Dorset Blue Soup Company wins three Golds in Great Taste Awards


The Dorset Blue Soup Company based at Woodbridge Farm near Sturminster Newton in the heart of rural Dorset is celebrating after winning three prestigious Great Taste Awards for its soups and chutney.

This adds to the recent announcement that the chutneys have also become the first products to be included in the Genesis Farmers home delivery service, which offers locally produced fresh meat to households across Dorset. Genesis is a group of farmers who want to deliver their high quality meat to customers direct significantly reducing the food miles it travels.

The Dorset Blue Soup Company has been presented with a much-desired one star Great Taste Award for its chilled Gazpacho soup, Pea 'n' Blue soup (using the farm's own Dorset Blue Vinny cheese) and Spiced Tomato Chutney. All the company's soups and chutneys are hand made on the farm using fresh, seasonal vegetables.

Regarded as the industry Oscars, The Guild of Fine Food's annual Great Taste Awards are the UK's largest independent evaluation of fine food and drink.

Each year, almost 4,500 foods are blind-tasted by up to three separate teams of experts before the awards are made. Since May there have been nearly two weeks of tasting by over 400 independent judges. As a result, 530 Great Taste Awards have been given out for excellence in taste, texture and flavour.

Bob Farrand of the Guild of Fine Food, said: "These awards have been running for 14 years now and are a recognised mark of excellence that consumers can trust and rely on.

"The winning products have been through a thorough judging process and we are able to assure consumers that the Great Taste logo, which all award winners can use, signifies genuine, proven fine food. It's not just a supermarket premium marketing slogan that bears almost no relation to the quality of the food in the packet.

"The Great Taste Awards reflect what is happening in the fine food halls, delicatessens and farm shops throughout the UK and during judging we tasted some fantastic gourmet delicacies from all over the world."

The Dorset Blue Soup Company was formed almost five years ago and produces a wonderful collection of soups that mirror our seasons using only the freshest vegetables as they become available. The Summer season of soups also includes a rich Roasted Red Pepper & Fennel, a delicate Watercress & Orange, fulfilling Roasted Mediterranean and a Tomato, Basil 'n' Blue which uses the creamy, flavourful tones of Dorset Blue Vinny.

The chutneys are a recent addition to the range. Woodbridge Chutney, a delicious blend of local pears with Cayenne pepper and ginger, was the first to be launched last year. This year has seen the launch of the award winning Spiced Tomato Chutney combining the sweet flavours of tomatoes and red onions, with a subtle kick from red chilli, mustard seeds and Garam Masala. Meanwhile the Sweet Pickled Cucumber blends the crunch of locally produced cucumbers with Turmeric and mustard seeds to give it a hint of the sub-continent.

Emily Davies of the Dorset Blue Soup Company said, "We are thrilled to have won this recognition for three of our creations, and it's a great reward for the truly dedicated team we have here at the farm who put their heart and souls into creating our soups and chutneys. Each pot of soup is lovingly made using our own stocks and local vegetables where possible - and that's it. We don't believe in unnecessary additives, preservatives or colourings."

Dorset Blue Soups and Dorset Blue Vinny can be found in delis and farm shops across the South and South West.

Testimonials for the Great Taste Awards:

'The GTA represent the gold standard of British food production. They are a sign of the highest quality, where taste is more important than the quick buck.'
Tom Parker Bowles

'It's no longer a food trade issue. The British public now demand proven standards. We are giving it!'
Bob Farrand

'The Great Taste Awards is the best benchmark of quality in food today - look for their stamp when you shop'
Matthew Drennan, Editor, Delicious Magazine


In 2002 our Leek, Potato 'n' Blue soup won a silver at the Great Taste Awards. This year we have enjoyed success with our Celeriac 'n' Blue which was Reserve Champion for the Taste of The West Awards 2003.

We received a Gold for our Mushroom, Bacon 'n' Blue and Bronze for our Tomato, Basil 'n' Blue in this years Great Taste Awards. Aswell as our Mushroom, Bacon 'n' Blue together with the Leek, Potato 'n' Blue enjoying Golds at the Taste of the West Awards 2003.

The cheese won a Gold at the British Cheese Awards in 2002 and for four years in a row Gold at the Taste of the West awards 2003.

We were extremely fortunate to be featured on the first of Rick Stein's Food Heroes series in 2003. It was a great honour to be part of the series and mentioned in the book.