut should be but not overwhelmingly sugary.
M&S Made Without, 2 Iced and Spiced Buns, £2.40
Always great to see a classic in the free from category. Its a good innovation product as it isn't something thats common on the market but is something we do need as its a nostalgic one. These are dainty and a nicely finished bun. Good ratio of bun to icing, nice colour and fruit content.
Asda Free From, 5 Angel Slices, £2.20
A children's favourite & this will be a winner. It's colourful & sweet with a good layer of creamy filling and icing. sponger holds well. A good take on a novelty cake slice.
We Love Cake, Cherry Bakewell Tart, £2.50
This Bakewell tartlet has a classic appearance with a very thick white icing and topped with a glace cherry. The pastry has a pleasant almond flavour.
Asda Free From, 6 Victoria Sponge Cakes, £2.15
Very quaint little Victoria sponge butterfly cakes, nicely presented and very well made, feel very nostalgic.
Just Love Food Co, Happy Birthday Cake, £9.00
Nicely made and finished cake. The texture of the sponge is great and it has a good layer of filling; a great birthday cake that will be a favourite. Great for children's birthday parties and feels similar to cakes that I remember growing up at parties (when I could eat gluten!). The pull out card with the allergens on it a fantastic idea.
The FreeFrom Bakehouse, Passion Fruit Baked Cheesecake, £32 or £4 a slice
Nicely finished with fresh passion fruit on top. It has a lovely texture & nice smoothness. The passionfruit is delicious.
Asda Free From, 4 Chocolate Cake Bars, £2.65
Nice looking cake bars with a good ratio of chocolate, cake and creamy filling. Very sweet but to be expected.
Co-op Irresistible, Hand Finished Chocolate Cake Gluten Free, £4
A pretty little cake that has a nice hand finished look with a nice swirl of buttercream on top. Good even layers with a rich cocoa aroma and a light and fluffy texture.
Asda Free From, Choc Loaf Cake, £2.50
A nice loaf style cake with pretty chocolate curls to finish. The cake is light, the topping is very sweet.
The FreeFrom Bakehouse, Cookies n 'Cream' Chocolate Cake, £30-54
Beautifully presented cake. Love the hand finished look with the ganache and piping. When cut it shows a great cake with lovely sponge and generous amounts of creamy filling. The addition of avocado makes the cakes very rich and intense. It is great that a free from cake can look so beautiful and be accessible to people to buy.
The ultimate award for manufacturers who have gone above and beyond, creating foods that are free of all but one of the top 15 major allergens: these are the top 14 UK-recognised allergens plus peas and chickpeas which are our own addition, a major problem for a growing number of UK allergy reactors. Entrants must be free of 14 allergens but entrants can choose which 14 they exclude. This category is always really interesting with perspectives being challenged by those living with multiple allergies. Some of these products make a huge difference. Not necessarily the most innovative; also those that provide access to a product that had previously been off limits.
FREEE, Gluten Free Organic Fruit and Fibre Flakes, £4.29
Delicious taste and texture with plentiful inclusions. The flakes had a lovely bite and crunch and didn't turn soggy once left in milk. Really enjoyable.
Cheeky Nibble, Banoffee Pie Granola, £5.99
Really delicious big crunchy clusters which have a delicious bite, crunchy, almost flapjack like but without the dense butteriness.
I didn't get banana flavour from it but I'm not a huge fan of banana so it delivered for me. Incredible free from credentials. Maybe too sweet for some for breakfast but a great snack or I'd try crumbled on ice cream, delicious.
Liberate, Classic Gluten Free English Muffins, £3.79
Very much a fan of the extensive on-pack freefrom claims - rather than just isolating gluten and milk, as many do. Looks excellent - just like a traditional English muffin. Toasted, it has a really good conventional ‘bread’ flavour with a nice hint of saltiness and a great crust. I don't normally shop gluten free but would have no problem buying this product and serving it to other people.
Liberate, Fruit and Spice English Muffins, £3.79
They tasted just like a home made hot cross bun, loved the depth of flavour of the cassia / mixed spices. Doughy, nice bite and texture. Lovely spicy, warming taste with a good crust and density. Looks very dark but toasts well. Brilliant free from credentials - top 14 allergens and legume free and no may contains, and an extensive list of free from claims on-pack.
Better Naked, 6 Pork Sausages, £3.25
This sausage is soooo damn good, really delicious and no sulphites! Wowzers. A great tasting sausage with a really good flavour - very meaty and well seasoned.
Heck, 97% Pork Sausage, £3.20
Really nice meaty sausage, great flavour and texture with a good level of seasoning. I liked this one a lot. What a treat to have so much meat and less filler grains.
Bay's Kitchen, Classic Basil Vegan Pesto, £3.95
Really nice strong depth of flavour, wouldn't question it being vegan too.
Good It's Gluten Free, Oriental Wok Ready Cooking Sauces, £1.49
Lovely to have such a wide range of sauces that are ALSO nut free sauces for wok cooking!
Voakes Free From, Steak Pie, £3.65
Super gluten free pastry with a great crisp and a lovely golden colour. Tender beef that melts in the mouth, paired with a nice sauce. Free from all but one of the top 14 allergens.
Toyin's Kitchen, Obé-Ata, £4.95
A super authentic, fruity and spicy scotch bonnet sauce base. I can see the flavour will carry itself amazingly well in a meal solution.
Beam, Crispy Seed Based Bar Cranberry Strawberry, £1.99
The bar texture is very pleasant and I love the mix of seeds and offering a good level of protein and fibre too. I loved this, with nut/peanut allergies finding anything seed based safe or let alone a safe snack bar is near impossible. This delivers in a category needing more options.
Nibsy's, Gluten-free and Vegan DIY Donut kit, £18
This kit is fun and makes delicious doughnuts .... this absolutely meets a need. There are so few free from doughnuts on the market, and these tick all the major allergen free boxes. They have a lovely golden crunch and soft middle with a lovely cakey, buttery flavour. Quality ingredients plus the option of the silicon tray makes this a good value option.
Maclean's Highland Bakery Free From, Lemon Zest Cookies, £2.85
Super delicious light, crumbly shortbread texture - good level of crunch and sweetness. The lemon flavour is strong but nicely balances the sweetness. Great to find something free from the top 14 allergens with a great taste and texture.
Maclean's Highland Bakery Free From, Chocolate Brownie Cookies, £2.85
Delicious crumbly gluten free cookie with a lovely rich chocolatey flavour and not overly sweet. You definitely get the flavour of a chocolate brownie so lives up to the name.
Asda Free From, 18 Chocolate Cornflake Clusters, £2.50
Lovely, and inclusive, bite-sized choc crispy cakes with a good crunch and squidge, and nice cocoa flavour. Really like the bite-sized option as a party snack or portable treat. Great to see no may contain.
Dolfino's, Indulgent Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies, £20
A top 14 allergen free cookie is not easy to find and this is a lovely soft bake style of cookie with an abundance of choc chips.
XOCOL8, Signature Salted Dark Chocolate Water Ganache, £13.00
A super rich, dark, indulgent and delicious 'truffle' that look as good as they taste. Accompanying a coffee after a meal I could see these being a big hit but only one as they're definitely rich. Free from the top 14 allergens and with no may contain.
Asda, Tomato & Basil Soup, £1.65
Nice smell and colour with a rich tomato flavour and visually this is enhanced by the big bits of basil in the soup.
For food with the potential to supply the hospitality sector - if you make an exceptional free from product that you could supply into this sector, or could scale up appropriately, you will open your brand and products to a much greater audience and an expanding market for large and small companies.
There is a need in food service for more free from products from the basic gluten free staples all the way through to innovative savoury and sweet options suitable for those with multiple food allergies.
Encouraging more companies to innovate and develop products for food service, this is opportunity for small independent companies to showcase their products alongside the large catering companies to help step-change the food service offer!
FREEE, Gluten Free Organic Corn Flakes
The visual is good as is the crunch & texture. Nice commitment to organic ingredients, top 14 allergens free and individual packages lend themselves to good risk mitigation, avoiding cross contamination.
FREEE, Gluten Free Organic Fibre Flakes
I love the fact these are individually portioned packs with simple ingredients. Good flavour and keeps the texture well. Lovely subtle sweetness to these flakes. They have a pleasing crunch, a good earthy taste and they hold up well in milk.
FREEE, Gluten Free Organic Chocolate Stars
Nice little star shape with a good crunch that holds up well in milk. Being top 14 allergens free & coming in individual packs is great for food service.
