Top foods awards unveiled

Marks & Spencer was the big winner on the night when the Quality Food Awards 2015 were staged in London this week.
Quality Food Awards 2015 winnersQuality Food Awards 2015 winners
Quality Food Awards 2015 winners

The retail store scooped the overall Gold Q for its Marks & Spencer Black Cod, alongside the Retailer of the Year award.

Highly commended by the judges were Marks & Spencer’s Somerset Butter and Manor Farm Dairy Lemon Curd Bio Live Yogurt Smooth & Creamy, while the Gold Q Value award went to Tesco’s Everyday Value Cottage Pie.

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It was a strong showing on the night from the major supermarkets and the discounters, with products from Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, The Co-operative, Aldi and Lidl all receiving awards.

Commenting on this year’s awards, event organiser Helen Lyons said: “Never before has there been so much angst, sweat and tears over which pork pie, chocolate dessert or chicken tikka masala walks away with a coveted Q award. Have we ever had a more competitive high street for grocery shopping?

“Have the stakes ever been higher to make sure the products in your stores are the ones your customers are not only going to buy once, but come back and purchase time and time again?

“For nearly 40 years the Quality Food Awards has stood as the benchmark for brand development and grocery retailing not only in the UK, but around the world.

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“Winning a Quality Food Award is an outstanding achievement – it means that a product has been judged to be the very best in its category or field by renowned industry experts. Now that is something to really shout about.”

Tesco’s chief product officer Jason Tarry said: “With Christmas just around the corner, I’m incredibly proud of the recognition we have received for our festive offer thanks to the fantastic efforts of our team.

“The Q Awards not only look at the taste, but also the value and quality of the ingredients and are an endorsement for all the hard work we have done in partnership with our suppliers to help provide our customers with the very best food and drink products.”

The full list of winners is: Overall Gold Q Winner - winner, Marks & Spencer Black Cod; Highly Commended, Manor Farm Dairy Lemon Curd Bio Live Yogurt Smooth & Creamy; Marks & Spencer Somerset Butter; Gold Q Value - winner, Tesco Everyday Value Cottage Pie - Samworth Brothers; Bagged Snacks Savoury (Crisps) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Aberdeen Angus and Red Wine Crisps; Bagged Snacks Savoury (Nuts) - winner, The Co-operative Loved By Us Moroccan Spice Nut & Fruit Mix - Evolution Foods; Bagged Snacks Savoury (Popcorn) - winner, Propercorn Sweet & Salty; Bagged Snacks (Sweet) - winner, Aldi Epic Snacks Butter Toffee Coated Popcorn, Commended, Tyrrells Potato Crisps Sweet & Salty Poshcorn; Biscuits (Savoury) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Oatcake Bites - Fiery Chilli; Highly Commended, Tesco Finest West Country Biscuits for cheese - Dorset Village Bakery; Biscuits (Sweet) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected All Butter Cookies - Stem Ginger; Highly Commended, Marks & Spencer Double Chocolate Viennese Swirls, Tesco Finest All Butter Shortbread Fingers - Dean’s of Huntly; Bread (Chilled Breads) - winner, Marks & Spencer Vegetable and Pesto Focaccia; Highly Commended,

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Asda Two Sun Blush Tomato & Mozzarella Flatbreads - New Primebake; Bread (Fruit Bread) - winner, Iceland Foods Borg Cinnamon Raisin Loaf; Bread (Large Loaves)- winner, The Co-operative White Crusty Cob - Country Style Foods; Highly Commended, Aldi White Bloomer; Bread (Morning Goods) - winner, Iceland Foods Borg Belgian Vanilla Waffles, Highly Commended, Tesco Hot Cross Buns - British Bakels, Tesco Triple Chocolate Crown - Lantmannen Unibake, Commended, Tesco Finest Granola Squares - CSM Bakery Solutions, Tesco Finest Welsh Cakes Six Pack - Village Bakery; Bread (Small Breads and Rolls) - winner, Tesco Whole Seed Cob - Macphie of Glenbervie, Highly Commended, Tesco Four Brioche Burger Buns - Fletchers, Commended, Marks & Spencer Cornish Cruncher Cheddar Cheese Loaf, The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Baguette - Aryzta Bakeries.

