About the Awards
The Love Local Trust Local Awards were created in 2018.
Our inaugural awards took place virtually in 2020, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, a time that has continued to highlight the need to embrace all that is “local”.
In 2021 we were proud to host the only face to face Dorset food & drink awards of the year.
The Love Local Trust Local Awards are proud to recognise and celebrate small, independent Dorset producers and businesses, that genuinely support and embrace everything “local”.
2024 LLTL Awards Key Dates
Entries Open: 1st March 2024
Entries Close: 3rd May 2024
Tasting: Early June 2024
Judging: June / July 2024
Awards Evening: 3rd September 2024
2024 LLTL Awards Categories
Bakery & Confectionery – Savoury & Sweet
Are you producing sweet or savoury treats in Dorset?
If you produce both sweet and savoury products, then you can enter one product into each category. Tell us your story, how you are sourcing and using local ingredients and what truly makes you stand out from the crowd?
Drinks – Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic
Are you a small batch drinks producer in Dorset?
We want to hear how you are both sourcing and using local ingredients. What makes you stand out from the competition?
Honey
Are you a Dorset beekeeper producing local honey products?
Even if you are a small producer only making honey for your local community, we still want to hear from you. What makes your honey stand out from the competition? What are your beekeeping principles?
Jams & Chutney
Do you use the fruit and vegetables of Dorset to create condiments?
Tell us about creations, both sweet & savoury, created from Dorset produce. How you are sourcing and using local Dorset ingredients?
Dairy
Are you a local producer of tasty dairy treats and products?
This award is open to all dairy producers for milk, cream, ice-cream, yoghurt & butter. Entries can be made with either pasteurised or unpasteurised milk. Each dairy producer can enter one dairy product. Any added ingredients or flavourings should be natural and wherever possible sourced from within Dorset.
Fish
Does your fish come from the coastal waters surrounding Dorset?
Tell us about your produce and its’ journey to our plates? Entries must be sourced from fish caught by a Dorset-based crew, using sustainable methods of stock management.
Meat
Tell us all about your meat, its’ story, provenance, and traceability
How do you rear your animals? What makes you stand out from the competition? Meat entries must be produced from animals that have been reared within Dorset. The animals should be raised by means of good animal husbandry and with plenty of access to outdoor space or pasture.
Cheese
Cheesemakers, please share your story with us
This award is open to both hard and soft cheeses that are made with either pasteurised or unpasteurised milk. Any added ingredients or flavourings should be natural and wherever possible also sourced from within Dorset. All entries must be produced in Dorset. Each cheesemaker can enter one cheese product.
Artisan Producer
Are you a Dorset producer who hand makes in small batches?
Do you hand make gifts or non-food items such as skincare, candles, and jewellery sourcing locally wherever possible.
Farm Shop
Have you built a farm shop that offers local produce to your community?
Is your shop supporting local producers and providing customers with goods that have true provenance, traceability, and quality? What is it that makes your farm shop special to your customers and the local community?
Hospitality
Are you a restaurant, caterer, street vendor, café or pub that serves local food in Dorset?
Can you demonstrate the use of locally sourced ingredients to create most of your dishes?
Rising Star
Nominate your Rising Star
Do you know an emerging talent? A farmer, a producer?
Someone showing exception performance, making a name for themselves in Dorset, showing innovative and creative thinking, exploring new ideas. Someone who is an inspiration to others.
Business Growth
Are you a Dorset farmer or producer who is developing your business and really making your mark on Dorset?
Have you moved your business in a new direction that has proven successful? Is your business all about Dorset and does it embrace the ethos of Love Local Trust Local?
Innovation & Diversification
Is your business independently owned and based in Dorset?
Can you demonstrate that your business has taken an opportunity and turned it into a new venture? Have you come up with something exciting that no one else has thought of? Entrants will be judged on a combination of factors including, creativity, sustainability, and sound business principles.
Conservation & Environmental Sustainability
Is your venture making the world a better place by reducing carbon emissions, reusing offcuts and waste, or lowering the human impact we have on our countryside?
Are you doing things differently to lessen your impact on the environment? Entrants will be judged on a combination of factors to include, creativity, sustainability, environmental impact and ethical business principles.
Lifetime Achievement
Nominate an individual or business for a lifetime achievement recognition award
Do you know someone who has made a significant contribution to a business, community, or organisation, who shares our Love Local Trust Local values and ethos within Dorset. Has this individual or business had a significant impact on farming or food production in Dorset?
Click here to download a PDF version which can be emailed to info@lovelocaltrustlocal.co.uk
FAQ
Entering the Love Local Trust Local Awards is a great way to promote your produce and business to a wider audience, and to stand out from the competition. You will have an opportunity to interact with other like-minded producers and businesses and become part of our Love Local Trust Local family.
If you can answer yes to these two questions, then you can enter the Love Local Trust Local Awards
- Are you a small, independent Dorset business with less than 30 full time employees that can truly demonstrate they can identify with the Love Local Trust Local ethos.
- If applicable, does your business source their main ingredients from within 30 miles of Dorset
Judging will take place throughout June and July 2024. The first stage of judging is based on the evaluation of the entry forms. A shortlist of entrants will then be drawn up, up to 5 entrants per category, these will then be passed onto each category judge.
Each category judge will contact each entrant and arrange a visit to enable them to gain a better understanding of each producer, business, or product. They will also review any online presence, marketing or relevant supporting documents.
A tasting day will be held in early June where if required entrants will be asked to supply samples of their product and packaging. The tasting will all be carried out blind and any packaging reviewed after the tasting has taken place. We will contact entrants well in advance if we require samples.
We will award a winner and runner up for each category, including any subcategories.
Winners will be announced, and awards presented on September 3rd at our awards evening. The awards will be held at the Dorset County Show, in the Members Pavilion
T&C’s
By submitting an entry into the Love Local Trust Local Awards 2024, you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions:
The closing date for receipt of entries is midnight 03/05/2023.
Employees or representatives of any of the overall sponsors are not eligible for entry.
Producers/Businesses can enter more than one category but will need to complete a separate application for each.
Entry into the Love Local Trust Local Awards is free however you may be asked to supply samples of your product or produce for tasting the cost of which will be borne by you.
Any product or produce submitted for tasting will not be returned.
By being shortlisted the business automatically becomes a finalist. However, the judges reserve the right to give the level of awards at their discretion.
By entering the awards, you agree to be part of the publicity surrounding it.
The judges’ decisions are final, and they cannot enter discussions regarding the process.
In the event of any dispute regarding the awards criteria, application forms, judging process or any other matter relating to the awards, the decision of Love Local Trust Local Awards panel shall be final, and no correspondence or discussion will be entered.
All entrants agree to abide by the Love Local Trust Local criteria in terms of their location, quality, and sustainability.