Liberate, Classic English Muffins
Really impressed and excited by this. Good visual with a real artisanal feel, delicious toasted and behaves quite like a 'normal' muffin. A really versatile option for food service and top 14 allergens free.
Liberate, Traditional Honeycomb Crumpets
Such a great free from crumpet, the structure is very much like 'normal' crumpets and the airholes are perfect. Great texture, taste, & mouthfeel; light & airy. Far less dense than a gluten containing crumpet. A stand-out product with impressive free from credentials.
Macleans Highland Bakery Free From, Scottish Mini Oatcakes
The mini size format is great. Clear individual sachet is good from a risk and control perspective. A clean ingredients deck and free from the top 14 allergens making this a great option for food service. Thyme aroma was pleasing and the texture and consistency was spot on, did not crumble easily.
Meatless Farm, Plant-Based Tuna
What a clever product, you really would not know that this isn't tuna as far as smell is concerned. When made into tuna mayonnaise you struggle to see any difference. The slab broke down easily and behaved like mixed tuna rather than tuna chunks or flakes. Good to see a soy free version of a product like this.
Whitby Seafoods, Gluten Free Wholetail Scampi
A stand-out product. Great colour, nice crisp outer coating, well-seasoned and with a real piece of scampi, rather than blended. I would happily eat the whole packet!
Angelic Safetylicious, Apple & Raspberry Oat Square
Natural ingredients and top 14 free - great to see a safe & healthier option for kids .... and the size is great, something different.
Liberate, Fruit N' Spice English Muffins
A really lovely product that is great toasted. Loved the distribution of fruits and the spicing is subtle and well done. Very enjoyable with the right amount of chew.
Wicked Kitchen, (Vegan) Pain Au Chocolat
Visually this looks more like a wholesome chocolate bake with nice browning on the surface but it tastes lovely. Being frozen makes it so easy to cook as and when needed. It's good that there is no soy in this product, like many others on the market. A well made product; if the PALs were addressed it would be quite a unique option and even more so if it could be made gluten free.
Just Love Food Company, Vegan Lemon Cake
A visually impressive double layered cake with two tone icing. The sponge is light & moist with a good lemon flavour.
The Handmade Cake Company, Gluten Free Lemon Drizzle Slice
Individually portioned, light & fluffy sponge with a subtle lemon flavour.
Mademoiselle Desserts, Vegan Mango Cheesecake
Looks very impressive on presentation and love the mango coulis swirl. If I were in a restaurant I would certainly order this as a dessert, a tropical flavour combination that works well. The texture is what I would expect from a dairy free cheesecake and the mango flavour was good, not artificial or overpowering. A great alternative for those not wanting a chocolaty pudding.
Mademoiselle Desserts, Vegan Treacle Tart
Delicious albeit a little different in texture to what I was expecting. If it were gluten free it would have more of a place in the market.
The Brutally Honest Bakery, Rocky Road Brownie
A top 14 allergens free option for food service ..... fudgy moist brownie meets rocky road. The marshmallows and fudge are perfect for the rocky road element. Biscuit inclusion is great giving texture and adding the visual. Quite an intense flavour so definitely one for the grown ups! This has the potential to be a knockout product.
The Handmade Cake Company, Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie
Authentic looking brownie with a good chocolatey flavour and gooey texture. The ingredient deck isn't too long and you'd be hard pushed to know this was gluten free so a good option for food service.
This category was once again judged by those the entries are targeting. A truly dedicated panel took their roles incredibly seriously sharing raw, honest, insightful and sometimes very entertaining feedback providing a very different perspective on a product!
Asda Free From, 8 Jammy Wheels, £1.30
Taste exactly same, as normal ones! Nice crumbly texture. Very sweet jam!
Wicked Kitchen, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Dream Treat, £3.00
Wouldn't think it was milk free. Would give it to friends and they'd think it was normal! This does NOT taste any different to normal stuff. Perfectly minty, texture is good, pretty good example of normal ice cream - texture is identical. We love this, fresh & light yet really creamy!
Genius, 4 Multi Seeded Rolls, £2.20
Nice taste and soft rolls. Great quick breakfast roll, for speedy pre-school breakfasts. Have to have it with butter. The seeds add something, makes a different taste experience than seedless breads. Wouldn't guess it was gluten free. Better with butter, definitely.
Angelic, Raspberry & Apple Oat Squares, £2.85
It’s a good size for a little treat and it looks appetising when you open it. The oats are nice and soft and I can taste the raspberry and apple quite a lot, which is good. It tastes better than a normal oat bar and good that it’s gluten free.
Asda Extra Special, 12 Classic Pork Chipolata Sausages, £2.95
Like a normal sausage. Really good. Very nice flavour. You can eat more of this size sausage! Good with mash and gravy. The texture is nice, I like how much meat there is and the casing. Good for a party. Nice spice flavours.
Asda Free From, 10 Vegetable Dippers, £2.40
Taste different, something new and good. Good for new vegetarians. Tastes so real, nice taste, good crumb on the outside. Quite good, practical for veggies because they taste nice so you could have them and would be good to share with friends, it wouldn't matter that they weren't meaty. Good party food for veggies and for halal friends. Don't look that different.
Asda Free From, 12 BBQ Chicken Dippers, £2.60
BBQ flavour a bit spicy, good nice texture. Good size. Crumb is good, good for on the go as you would not have to dip into a sauce. Nice to have less crumb here as you get more chicken.
Asda Free From, 12 Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins, £2.00
Look like a normal muffin and perfect for kids. I think the texture is good. Good value for money for a party that anyone can eat. No real compromise here. Good texture and reasonable amount of choc chips.
Asda Free From, 18 Chocolate Cornflake Clusters, £2.50
Going in for seconds. Really good crunchy texture. Not too sweet, not too bitter. Most clusters are really sweet, normally they're too milky and sweet. Best dark dairy free chocolate... Only problem is that they're too moreish! These are lovely and crunchy and chocolatey and nice bite sized treats for sharing with friends or having at parties.
Asda Free From, 4 Mini Frieda Caterpillar Cakes, £2.75
It says gluten, milk and egg free but it could also say nut free although I can see that it’s safe. The face looks nice and jolly and the cake tastes really nice. I like the colourful sprinkles and they brighten it up and go well with the chocolate. The chocolate inside is delicious. It’s soft and goes perfectly with the bit crunchier outside chocolate. It’s good for birthdays or celebrations and it tastes like real chocolate so everyone would enjoy it.
Asda Free From, 6 Assorted Jam Tarts, £2.20
Very nice, lots of jam and like that the pastry isn't too thick. I'd have a snack or maybe a dessert.
Smaller size would make these more snackable, but they're good as they are.
Asda Free From, Choco Snaps, £1.45
I like it, I don't normally have cereal but I like it. Depends what milk you use - soya is quite sweet, so it emphasises the dark of the chocolate. Earthy chocolate flavour. Very similar to main category ones, not enough of a difference to stand out. Very similar to coco pops. Tasty good. Very nice crunch, good chocolate.
Asda Free From, Madeira Party Cake, £6.50
A good basic shop bought cake. Not bad at all, and lots of these kids make their own cakes. Very sweet jam. Crumbly, that taste that you get with free from things - not bad, just distinctive.
Asda Free From, Onion Rings, £2.00
I don't like onions but these are good! Batter is good, onion nicely cooked. Chewiness like a tempura batter.
Asda OMV!, Salted Caramel Flavour Hot Choc, £2.00
Was surprised at how nice this is - 4 tsps of powder makes a substantially thick cup of tasty hot choc! Looks like boiling syrup, and very caramelly.
Asda, Crispy Tempura Chicken Mini Fillets, £2.80
Big pieces of nice chicken, quite oily, a lot of batter.If you like stuff from a chippie you'd like this - a bit like a chippie cod in batter. Batter does not crumble which is good, nice size product. I do like a crumb on top of the batter, but this is less messy.
Causeway Cookie Company, Paint-Your-Own Cookie, £4
Would do it with friends for sleepovers! Very involved kids both boys and girls. Cookie is good! Soft and chewy. Really cool idea! Not messy, would be good for smaller children as well. Wouldn't make any difference if friends were free from or not. Great idea. The best one.