Bread (Speciality Bread) - winner, Marks & Spencer Anglesey Oak Smoked Water Sourdough, Highly Commended,

Tesco Cheese & Chutney Cob - Speedibake, The Polish Bakery Pumpkin Seed Bread; Cakes (Celebration Cakes) - winner, Asda Checkerboard Cake - Finsbury Food Group, Highly Commended, Aldi Celebration Cake - Chocolate

Asda Rainbow Jazzie Cake - Finsbury Food Group; Cakes (Large Cakes) - winner, Marks & Spencer Blackcurrant Fool Cake, Highly Commended, The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Passionfruit and Coconut Cake - Finsbury Food Group; Cakes (Small Cakes) - winner, Marks & Spencer Victoria Sponge Muffin, Highly Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Tiffin Stacker, Lidl Deluxe Hand Finished Carrot Cake, Commended, Genius Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes; Cereal Bars - winner, Planet Organic - Organic Chia Vanilla Energise Bar; Cereals - winner, Aldi Harvest Morn Crisp Rice, Highly Commended, Nature Valley Oats & Honey Protein Granola - Cereal Partners, Tesco Finest Red Berry Granola - Bokomo Foods; Cereals (Muesli) - winner, Lidl Simply Sumptuous Premium Muesli - Berries & Cherries.

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Cheese (British) - winner, The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Somerset Vintage Cheddar, Highly Commended, Marks & Spencer Ashley Chase Goats Cheese, Commended, Aldi Double Gloucester

The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Wookey Hole Cave Aged Cheddar - Barber’s Farmhouse Cheesemakers; Cheese (Continental) - winner, Asda Extra Special Brie Pays - Eurilait, Highly Commended, Lidl Deluxe Roquefort, Commended, Tesco Finest Halloumi - Katsouris Brothers; Seasonal Cheese - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Camembert with Cranberry Topping.

Children’s Food - winner, Asda Sweet Chicken Curry & Rice - Laila’s Fine Foods, Highly Commended, Aldi Mamia Junior Mini Rice Cakes, Marks & Spencer Taste Buds Fish Pie and Juicy Peas, Commended, Children’s Food Quorn Meat Free Chicken Nuggets; Chocolate and Confectionery - winner, The Grown Up Chocolate Company Superb Salted Peanut Caramel, Christmas Q (Bakery) - winner, Tesco Finest Amaretto Panettone - Arden Fine Foods, Highly Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Artisan Mince Pies, Commended, Lidl Snowy Lodge Deluxe Six Mince Pies with Courvoisier,

Christmas Q (Christmas Cakes) - winner, Marks & Spencer Penguin Party cake, Commended, Marks & Spencer The Collection Ice Shard Cake; Christmas Q (Christmas Chilled Savoury) - winner, Asda Extra Special Cheeseboard - Eurilait, Highly Commended, Marks & Spencer Victorian Corset Pie; Christmas Q (Christmas Chilled Sweet) - winner, Tesco Finest Amontillado Sherry Trifle - Kensey Foods, Highly Commended, Marks and Spencer Billionaires Bullion Bar; Christmas Q (Christmas Confectionery) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Fudge - Chocolate and Cornish Sea Salt, Highly Commended, Marks & Spencer Spanish Praline Turron Selection,

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Tesco Finest Single Origin Tasting Selection Box - ICAM Chocolate; Christmas Q (Christmas Desserts) - winner,

Aldi Specially Selected Golden Topped Christmas Pudding, Highly Commended, Tesco Finest Pear and Calvados Christmas Pudding - Matthew Walker, Commended, Iceland Foods Luxury Chocolate Orange Choux Garland;

Christmas Q (Fish) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Traditional Haddock Filo Tartlets with Davidstow Cheddar; Christmas Q (Grocery Ambient) - winner, Marks & Spencer Christmas Cake Curd; Christmas Q (Meat) - winner,

Tesco Turkey Crown with Pork, Apple & Chestnut Stuffing with Bacon Lattice & Honey Glaze - Bernard Matthews,

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Highly Commended, Tesco Finest Venison, Red Wine, Cranberry and Orange Zest Stuffing Portions Wrapped in Bacon - Walkers Sausage Co; Christmas Q (Party Food) - winner, Asda Mini Lamb Kebab Kit with Stone Baked Pitta Breads - Tulip, Highly Commended, Marks & Spencer Chicken and Ham Ballotine and Black Pudding Stacks,

Tesco Finest Bourbon BBQ Beef Waffles - Bradgate Bakery.

Coffee - winner, Asda Extra Special Brazilian Roast and Ground Coffee - Taylors of Harrogate, Highly Commended, Asda Extra Special Ethiopian Roast and Ground Coffee - Taylors of Harrogate, Commended,

Tesco Finest Colombian Supremo - Finlay Beverages; Cold Beverages (Juices and Smoothies) - winner, Wobblegate Cox and Bramley Apple Juice, Highly Commended, Charrington Fruit Farms Ravishing Russet Apple Juice, Commended, Squeeze Wheatgrass Ready to Drink Shots; Cold Beverages (Soft Drinks) - winner, Marks and Spencer Sparkling British Apple and Cucumber Presse, Highly Commended, Aldi Watermelon Sparkling Flavoured Water;

Dairy and Milk Products (Butters and Spreads) - winner, Marks & Spencer Somerset Butter, Commended,

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Aldi Greenvale Spreadable; Dairy and Milk Products (Yogurts) - winner, Manor Farm Dairy Lemon Curd Bio Live Yogurt Smooth & Creamy, Highly Commended, Tesco Mango & Passion Fruit Yogurt - Yeo Valley, Commended,

Marks & Spencer Sussex Lemon Pond Yoghurt.

Delicatessen (Antipasti) - winner, Aldi Nocellara Olives, Highly Commended, Asda Extra Special Mediterranean Platter - Forza Foods; Delicatessen (Cooked Meats British) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Smoked Duck,

Highly Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Smoked Venison, The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Black Treacle Roasted Theakston’s Old Peculier Ale Ham - Tulip; Delicatessen (Cooked Meats Continental) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Whole Saucisson Salami, Highly Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Parma Ham, Commended,

Tesco Finest Smoked Chorizo Ring - Winterbotham Darby, The Co-operative Spanish Tapas Selection - Winterbotham Darby; Delicatessen (Dips) - winner, Ramona’s Kitchen Me Too! Foods Super Whole Food Seaweed Houmous, Highly Commended, The Co-operative Summer Loved by Us Smoky Piri Piri Houmous - Bakkavor Meals London; Delicatessen (Large Cooked Joints) - winner, Marks and Spencer Whole British Outdoor Bred Wiltshire Ham Leg On the Bone with Orange and Studded Star Anise; Delicatessen (Other Deli) - winner, Marks and Spencer Hog Roast Sausage Rolls, Highly Commended, Tesco Finest Black Pudding Scotch Egg - Tulip, Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Goats Cheese & Caramelised Onion Tartlet, Lidl Meadowfresh Cheese Coleslaw; Desserts and Puddings - winner,

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The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Sticky Toffee Pudding - Hain Daniels; Commended, Pots & Co Strawberries & Cream, The Co-operative Loved By Us clotted Cream Rice Pudding - Hain Daniels, The Co-operative Loved By Us Morello Cherry Pie - Greencore Grocery Hull.