Cocos Organic, Organic Coconut Milk Yog Tubes - Strawberry and Banana, £3.25
Liked the packaging: bright and eye catching, clever that a tiny hole means you do not spill! Tear tops easy to get into. Would have it as a breakfast thing, or over pancakes. Good for going in the car, and for lunch boxes. Would share with friends. It's a big tube but does not look big, which is good! Lots of product in a sneakily small package! I LOVE IT!!!
Helios, Kiddo Pasta Gluten Free Organic Yellow Lentil Little Animals, £3.41
Cool animals, I can tell the shapes! Nice texture. A good & nutritious pasta.
Lazy Day, Mini Vic the Vegan Caterpillar Cakes, £3.00
The cakes are a good size and cheerful and colourful. The soft chocolate icing goes really well with the cake and the crunchy outside coating. It’s really chocolatey. These would be good for treats and parties and nobody would feel left out.
Liberate, Pancakes, £3.79
Very good - two of the judges make homemade pancakes and they liked these ones very much. You might eat it like this if you were in a rush, normally would toast. Lovely toasted with a crispy outside.
Liberate, Gluten Free Classic Belgian Style Waffles, £3.99
Smell nice. Look different and like they'll be really crispy but only a tiny bit crispy. Really creamy taste, good even without sauces. Would have toasted as a snack on a cold day. You can taste the butter. Smells like custard. Nice soft texture inside. Both tasters make their own waffles at home. These better than their own ones.
NOMO, Crispy Mo Creamy Choc With Crispy Pieces, £0.55
That's SO good! This is amazing! Has a nice crunch with the biscuit inside. It’s good that it shows a cute little picture of what it looks like inside; it’s eye-catching and colourful and the packaging is easy to read - it says nut free too! Good for a treat snack when you are going out and about.
PLAYinCHOC Toy Choc Box, Organic Chocolate + surprise toy, £2.00
Animals inside is a smart idea, very fun, choc is nice, a mix of sweet and dark. Great for going on the go, something to play with. More chocolate inside please! It’s very smooth and melts in your mouth. It tastes strongly of coconut.
Real Good, Tomato Ketchup No Added Sugar, £2.40
Tastes nicer than normal type ketchup. I would have it again. It has bits in it, not as smooth - I like that as it shows it actually has tomatoes in it! Different, nicer. Thick, nice colour. I think the grown ups would like it too!
Smoothees, Orange, £3.00
The colour is great and I like the convenience. The texture is just as I like it but youd have to like ginger to enjoy this. I really enjoyed the ginger tingles.
Tesco Free From, 12 Double Chocolate Mini Muffins, £2.10
Nice cake, very spongy and not that crumbly. Good size, really soft, you get more than you think you get. Perfect amount of chocolate chunks inside: you don't want too many chunks as then you don't get enough enough cake. Nice texture diferentiation. Good size for kids eating out.
Tesco Free From, 20 Chicken Nuggets, £3.75
Great to have a veggie free from option and they taste pretty good too. Easy to eat and great for parties & snacking.
Great to have a veggie free from option and they taste pretty good too. Easy to eat and great for parties & snacking.
Tesco Free From, 4 Chocolate Cup Cakes, £2.30
Icing faces divide kids but the cake is good, rich and not like a free from cake. Most cupcakes are too sweet. Would not know to look at that it was free from. Dark chocolate and texture are both nice.
Tesco Free From, 5 Chocolate Coated Cake Slices, £2.30
Good, nice coating of milk chocolate which is not too thick. Tastes nice, not sickly, perfect for a snack as no mess as choc coating is keeping crumbs in. Individual wrapping is good. Allergen info is on the plastic wrapper. Brilliant! If you dish them out to kids they'll know the allergens.
Tesco Free From, Giant Choc Buttons, £1.50
Not too sweet not too bitter. A good texture, dusty. Nice, standard giant choc button. Good bite to it, nice sweet flavour, not sure what more I want from this, it delivers! There’s lots in the packet and the buttons look nice. They’re nice and smooth, they melt quite quickly and are pretty sweet. I like these.
One of our most celebrated categories. Innovation excites; who doesn’t love to make a new free from discovery and for brands genuine consumer lead innovation is crucial to their continuing success.
But innovation within free from isn’t always something brand spanking new to, sometimes it’s seemingly simple recipe changes (but trust us when we say these are seldom easy, and often very costly to apply) that make the biggest difference ….. think gluten free and milk free Chicken Kiev, a previous winner here.
Smoothees, Yellow, £3.00
Smells & tastes great leaving a strong & zingy aftertaste which I really enjoyed. A convenient format and great it can be frozen.
Healthfullicious'ly M'ylk, Creamy Plant Based Hemp Drink, £3.00
A creamy looking milk alternative with a delicate nutty flavour, rather pleasant and froths well too. Works well in a cup of tea and doesn't split, the hemp taste is quite strong!
Cheeky Nibble, Cherry Bakewell Granola, £5.99
Really lovely large clusters, with little specks of cherry. Delicious, really delivers on a nutty almond cherry Bakewell without using nuts! Behaves well in milk and doesn't break down, and also a wonderful nut free snack.
BFree, Naan Breads Stone Baked Original, £3.25
Really nice looking product with nice browning, and lovely kalonji seeds. Tastes authentically naan-like - seeds and char from flames lovely too. The look of the product is as close to the real deal as you'd expect with a gluten free bread.
Bay's Kitchen, Garlic Infused Vegan Mayonnaise, £3.95
Nice creaminess, colour, thick. The garlic is really nice, tang is delicious from the lemon/vinegar. Low Fodmap/IBS friendly a brilliant message for FF community. Versatile in the fact it can easily be made into a dressing too as well as condiment. I like the lighter texture of it - not too thick or gummy like other products on the market.
Foodhak, Spirulina Thai Green Curry, £6.25
Looks and tastes great - chunky veg, fresh and appetising flavour. Looks & tastes homemade.
Whitby Seafoods, Gluten Free Calamari, £3.49
Lovely golden colour & liked the variation in size. The batter texture on the outside is great & pleasing to see a first to market.
Field Doctor, Goan Fish Curry, £6.95
Contains tree nuts, mustard, fish. Get in touch if you’d like to know more. We use tree nuts in almost all our meals. Please note that our kitchen does handle celery, milk, fish, mustard, tree nuts, sesame, soy, and sulphites.
Looks really appetising, really delivers on flavour and texture, nice crunch in the rice from brazil nuts, fish cubes very soft and subtle. The first GF low FODMAP ready meal curry! Tastes absolutely brilliant. Fresh, balanced flavour. A delicious curry, clearly packed with excellent quality fresh ingredients and wonderful that it is FODMAP friendly which really is innovative.
MOR 50/50, Gourmet Beef with Red Pepper, £2.50
This is a VERY interesting product. Promoting meat reduction is a key initiative to drive improvement to the environment and our health. Nutritional profile is great. The value for money is good too. Nice peppery/sausage/chorizo type flavour, very soft.
MOR 50/50, Tex Mex Pork with Sweet Potato Patties, £2.50
Love the insight and proposition. Flavour is interesting and the heat is good - it slowly builds to a nice heat, spice coming through. Thrilled by the idea of 50/50, I love seeing the larger chunks of vegetables in this.
Fermenti, Raspberry & Coconut Bio Bites, £2.50
Fabulous punchy zingy raspberry taste on the mouth to start with and then coconut starts to come through. Cashew butter softens the palate at the end with some richness. I love these - a real sensory journey/taste adventure. Really innovative gut health snack that happens to be free from. As someone who tries to look after my gut health I would love to have this with my breakfast instead of my chewy tablet. Really good. I'd buy this.
Borough 22, Fried Gluten Free Vegan Custard Filled Doughnut, £4.50
I. Love. This. Product. Not many free from foods make me beam ear to ear and this one is top of the class. The texture is spot on with a delicious crispy shell and oodles of scrummy vegan custard. Brilliant! A significant achievement. Loads of filling which tasted wonderful. This is heaven in a donut!
Fungtn, Lion's Mane IPA Non-Alcoholic, £3.00
What a brilliant idea with mushrooms, topical and relevant in health. Great visual - golden, clear, clean. Good aroma - hoppy, balanced. Taste is excellent. Alcohol free is a huge tick, gluten free another great big tick. As a consumer of Lion's Mane products, I'm really pleased to see this in another category. Very inviting aroma; almost spicy in flavour. Peppery. Slight citrus lift but then quite bitter in the aftertaste. Mushroom aroma on nose but not on palate.