Ethnic Ready Meals - winner, Tesco Finest Vegetable Biryani with Salan Sauce - Westbridge Foods, Highly Commended, Asda Mexican Fajita Style Beef Brisket with Jalapeno Cheese Sauce and Salsa - Dawn Meats,

Tesco Finest Breaded Chicken Satay Skewers with a Creamy Curry Dipping Sauce - CP Foods; Fish (Fresh Fish) -

winner, Marks and Spencer Black cod, Highly Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Lightly Smoked Salmon,

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Aldi Specially Selected Oak and Peat Smoked Salmon, Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Scottish Salmon Fillet; Fish (Fresh Fish Dishes) - winner, Marks & Spencer Cider Battered Plaice, Highly Commended, Asda Extra Special Smoked Haddock Fishcakes with a Mature Cheddar & Mustard Sauce - Young’s Seafood, Commended, The Co-operative Salmon & Watercress Parcel - Kerry Foods; Fish (Frozen Fish) - winner, Asda Scallops with a Zesty Lemon & Pepper Butter - Young’s Seafood; Fish (Frozen Fish Dishes) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Salmon Roulade,

Highly Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Mini Salmon Wellington - Cheese and Dill, Commended,

Asda Squid Rings with a Smoked Paprika & Tomato Marinade - Young’s Seafood.

Food to Go - winner, Marks & Spencer Beetroot Falafel with Roasted Butternut Squash Flatbread, Highly Commended, Aldi Mango Chunks, The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Inverlochy Salmon & Egg Sandwich - Greencore Direct to Store; Tesco City Kitchen Pulled Pork Steamed Bun - Kerry Foods, Commended, Aldi Cheese and Onion Sandwich - Morrisons Taste Inc. Bangkok Street Noodles with Chicken ‘Green’- CP Foods.

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Fresh Produce (Fruit) - winner, Marks and Spencer Sapphire Raspberries, Highly Commended, Aldi Twin Pack Mango, Commended, Tesco Apple, Persimmon & Mango; Fresh Produce Prepared Fruit - winner, Tesco Summer Fruit Punch Mix; Fresh Produce (Seasonal Produce) - winner, Tesco Finest Berry Selection - BerryWorld; Fresh Produce (Salad Prepared) - winner, Tesco Finest Broccoli & Peanut Salad - Bakkavor, Highly Commended, Tesco Falafel and Mixed Grain Warm Salad - Bradgate Bakery; Fresh Produce (Salad Unprepared) - winner, Lidl Oaklands Salad Trio, Highly Commended, Aldi Wild Rocket, Marks & Spencer Kent Pink Umami, Tesco Amber & Rosso Vine Ripened Tomatoes - APS Salads; Fresh Produce (Vegetables) - winner, Tesco Samphire - A Gomez, Highly Commended,

Aldi Sweet Potatoes.

Frozen Food (Frozen Desserts) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Macaroons, commended, Aldi Specially Selected Toffee and Pecan Roulade, Lidl Confiserie Firenze Apple Strudel.

Frozen Food (Frozen Pizza and Pies) - winner, Marks & Spencer Peppered Steak and Stout Pie, Highly Commended,

Iceland Foods Classic Margherita Sourdough Pizza; Frozen Food (Frozen Ready Meals and Vegetable Dishes) - winner, Iceland Foods Al Forno Beef & Pancetta Lasagne, Highly Commended, Aldi Specially Selected British Petits Pois, Asda Sweet Potato Fries - Fuller Food International, Iceland Foods Chicken Makhani Masala - The Authentic Food Company, Commended, Asda Root Vegetable Nut Roast with an Ale and Mustard Sauce - ABP Eatwell,

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Iceland Foods Meatball & Rigatoni Pasta - Lailas Fine Foods. Frozen Food (Ice Cream) - winner, Tesco Four Salted Caramel Ice Creams - YSCO NV, Highly Commended, Tesco Finest Salted Caramel Ice Cream.