Voakes Free From, Breakfast Wrap, £3.40
Good portion size. Looks tasty and appealing. Homemade/handcrafted look which adds to appeal. Smells great and tastes even better! Good cheese, tangy, nice pork, generously filled. Really nice to see a savoury gluten free snack food, although there are LOADS of Cornish pasty and hot savoury pastry eaters who would love this for what it is - you'd never know it was GF.
We know only too well how desperate nut and peanut allergic consumers are for safe products, the joy of interrogating a label and seeing no ‘may contain’.
This category celebrates nut and peanut free foods, they obviously have to deliver on taste but equally important is the fact that manufacturers have taken extra precautions and gone that extra mile to produce safe nut and peanut free foods.
Heck, Simply Chicken Chipolatas, £3.10
Well named, a simple, straightforward, free from, chicken sausage alternative for those who avoid pork.
Sweet Freedom, Hazelnut Syrup, £3.30
None
No Top 14
None
Good consistency & colour with a very hazelnutty flavour ....to the point where you question is this really nut free?!
Healthfullicious'ly, Creamy Plant Based Hemp Drink, £3.00
None
No Top 14
None
A really versatile alternative that would be great for coffee, cereal & baking. Fantastic to have a milk alternative that is top 14 allergen free and with no pea!
The Doorstep Baker, Classic Sourdough Loaf, £4.00
An artisan nut & sesame free sourdough loaf is a total revelation. This fills a HUGE gap in the market and the quality is amazing. Proper sourdough crust - chewy and golden brown. Great ingredients, clearly made with expertise and love.
Cheeky Nibble, Vanilla Latte Granola, £5.99
Great coffee flavoured, almost cappuccino like, granola bites. It's so hard to find a nut free granola so this is a fab addition to the market and when the packaging was revealed I loved it even more!
Beam, Crispy Seed Based Bar Pineapple, £1.99
In terms of protein content great to see it packed with so many seeds and chickpeas, and to have a properly nut free cereal bar is SO good. Lovely fruity flavour too, and wonderful light texture.
Getbuzzing, Nut and Gluten Free High Protein Mint Chocolate Bar, £19.97 x 12
Hard to find nut free protein bars so really glad to see an option and the flavour was good with a slightly salty after-kick that’s rather nice, as was the texture. Very clear on pack claims and information, and no precautionary labels - definitely meets a need.
Creative Nature, Simply Spiced Carrot Cake Loaf Mix, £3
Very easy to bake, producing a lovely rustic-feel cake with a nice crunch to the edges. The flavour profile is lovely with pleasing spices. This doesn't feel like your average cake mix ..... it's better and is completely top 14 allergen free.
Co-op, Super Chocolatey Birthday Cake, £9.50
A nicely finished cake that would have broad appeal and with a clear nut free claim front of pack.
A small but perfectly formed category this year and one that put small, independent producers in the spotlight. If you’re looking to make a new free from discovery then take a look here!
Umami Chef, Sweet White Fava Bean Miso, £4.50
You can make it stronger or weaker very easily, with more or less water to taste. What you get is something mostly mild and, pleasant and warming. Can absolutely imagine sipping this whilst curled up, in place of a hot caffeine drink, coffee, tea, other. Soya-free is clearly a plus whilst delivering a miso flavour.
Borough 22, Fried Gluten-Free Vegan Cinnamon Sugared Ring Doughnut, £4.50
These look amazing and are a wonderful golden brown with a generous sugar coating; you just want to dive right in .... and you're certainly not disappointed when you do!
Mademoiselle Macaron, Classic Gift Box, £12.00
Pretty and colourful, just like macarons should be. A nice crisp shell and generous filling with a nice chewy finish. The presentation box is very pretty and makes this product highly giftable ..... a good option for gluten free friends & family!
Nicci's Yard, Luxury Gluten Free Caramelised Moonshine Pecan Pudding & Sticky Caramel Sauce, £8.00
Looks beautiful with a generous topping of pecans. It's inviting & delicious with a pleasing combination of sugar, cocoa, spice and vanilla. A joy to eat delivering a classic formula to a gluten free recipe exceptionally well.
Nicci's Yard, Luxury Gluten Free Cachaça Wild Black Cherry & Macadamia Nut Brownie, £5.00
These look beautiful, and the combination of crunchy macadamia, rich and fudgy brownie sponge and strong sour cherry flavour is just gorgeous. Yes, these may only be gluten free BUT what a delicious example of an exceptionally well-executed product.
For any type of product making a keto claim or formulated to be suitable for the ketogenic diet, with or without a keto claim being made. This dedicated category ensures that keto products were considered alongside other keto products only and by a judging panel familiar with keto. Entries are also free from at least one of the 14 major allergens.
SRSLY, Low Carb Wraps, £3.99
Visually these present very well with an attractive colour. Texture is soft and these perform well as a wrap.
Keto Chef, Konjac Rice, £2.99
Quite bland in flavour but would be a good base for a curry or stir fry. As opposed to pure konjac noodles, the addition of oat fibre gives it a welcome bite.
Dillon Organic, Keto Bread Chia Flax, £4.99
A clever formulation to enable a great tasting, highly functional keto bread. Having the caraway seeds on the crust gives this a lovely interesting studded appearance and you get lovely little hints of sourness from the apple cider vinegar, backed up with savoury caraway seed goodness.
Keto8, Vegan Sesame Bagels, £7.25
The sesame sprinkles on the top bring this to life, it looks lively and inviting, waiting for you to add your cream cheese and salmon. Simple and mild, absolutely suitable as a vehicle to 'carry' whatever you are going to spread or layer onto your bagel.
Freja, Beef Bone Broth, £6.99
Mild in flavour like most bone broths, will serve its functional purpose of highly digestible protein well. The packaging format, being re-sealable is a real plus.
Keto Chef, Mapo Tofu Noodles, £3.99
They have worked hard to bring strong flavours to this: the chilli, garlic, sesame oil and black bean sauce are really good.
Acti-Snack, Keto Granola Dark Choc Almond, £5.80
Looks delicious. It has good chocolatey flavour but not too strong. The combination of nuts and toasted coconut creates a lovely texture and crunch. A seriously crispy granola.
Yummzy Desserts, Coconutzy, £3.66
A classic, safe & reliable keto combo of erythritol and stevia to deliver a well balanced sweetness. This looks and tastes like a treat. A great option for keto coconut lovers.
Yummzy Desserts, Bery Lemony, £6
Exemplary keto baking. A lovely textured cupcake with a flourish of lemon infused cream topping.
As light and fluffy as a keto friendly bake gets, really well done, lovely!
Yummzy Desserts, Hazelnutty Heart, £6.70
Visually a very attractive cake. The quality and lightness of the sponge is excellent and the surprise centre is a lovely and unexpected touch.
From sausages & burgers to pies, fishcakes & breaded chicken. Here we saw many family favourites that thanks to considered development are now free from key allergens.
Heck, Meat-Free Chipolatas, £2
Good value with a pleasant flavour benefitting from a herby seasoning.
Tesco Plant Chef, 6 Cumberland-Style Bangers, £2.15
Visually these look great, a nice thick sausage with a good colour and visible flecks. Herby aroma which comes through on eating.
Meatless Farm, 2 Plant-Based Chicken Breasts, £3.50
Nice outer texture when fried. Chops very well to give a useful diced chicken alternative. Great to see a soya free meat alternative.
Asda Free From, Cheese & Potato Pie, £2.45
This feels a little different for free from and I like it. Think cheese & potato pasty filling but in a pastry case.
M&S Made Without, Gluten Free 9 Cod Fish Fingers, £3.75
Posh fish fingers, what's not to love! Good crumb, nice colour and thickness, nice flakiness to the fish and there is a lot of it in every bite, really very good.
Aldi, Tempura Haddock Goujons, £2.79
A nice light golden crisp outer with a mild bubbly appearance from the tempura. The batter is light and really crispy. The fish is very good with a pleasing soft flake.
Whitby Seafoods, Gluten Free Wholetail Scampi, £3.75
What a nostalgic product and it doesn't disappoint. Great size, colour & shape; each piece with a lovely crisp outer coating, well-seasoned and with a real piece of scampi inside, thoroughly enjoyable.
Sainsburys Taste The Difference, Free From 2 Smoked Haddock Fishcakes Melt in the Middle, £3.00
A well-sized fishcake with a lovely crumb. Lots of fish and not too potato-heavy. The smoky flavour notes really come through and the melt in the middle sauce is lovely & creamy. A very pleasant product regardless of whether you are gluten free.
Co-op, British Tempura Chicken Mini Fillets, £3.65
A nice golden crumb with a light crisp batter. Soft chicken with a good texture. Would be nice with a katsu sauce.
Tesco Free From, 2 Garlic Chicken Kievs, £3.15
A classic developed to free from perfection, a lovely crumb with a great ooze of garlic butter when cut. Top 14 allergens free with a short and almost fully clean ingredient deck.
Tesco Free From, 4 Southern Fried Chicken Steaks, £4.05
A family favourite. Nice crispy, golden coloured crumb with flecks of black pepper.
Veg oot, Free From Haggis, Neep & Tattie Pie, £3.75
Strong visual with golden potato and a defined crust.
MOR 50/50, Gourmet Beef with Red Pepper, £2.50
A great option, reducing meat consumption but without ANY compromise. These have a great texture and flavour, the pepper and smoked paprika give a lovely smokiness. A brilliant product to encourage more veg intake and meat reduction. A great price, gluten free and no may contains or nuts, wonderful!
MOR 50/50, Tex Mex Pork with Sweet Potato, £2.50
Very soft texture patty with a nicely spiced jalapeno kick.
Co-op Irresistible, Hereford Beef, Beef Rib & Brisket Burger, £4.25
A very good burger with a soft, more fatty texture and a nice peppery smokeyness. The smoked black pepper is genius.
Asda, 4 Succulent Quarter Pounder Beef Burgers, £3.50
A nostalgic burger that's good value, a BBQ staple.
Waitrose No.1, Free Range 6 Farmhouse Pork Sausages, £4.50
These looked great when cooked with a lovely colour. Great flavour and the casing had a pleasant texture. A really enjoyable sausage and one that will shine as it is ..... perfect for the BBQ season.
Asda Extra Special, 6 Cumberland Pork Sausages, £2.80
Good value. A crisp casing and a peppery flavour.
Aldi Specially Selected, 6 Scottish Pork & Bramley Apple Sausages, £2.19
A firmer textured sausage with bursts of fruity flavour.
Tesco finest*, 6 Pork & Bramley Apple Sausages, £3.00
Well-sized and not fatty. There is a nice sweetness from the apple and some really rather pleasant spice notes coming through. A good sausage and a good price.
Co-op Irresistible, Classically Seasoned 6 Pork Sausages, £3.85
Nice flavour, what you would call a classic sausage, liked that it was not too peppery or herby.
An interesting category and one we’d like to become a ‘go-to’ when looking for food to go inspiration…..although the category is wider than just this, including meal accompaniments too.
Asda Free From, Chow Mein Rice Noodle Pot, £1.35
It's time to reassess pot noodle style products! Quick and simple to prepare in 3 mins and so damn tasty. A little messy to eat but it's good and for the price it's amazing!
Helios, Organic Corn, Rice & Chickpea CousCous, £3.33
It was fluffy, the grains were not stuck together. A good basic that like any couscous will need pimping up!
Asda, Tomato & Basil Soup, £1.65
Nice colour, fiery red with really tomatoey and earthy flavour.
Tesco Free From, Falafel Mix, £1.80
A good visual and the colour & texture were surprisingly good. Packs a punch at the end with the chilli. Love that this is so free from as I struggle to find a safe option; this is a great & convenient solution.
Tesco, Smoky Butternut & Bean Casserole, £1.60
A good visual for an ambient product of this nature, chunky & colourful with beans & butternut squash. Liked the slightly sweet taste and the veg and beans held up well.
Quinola, Champagne Region Green Lentils, £2.00
A good & convenient offer. The lentils were well cooked and had a good flavour and texture (not clumped) and strong bayleaf comes through.
Tesco Plant Chef, Coleslaw, £1.05
I love coleslaw and would usually make it with egg but this is good (although it does have a may contain for egg). Good flavour and mouthfeel and for a plant based product the colour is good.
Bannisters, 4 Hasselback Baked Potatoes, £2.50
Great to see British credentials and nice to see rapeseed oil and clear ingredients. The Hasselback finish is a nice touch. Good crisp finish for the convenience of being able to cook in the microwave for 3 minutes.
Cherub, Yorkshire Puddings (4 Pack), £3.99
Diddy little things, very cute looking and with a neat & deep hole, great for filling. Lovely colour on the outside and they have a great crunch.
Tideford Organics, Moroccan Spiced Chickpea Soup, £3.50
More Indian than Moroccan in profile but very nice, almost daal-like. A really good flavour with a nice smokiness with a good, thick texture. Infinitely more interesting than most other soups.
Marks & Spencer Made Without, Cheddar Cheese New Yorker, £3.75
Very good, you'd be hard pushed to know this was free from and for a sandwich this says a LOT! Really pleasing visual, feels as though real thought has been given to this with the variety & colour of the fillings. Nice punch of cheese with the pickle and leaf adding a lovely crunch. Eats very well.
Marks & Spencer Made Without, 4 Vegetable Samosas, £2.90
Very nice to see, a most welcome addition to free from & guaranteed to be a real crowd pleaser. A great tasting samosa, the filling has a great hit with a nice range of spices and there is a pleasing crispness to the outer.
This category focused on convenience, meal solutions that require no preparation - simply heat & serve, invaluable when you simply don’t have the time or inclination to cook.
Lazy Vegan, Pasta al Pesto - Meal for 1, £3.40
Easy to pan fry or microwave, beautiful dollops of frozen pesto sauce that thaw and heat up to coat the veg and bring the pasta to a lovely al dente point. Veg nice and crunchy and textured (not over-cooked). Looks appetising and visually appealing and varied. Soy free! No major allergens.
Field Doctor, Sweet Potato and Spinach Korma, £6.95
Contains tree nuts, mustard, fish. Get in touch if you’d like to know more. We use tree nuts in almost all our meals. Please note that our kitchen does handle celery, milk, fish, mustard, tree nuts, sesame, soy, and sulphites.
Visually really nice saucy curry, nice mixed grains, carrot, aubergine, spinach, potato. Very nutritious, serves a purpose and I would most definitely buy them regularly. Lots of flavour, especially remembering there is no onion or garlic in them. The rice-quinoa has a nice alternative texture.
Foodhak, Spirulina Thai Green Curry, £6.25
A deliciously dark green dish. Perfect amount of spice and vegetables, enticing aromas with tastes to match. A feel-good food. Good for allergens too.
Foodhak, Ayurvedic Keralan Curry, £6.25
Surprisingly creamy, a super convenient supper, with lovely gentle authentic Keralan flavours.
Tesco Plant Chef, Mexican Style No-Chicken Tray Bake, £4.00
This represents a generous portion. The texture of the meat alternative is very good, it felt and looked like chicken. The sauce had a real kick too - this delivers the Mexican vibe!
Tesco Plant Chef, Italian Style No-Meatball Tray Bake, £4.00
Well textured for vegan meatballs and the flavour of the sauce is very good with nice chunks of veg & well balanced spices.
Tesco Free From, Chicken & King Prawn Paella, £3.00
A good value option. Looks appetising and offers an enticing aroma. The flavour is subtle but pleasant with a slight kick. Good portion size.
Field Doctor, Teriyaki Salmon and Wholegrain Rice, £6.95
Contains tree nuts, mustard, fish. Get in touch if you’d like to know more. We use tree nuts in almost all our meals. Please note that our kitchen does handle celery, milk, fish, mustard, tree nuts, sesame, soy, and sulphites.
A nice looking dish, love the colours and aroma. A really good use of grains and ingredients & FODMAP friendly.
Made Without, Gluten Free Beef Lasagne, £4
The pasta has a great texture with a good chew. Nice flavoured sauce with a well balanced meat to sauce ratio and well seasoned.
Après, Organic Slow-Cooked Beef Bourguignon, £6.95
Very good beef - just falls apart and really tender - good gravy with it as well and love the addition of the lardons too as slightly crispy. Loved the caramelisation of the sauce and potato - didn't think this was possible with microwave meals. Lovely combination of ingredients. Nicely seasoned. Very clean ingredients, love it that it's organic too.
With more meal subscription services becoming available we’re starting to see many cater to the free from and allergic consumer in some way. A small category for this year with some subscription services opting to enter individual products, however one that is set to grow over the coming years.
Foodhak / Curated meal plans
The process of choosing meals suitable for my family's diets was really simple. Each product has full ingredients listed including spices and flavourings named individually. I also like the fact you can choose your dishes depending on your health e.g. cholesterol, blood pressure. Preparation is super quick and simple. Overall ordering experience was very easy with clear allergen labelling ingredients/ nutritional information. Key health benefits associated to each meal.