Grocery Ambient (Savoury) - winner, The Little Herb Farm Rhubarb and Ginger Vinegar, Highly Commended, Tesco Ingredients Kimchi - English Provender, Commended, Marks & Spencer Brewers Paste.

Grocery Ambient (Sweet) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Blackcurrant Conserve, Highly Commended,

The Co-operative Loved By Us Seville Orange Marmalade - Hain Daniels, Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Scottish Chutneys - Apple, Pear and Fig, Aldi Specially Selected Scottish Chutneys - Red Pepper and Jalapeno.

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Home Baking - winner, Delicious Alchemy Gluten and Dairy Free Chocolate Brownie Mix.

Meat (Bacon) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Bacon - Sweetcure Back Bacon, Highly Commended, Tesco Finest Sweet and Smoky Streaky Bacon, Tesco Unsmoked Gammon Steaks with a Spiced orange Marmalade Glaze - Karro Food Group, Commended, Iceland Foods Luxury Outdoor Bred Air Dried Oak Smoked Back Bacon Rashers.

Meat (Beef Steaks) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Fillet Steak, Highly Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Aberdeen Angus Ribeye Steak, Marks & Spencer British Thick Cut Ribeye Steak, Commended

Aldi Specially Selected Ribeye Steak; Meat (Burgers and Meatballs) - winner, Aldi Kebabs - Minted Lamb, Highly Commended, Marks & Spencer Pulled Brisket Burgers with Gravy Dip n Drizzle, Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Angus Gourmet Burger. Meat (Pork, Lamb and Other Joints) - winner, Asda Oak Smoked Boneless Beef Ribs - Dawn Meats, Highly Commended, Aldi Specially Selected British Orange Glazed Gammon Joint, Marks and Spencer Easy Carve Garlic and Rosemary Lamb Leg Boneless.

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Meat (Poultry) - winner, Ocado British Duck Breasts Boneless, Highly Commended, Iceland Foods Breaded Chicken Fillet Strips, Commended, Tesco Sweet & Sticky Chicken Wings - Moy Park.

Meat (Sausages) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected British Outdoor Bred Pork and Bramley Apple Sausages, Highly Commended, Tesco Finest Red Leicester Hot Dogs - Riverway Foods, The Cumbrian Sausage Company Traditional Cumberland Sausage, Commended, debbie&andrew’s Caramelised Red Onion Pork Sausages - W A Turner.

Pasta, Rice and Couscous - winner, Costco Hand Made Tortelloni with Braised beef and Barolo wine - Rondanini UK, Highly Commended, Iceland Foods Couscous with Vegetables, Commended, Marks & Spencer Bucatini Pasta;

Pasties, Quiches and Sausage Rolls - winner, Crantock Bakery Traditional Cornish Pasty & Dip, Highly Commended, The Co-operative Loved By Us Feta & Red Pepper Quiche - Greencore Prepared Meals, The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Feta, Pine Nut & Watercress Tarts - Greencore Prepared Meals.

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Pies - winner, Marks and Spencer Pulled Pork Sausage Roll, Highly Commended, The Real Pie Company Chicken & Ham Pie, The Real Pie Company Steak & Guinness Pie, Commended, Tesco Sweet Potato & Goats Cheese Lattice Pie - Addo Food Group; Pork Pie - winner, Dickinson & Morris Ultimate Melton Mowbray Pork Pie - Walker and Son.

Pizzas - winner, Tesco Finest Wood Fired Verdure Pizza – 2 Sisters Food Group the Pizza Factory, Highly Commended, Marks and Spencer Woodfired Fiorentina, Commended, Aldi Italian Stonebaked Spinach and Ricotta Pizza, Asda Extra Special Tomato and Mozzarella Stonebaked Pizza - Stateside Foods, Spar Italian Air Dried Bresaola Beef, Caramelised Red Onion Chutney and Mascarpone Pizza.