New for 2023, ready to cook meals kits that supply the raw and/or ambient ingredients for you to cook up a free from fakeaway …. and there are more options out there than you may think from Vietnamese to Curry.
Asda Free From, Free From Katsu Curry Meal Kit, £2.50
We all agreed the flavour was delicious and family friendly so suitable for younger palates too. A really great idea to take away on a self catering holiday too where you just need to get coconut milk, chicken and microwave rice for a quick and easy to make meal.
Asda Free From, Free From Korma Meal Kit, £2.50
Plenty of sauce to cater for a family of 4. We loved the addition of toasted desiccated coconut as a garnish to the dish, it made the meal feel more restaurant authentic. Delicately spiced and deliciously creamy. Ideal for families and taking on holiday. Completely top 14 allergens free which is amazing, and no may contains for nuts!
Good Its Gluten Free, Hoisin Wrap Kit, 3.49
Packaging looks really good. Clear free from labelling. Great that component parts are labelled separately and packaged / sealed separately so you can use them separately if needed. Tasty sauce, wraps substanital and retain heat from the chicken to give a nice flexibility
Phomo, Phở Bo Tái - Beef Pho, £9.95
Fish (Anchovy), Soy
The online purchase was simple with all allergens clearly marked. Love that everything comes in the box; no need to buy extra ingredients; good value for money (even includes chopsticks!). As a person who has a severe nut and sesame allergy this was my first time being able to try Vietnamese food!
Phomo, Phở gà - Chicken Pho, £9.95
Overall experience of ordering was relatively easy with allergens clearly labelled, portion sizes were very good too.
Tastesmiths, 8 fresh kits (mixed), £3.95
There is definitely a reason why they are called Tastesmiths. Each kit is filled with excellent quality ingredients. The presentation overall gives a high quality feel to it and everyone loves the coconut is wrapped in a little parcel with a bow - it's the little details.
Pasta has long been a free from household staple and pizza, for many, isn’t far behind. It seems that everyone likes Pasta or Pizza and there are some great products out there for all occasions from midweek suppers to a special ‘date night’.
And what we did see this year is that brands are recognising the value in a gluten free but non vegan pizza!
Asda Free From, Fusilli, £1.00
Holds its shape well when cooked and it has a good texture. A versatile carrier that's great value for money.
Co-op Free From, Spaghetti, £1.45
Gluten Free, Egg Free
No Top 14
None
A very good & accessible spaghetti, top 14 allergens free with great spaghetti texture and it holds together really well. This would be a super carrier for most sauces.
Asda Free From, Lasagne Sheets, £1.00
A free from essential that does exactly what you need it to.
Wicked Kitchen, Spinach & Wild Garlic Ravioli, £2.50
A stand-out product, the filling is plentiful & delicious, actually tasting like wild garlic. A fantastic option to elevate your mid-week supper game.
White Rabbit, Mozzarella Master, £5
Does what it says on the box .... one for the cheese lover with a plentiful cheese topping on a good base. Huge kudos for catering to the gluten free market who can eat cheese.
Libbys, Say Cheese - Gluten Free Pizza, £10.00
A great looking artisanal product. Nice crispy base, a very good tomato sauce and a good cheese flavour. A pizza classic delivered well. (Contains deglutenised wheat starch so will not be for everyone).
Tesco Plant Chef, Mushroom Pizza, £3.15
A standard staple pizza base with a layer of vegan cheese, good for those avoiding milk.
Dou_h @ Home, Authentic Italian Gluten Free Pizza, £19.99
This delivers the pizza take-out experience and it's executed very well. For the price you will receive 2 x half baked handmade Italian Caputo gluten-free flour bases, your choice of pizza sauce and then four toppings of your choice, from an extensive list, which come in separate pots! You really can please everyone with the one purchase!
Savoury snacking is so much more than a few crisps ….. and if you don’t believe us just take a look at the array of products below.
Tesco Free From, Bacon Rashers, £1.05
These delivered a really good bacon flavour considering they're vegan. Super crunchy with a pleasant texture and not too salty. Great value for money for the size of pack too. Great that they are free from all top 14 allergens and the ingredients list is very simple. I found myself going back for more .... like a better version of a Wotsit!
Lovegrass Ethiopia, Teff Puffs Hot & Spicy, £1.00
Really nice Wotsit-like texture with a good crunch but not too firm. Spice level builds from initial flavour to quite a dry heat at the back of your throat. Great story, unique ingredient list and great USPs. Such a great nutritional breakdown making this a really healthy snack.
Mister Free'd, Tortilla Chips Blue Maize, £2.20
Delicious. I love the colour, the crunch is equally appealing and the flavour is great. The salt of the tortilla chips would be perfectly balanced with salsa or guacamole. A well-structured chip that stands up well to dipping. Simple ingredients list which is awesome to see.
Asda Free From, Nacho Cheese Flavour Tortilla Chips, £0.80
Great crunch and for a 'nacho cheese' the flavour is bang on. Price and value seems fair and to those who like cheesy things I'm sure these would be a hit.
SHORE, Smoky Barbecue Seaweed Chips, £1.15
Not a very strong BBQ flavour but very moorish and tasty; as a fan of seaweed crisps these are delicious regardless. The texture and shape of the crisps (great for scooping) is really nice and they have a very pleasant crunch.
Nudie Snacks, Cauliflower Crisps Katsu Curry, £2.25
A great & innovative product that does exactly what it says on the packet. A good crisp bite and a really good katsu flavour with just a subtle note of cauliflower in the background. Very tasty .... elevating the snacking game from a mindless filler to a snack that's a real treat to enjoy.
Riddim, Scotch Bonnet Chedduh Plantain Chips, £2.25
Delicious, and surprisingly good, this one exceeded expectations. Great crunch & the spice is at the right level, with the chilli heat slowly building. These are delicious and will appeal to a wide audience. The cheese flavour leads, these are super moreish, lovely texture and crunch and I find myself keeping coming back for more!
Co-op Irresistible, Hand Cooked Sea Salt & Chardonnay Wine Vinegar Crisps, £1.75
Great crunch and thickness with a well balanced flavour. One for the salt & vinegar fans - lovely flavour with a nice strong vinegar presence and not too salty. A sophisticated crisp.
Puglia Sapori, Foralle Gluten Free Tarallini al Finochietto, £2.29
These surprised and in a good, a very good way. Really really nice crunch and flavour - love how the fennel flavour pops towards the end of the bite. Love the unique shape and style too. A proper bar snack - perfect to accompany an aperitivo.
Asda Free From, 13 Slightly Salted Rice Cakes, £0.85
Texture is nice, a little crunch but not overly salty. Can see this being a good vehicle for topping.
Seggiano, Gluten Free Buckwheat Organic Digestive Biscuits, £4.60
Visually they look quite artisanal and have a good crunch. Almond flavour comes through and overall a complex and interesting eat. Ingredients list very good & clean - love that they're authentic and Italian - made in Puglia.
Voakes Free From, Traditional Pasty, £2.95
Pastry holds together very well, no insecurity of eat! Great amount of filling amount that looks very appealing on cutting. Flavours very authentic and delicious. As a consumer I don't think I can fault this. Excellent pastry, crisp & flaky, as a gluten free pastry this is really excellent.
Asda Free From, Singapore Curry Rice Noodle Pot, £1.35
Great authentic flavour which comes through clearly. I love the fact that this is an instant noodle dish that is not too salty, feels 'natural' and 'healthier' without the allergens. Authentic & stands out relative to other pot noodles. Not usually a fan of instant noodle pots however this one I could see myself picking up!
Who doesn’t need a sweet treat from time to time and there are some great products out there that address an array of occasions, from sharing bags to enjoy at the cinema to a post gym treat.
Asda OMV!, 4 Chocolate Orange Crispy Slices, £2.00
These look great and offer a good indulgent eat
Asda Free From, 5 Flapjack Slices, £1.80
A nice product and good portion size. Good value for money and good to have a gluten and dairy free product the whole family will enjoy.
M&S Made Without, Rocky Road Pieces, £2
Dairy Free
No Top 14
May Contain Nuts, May Contain Peanuts. Not suitable for those with a Nut and Peanut allergy.
Fun & delicious, deconstructed Rocky Road. I really like the concept of this as a Revels occasion. Fun and interesting and appealing to adults and kids alike. Feels like a generous amount of product for a sharing bag . A real crowdpleaser.
Popcorn Kitchen, Cherry Bakewell, £1.49
Nice flavour profile, cherry and frangipane flavours both come through and good visual. Great to have nice big pieces.
Asda Free From, 6 Milk Chocolate Rice Cakes, £0.85
Another family favourite that does what it says on the tin - nice Belgian chocolate and there's plenty of it.
Asda, Cocoa Rice Cakes, £1.10
An interesting product in that it's not a coated rice cake but still tastes and smells chocolatey. Visually quite appealing with an aroma not dissimilar to coco pops. Tastes sweet but as a semi-healthy family snack, it will tick lots of boxes.
The Fine Cookie Co., Rainbow Nation Gluten Free, £2.00 - £2.35
A jolly cheerful cookie... Smartie style cookies are always a favourite, they are ageless!
Asda Free From, 5 Wafer Snap Chocolate Bars, £1.60
A great KitKat alternative. Nobody need miss out at tea time or parties with this gluten free chocolate wafer alternative. There is a good thick layer of premium Belgian chocolate!
Asda Free From, 5 Belgian Chocolate Twin Wafer Bars, £1.80
A well sized pair of bars that look appealing; the bubbled centre adds to interest and texture and added chocolateyness.
Nature's Heart, Dark Chocolate Goldenberries, £2.70
A lovely combination, more bitter than sweet but a luxurious treat nonetheless. A great after dinner sweet treat & more permissable than a dessert or chocolate.
Bounce, Choc Coated Caramel Filled Protein Ball - Millionaire, £1.80 - £2.00
This has more of a chocolate truffle consistency which I quite liked. It's rather indulgent and feels like a lovely treat which those loving their protein bars will I'm sure enjoy.
Butterm!lk, Peanut Nougat Choccy Bar, £1.50
I really enjoyed this. Wouldn't have assumed it was a plant based bar had I not read the entry form. It's sweet and would compare well with a Snickers so a huge bonus for the gluten & milk free consumer.
Asda Free From, Vanilla Flavour Ice Cream, £2.20
As a dairy alternative ice cream, this hits the spot. Texture and colour are on a par with a main category ice cream, achieving this texture milk free commendable. A great everyday product.
Recognising all those 'better for you' snacking options on the market for the free from and allergic consumer who is looking beyond the immediate fix to a HFSS-compliant free from snack, one that will satisfy taste buds and nutritionally-positive cravings!
This category welcomes both savoury and sweet snack entries.
Tobia Teff, Organic Teff Meksess Snack-Bars, £3.10
Wonderfully simple, and real, nutrient-dense ingredients.
Nudie Snacks, Roasted Lentils Sea Salt & Black Pepper, £0.99
Crispy, crunchy, a little oily, nice nutty flavour, black pepper forward (catches in throat a little), quite moreish and easy to eat. Simple, healthy ingredients with no unnecessary additions. A wonderfully high protein and fibre snack with low sugar levels. An ideal healthier alternative to potato crisps, and many of the other supposedly healthy snacks on the market.
Biotiful, Oat Kefir Drink Strawberry, £1.85
Would be good for beginners into kefir, a starter product to work your way to stronger flavoured/more lactic fermented products. A fantastic range of probiotic, gluten free, milk free, no additional may contains is also great. The additional vitamins and calcium is great for a dairy free product. Has a strong strawberry yoghurt / fromage frais smell which is pleasant to drink and felt nourishing.
Tesco Free From, Caramel Rice Cakes, £1.10
A nice simple product, good price point and a go to store cupboard snack product, the flavour and crunch is great and size is good. Always good to see a rice cake using brown rice rather than white from a fibre perspective. The brown rice gives a slightly stronger rice flavour which is pleasant.
Fermenti, Raspberry and Coconut Bio Bites, £ 2.50
This product is a great bit of innovation: the colour of the product is really vibrant and eye catching. The combination of the freeze dried fruit and nut butter works very well. Unlike other products on the market, the ingredients are natural and will appeal to health conscious customers. It doesn't feel very free from (even though it is!!). Great to see a probiotic food in such a snackable format.
Tesco, Protein Bites Almond & Raspberry Nutty Balls, £1.00
I liked the size and quantity of the product in the pack. The bites have a healthy appearance and there is a pleasant crunch inside the soft bites.
Beam, Crispy Seed Based Bar Blueberry Lemon, £1.99
Colourful looking bar with good texture - a mix of chewy and crisp. Flavours come through well and it's a good price point. Nice to see chickpea used in a bar, good claims and nutritionals. Very different shapes, colours and textures that you could see immediately - well-combined and vibrant. The citrus aroma of the product was distinct. Being free from the top 14 allergens this will be a good addition to the cereal bar market.
Nairn's, Gluten Free Honey Crunchy Oat Bars, £2.70
Gluten free whole grain oats is great and not always the case for products containing oats. I enjoyed the salty, malty nature of this product and thought that the product looked attractive and was of a good serving size. Great fibre content, good protein, content and ideal ingredients for a gluten-free version of a very popular snack bar.
Healthfullicious'ly, Cocoly, £8.00
Attractive in size and shape. The chocolate was well distributed and pleasing that the ingredients are natural.
Nairn's, Gluten Free Raisin, Apple & Cinnamon Crunchy Oat Bars, £2.70
Good crunch and texture, great flavour and nice pieces to chew. Almost buttery. Good price and a good tea dunker! The cinnamon was present without being overpowering and the raisins were well distributed. It is good that this gluten-free product os also nut-free. High in sugar, but fibre and protein levels are good and this is a popular flavour combo.
Healthfullicious'ly, Morning Flapjack, £8.00
A nice looking & well sized bar. Good use of ingredients & love the use of hemp
Nairn's, Gluten Free Belgian Chocolate Chunk Crunchy Oat Bars, £2.70
A good golden texture and the dark chocolate chips, which were generous in number really added to the flavour profile. Despite the 50% less sugar this would still stand as sweet treat and would make a great option when looking for an on the go snack.
Karu, Cacao Cashews, £3.75
These feel like a dark roasted indulgent treat, lovely and not too sweet with a subtle salty flavour. Nice indulgent snack with some permissible health associated with it. Initially tasting slightly bitter, but after eating a few they are moreish!
Healthfullicious'ly, Wake Crunch, £8.00
Visually nice with lots of variation in seeds, nuts, fruit. Not too sweet. Nutty, hempy, cranberries add tang and sweetness, nice crunchy pieces, mild sweet nutty aftertaste. Great to see hemp used to increase fibre and protein content. Very enjoyable, easy to eat and delicious.
This category has been part of the awards since 2010 and every year we welcome not only a diverse range of entries but many new products ….. and not surprisingly we always have many willing judges especially since we have started pairing this category with Savoury Snacks! This year's entries were felt to offer a very good representation of the gluten free beer market reflected here with something for every palate.
Skinny, Premium Lager, £15.00
Pours light amber with a small head. A sweet, appealing lager that's chilled. Crisp and easy to drink. Perfect for low carb, low calorie drinking.
Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Gluten Free, £6.50
Does exactly what it says on the tin; Crisp taste with a slightly hoppy, subtle citrus aromatic notes. Light body with a clean and fast finish. A good clean lager.
Daura Damm, Gluten-Free Lager Beer, £6.50
Nice fizziness, quite bold on the spice / citrus front. Good depth of flavour and body with a nice lingering bitter aftertaste. Fine bubbles. Nice short-lived bitter finish. A good solid lager with a nice balance and a decent ABV. A little green apple to the taste with warming, bitter aftertaste.
Hepworth, Sussex Premium Lager, £2.00
Crisp, delicious and surprisingly full bodied for a lower ABV. Really nice company credentials too with a focus on local ingredients and sustainability. Has a delicate dry finish that doesn't linger. Large bubbles. Fresh hops to the fore on the aroma. Soft, gentle flavour.
Kirkstall, Pilsner Unfiltered Lager, £2.29
Light straw coloured with a fine head. Gentle citrus aroma. Smooth, with a gentle, well-rounded soft floral flavour. Light malts & a nice bitter finish, quite long lasting. A classic example of a Pilsner and perfect for Summer.
Gun Brewery, Gun Control Table Beer, £2.35
Surprising dark copper colour. Nose - floral, caramel, pine. A bit like a floral brown ale. This beer is a triumph! Really delicious flavour, super drinkable - could see myself enjoying a whole can and at 2.5% ABV - why not! Tastes way stronger than it is.