Ready Made Side Dishes - winner, Marks and Spencer Mixed Vegetable Masala, Highly Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Luxury Vegetable Side Dishes - Cauliflower Cheese with Truffle, Asda Extra Special Chestnut Mushrooms with Goat Cheese & Caramelised Red Onions - Unimush Ireland, Tesco Pink Slaw - Bradgate Bakery.

Ready Meals - winner, Asda Chosen by You “Chefs Special” Chinese Beef & Blackbean - Kerry Foods, Highly Commended, Tesco Finest Light Chicken, Chorizo & King Prawn Paella - Kerry Foods, The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Bloody Mary Beef with Horseradish Mash and Buttered Kale - Rowan Foods, The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Chicken and Ham Hock Pie with Tewkesbury Mash - Rowan Foods.

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Ready to Cook - winner, Marks & Spencer Pork Belly Hog Roast with Kentish Apple Sauce and a Crackling Crumb,

Highly Commended, Aldi Ready to Cook Spatchcock Chicken - Garlic and Herb, Hughes Mushroom Filled Full Of Leek & Wensleydale Flat Mushrooms, Commended, Aldi Applebys Salt and Chilli Ribs, Aldi Ready To Cook Chicken En Croute.

Sauces and Salad Dressings (Ambient) - winner, Marks and Spencer Smokehouse Tomato Sauce, Highly Commended,

Aldi Specially Selected Alphonso Mango and Chilli Salad Dressing, Patak’s Korma Spice Paste - AB World Foods, Tesco Butternut Squash & Sage Risotto Bake - Greencore Grocery, Commended, Island Girl Ooft! Scotch Bonnet Hot Sauce. Sauces and Salad Dressings (Chilled) - winner, Marks & Spencer Blacksticks Blue Cheese Sauce, Highly Commended, Tesco Balsamic Salad Pearls - Bradgate Bakery.

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Seasonal Occasions - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Whole Sea Bass, Commended, Aldi Specially Selected Whole Sea Bream. Shellfish - winner, Falfish Cornish White Crab Meat, Highly Commended, Marks and Spencer Two Giant Wild Madagascan Prawns, The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Tiger Prawns - Lyons Seafoods.

Soups (Ambient) - winner, The Co-operative Loved By Us Low Fat Tomato And Three Bean Soup - Princes, Highly Commended, Aldi Spicy Parsnip Soup; Soups (Chilled) - winner, Aldi Specially Selected Sri Lankan Chicken Soup,

Highly Commended, Aldi Carrot and Coriander Soup, Aldi Specially Selected Petit Pois and Ham Soup, Aldi Specially Selected Vine Tomato and Lentil Soup, Commended, Aldi Tomato and Basil, The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Moroccan Chicken Soup.

Tea - winner, Lidl Deluxe Premium Infusions in Pyramid Bags - Peppermint/Liquorice, Highly Commended, Tesco Finest Single Estate Makomboki 50 Tea Bags, Commended, Lidl Knightsbridge Green Teas - Jasmine.

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Value (Ambient) - winner, Lidl Simply Porridge Oats, Highly Commended, Tesco Everyday Value White Chocolate & Strawberry Flavoured Cereal Bars - Artenay Bars SAS; Value (Chilled) - winner, Tesco Everyday Value Cottage Pie - Samworth Brothers, Highly Commended, Tesco Every Day Value Vanilla Cheesecake - Bakkavor Desserts, Commended, Tesco Everyday Value Macaroni Cheese - Greencore Prepared Meals; Value (Drink) - winner, Lidl Simply Apple Juice; Value (Frozen) - winner, Tesco Spinach and Chickpea Falafel - Daloon Foods UK, Highly Commended, Aldi Everyday Essentials Yorkshire Puddings, Commended, Aldi Everyday Essentials Garden Peas