Gun Brewery, Scaramanga Extra Pale, £2.35
Lovely light straw colour with a good carbonation. Small head. Floral aroma with a zesty lemon flavour. Fruity sweets. Refreshing, with a nice bitter finish. Well rounded and pleasant.
North Pier Brew Co., Dreamcatcher Gluten Free Pale Ale, £4.15
A lovely honeyed Pale Ale with a delicate floral aroma, fruity flavour and gentle bitterness. A great session beer.
Butcombe Brewing Co. Stateside Session, IPA, £1.99
Quite a traditional British IPA. A nice, bright flavourful IPA with more than a nod to the US. Really tasty full bodied beer - great depth of flavour, nice slightly caramel colouring, with a taste that lingers on the tongue! Malt bitterness to the nose and initial bitterness & citrus note to taste. Packed with depth of flavour with burnt caramel and late hops. Good body & satisfying, long-lasting aftertaste. Great example of a sessionable IPA
Kirkstall, Virtuous Aromatic Session IPA, £1.99
Good body and complexity while still being refreshing and sessionable. Really light and crisp yet full bodied. Love the fruitiness - the grapefruit tartness really complimenting the hops. Nice level of carbonation, packed with flavour. Super delicious beer! Bitter hops, biscuit, grapefruit zest. You can taste the malts too. A lovely, zesty session IPA that won't disappoint.
Kirkstall, Spokane West Coast IPA, £2.79
Love the grapefruit and mandarin flavours balanced with the pine. Fruity, bursting with floral and fruity flavours. Love the citrus notes however for my tastes a little too heavy on the pine. Really nice mouth feel and good carbonation too - flavour lingers for a lasting time which is also very nice. Great beer! Good West Coast IPA, true to type.
Bellfield Mega City, IPA, £2.55
Pale gold in colour with a slight haze. Fine head with good lacing. Delicate fruity aroma. Feels creamy and smooth in mouth. Packed with flavour; bready, bitter, grapefruit, complex. There's a nice robust bitterness and rich fruity hops with a very long finish.
A small but perfectly formed category where we welcomed some more unusual drinks that offer unique health and lifestyle benefits as well as some lower alcohol options.
Tesco, Low Alcohol Sauvignon Blanc, £3.50
Smells & looks like wine with a pleasant apply taste. Lacking complexity but very drinkable and a great price.
Holland & Barrett, Apple, Cucumber & Mint Flavour Glow Kombucha, £1.80
A delicate & refreshing drink with a very clean, fresh, inviting aroma with a light mint & cucumber flavours. One to enjoy with an accompaniment rather than a stand alone drink.
Holland & Barrett, Mango & Yuzu Flavour Energy Kombucha, £1.80
A lovely flavour match, mango and yuzu. A punchy aroma with a flavour reminiscent of tinned peaches. More iced tea than kombucha but a refreshing drink nonetheless.
Holland & Barrett, Pineapple & Ginger Flavour Focus Kombucha, £1.80
A slight dryness and good light kick from the ginger. Tastes like a light kombucha. A refreshing drink with a flavour combination that really works.
Some of the most exciting and innovative developments in the drinks space are in Low & No so not surprisingly this was once again a popular choice. We loved the diversity of entries here, from pre-mixed non-alcoholic cocktails to non-alcoholic wines and beers. With a shortlist like this they won’t need to be arguing about who will drive home from all those Summer BBQs!
Free Damm, Lager Beer 0.0%, £10.00
Pours light and gold with a small frothy head. Light malty aroma with some hop. Taste is sweet with a light bitter finish. Clean & refreshing with a nice carbonation. This absolutely delivers what it says on the bottle. An excellent 0.0% lager and one I would very happily drink in this space.
Free Damm Tostada, Amber Lager Beer, £4.00
Amber gold in colour with a thin white head. Aroma is all malt - caramel, coffee & sweet grain
Havabier, Pale Ale, £2.00
Lovely zesty grapefruit aroma and a complex taste. The grapefruit flavours come through with a balanced citrus/sour, lightly sweet fruitiness that is very pleasant, with a bitterness that lingers in a good way. The nootropic element is very interesting. Really refreshing.
Ticket, Saffron Infused Alcohol Free Pale Ale, £2.50
Brave & quite original. Lovely light gold in colour with energetic carbonation. Good bitterness and long citrus finish. I like the fact this beer is brewed with whole ingredients. The flavour combination won't be attractive to all but the saffron element is flagged on the bottle although there is no mention of lavender!
Mavrik Drinks, Aromatic G&T, £9.75 pack of 4 cans
An enjoyable drink with a fresh clean aroma, nicely sparkling with a delicate refreshing, clean tasting, flavour.
Citizen Spritz, Bitter Orange Alcohol-Free, £20.00
A bold bitter flavour, more bitter than bitter sweet. Would be refreshing on a hot day. The sweet rhubarb notes come through strongly. Could work well with a non-alcoholic Prosecco.
Mavrik Non-Alcoholic Cocktails, Cuban Mojito, £9.75
A delicious refreshing Mojito. It smells great - zesty lime and fresh mint. Fabulous initial taste which mimics the rum, then the layers of the mint and the lime. Doesn’t taste overly sweet or sugary.
Myth, Coconut White Cane Spirit, £19.99
This offers enticing coconut aromas and a natural refreshing tropical taste. Slightly sweet but not overly so. It feels fun, vibrant and exciting, a drink to elevate your vibe. A product that would help alcohol free sceptics to reassess their opinion of the sector.
Pure Vision Zero, Alcohol Free Sparkling, £15
Fabulous pale straw colour and lovely small bubbles which are very authentic looking. Lovely crisp appley taste although a little tart. A great option for a celebratory occasion.
Tesco, Low Alcohol Sparkling White Wine, £3.50
Sweet and very appley in flavour. This would be a good non-alcoholic alternative to an Asti. Pleasant, very drinkable and an excellent price.
Pure Vision, Chardonnay 2021, £14
This non-alcoholic Chardonnay has a lovely acidity and dryness with notes of apple. It has a good tingling on the tongue that replicates that feeling of alcohol. A very tasty, well balanced white wine.
Pure Vision, Shiraz 2021, £14.00
Possibly the best non-alcoholic red wine tasted to date. A real advancement in this space with good tannins, great flavour and surprising complexity for a non-alc red. Plum coloured, full bodied & complex; jammy and a little spicy with notes of cranberry, hints of blackcurrant and some drying tannin. Lightly spiced and very drinkable.
This category focused on all year round gifting occasions from a thank you gift to birthdays and Valentine’s. Presentation counts when gifting so this is one of the few categories that was not judged blind, we like our judges to immerse themselves in the full experience and they certainly did! Every entry was discussed at length, with judges considering quality and free from credentials along with the visual appeal of the product and the packaging.
The Celebration Pie Company, Personalised Gluten Free Pork Pie, £35
Visually this is epic! The colour of the pastry is optimally baked and it slices well. The flavour is very good and not overly salty. The gluten free pastry really works, it holds the pie very well. Not too dry, malleable & moist. A 'made for you' gift that is sure to impress.
Forest Feast, Salted Dark Chocolate Almonds, £5.00
Nice little box, makes a lovely small offering. The packaging feels gift worthy for the price point. I like the inner paper wrap around the flow wrap. Chocolate, salt and almonds are flavourful and balanced well, I can taste all elements of these.
Chocolate Moments, Bar of Crisps Trio Gift Set Pack, £14.99
Unusual idea, the perfect gift for the indecisive. Novelty factor and talking point. The savoury + chocolate combo is successful and the chocolate is good.
Ginger Bakers, Gluten Free Mixed Tray Bake Box, £14.00
An authentic-looking box with substance to it. The variety is good, feels very generous, flavours are spectacular. This feels like a handmade, crafted gift and the branding balances authenticity & quality.
Firetree, Tasting Bar Gift Box, £18.00
The packaging & presentation is exceptional and delivers a beautiful gifting experience. Love the story telling, and the tasting notes with incredible attention to detail. The selection is a chocolate treat and education for the chocolate lover.
Salcombe Dairy, Five Bar Pick Your Own Gift Box, £22.50
A beautiful gift that really looks and feels special. Pick your own is a nice option for a chocolate bar selection like this with all options being gluten, nut & soya free. There are also some vegan options and all their dark chocolate is dairy free. This looks premium and the chocolate is excellent. The way the inclusions are revealed at the back of each bar is a lovely touch, giving a handmade feel.