Henrietta Green, founder of the British Charcuterie Live Awards, has announced that the annual awards supporting British Charcuterie producers will now take place in April 2021.

Depending on the Covid-19 pandemic the Awards, now in their third year, will be judged by a panel of expert judges from the food and farming community either at Westminster Kingsway College or online.

Henrietta said: “Even with the uncertainty of the past year we are delighted with the number of producers already entered and are looking forward to receiving new ones. Some are new to the sector, others well established."

“Our home-grown dried, cured and smoked meats are growing in reputation and market penetration and makers, whether farmers, butchers, chefs or meat processors, have the perfect platform from which to promote their very best products.”

Assured Food Standards, better known as Red Tractor, is the headline sponsor of the awards this year.

Jonothan Draper, trade and commercial manager at Assured Food Standards said: “By partnering with British Charcuterie Live, our aim is to add value to a growing sector that has significant potential for future growth.

"Embedding Red Tractor at a relatively early stage in the journey for British Charcuterie can only support British Charcuterie producers in the process of expanding their reach and opportunities in the sector.”

Red Tractor will be sponsoring a new award for the British Charcuterie Live Awards 2020/21. The award, titled Industry Champion, will be given to one innovative trail blazing producer who demonstrates a real passion for their craft. This producer will have a strong commercial approach, be committed to driving up production standards and sources only from a British Farm Assured supply chain and must also be either Salsa or BRC Approved or hold a Red Tractor meat processing license.

The winner will be offered a free stand within the Red Tractor Pavilion at The Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2021, to be held at Olympia September 6-7, 2021.

In recognition of the growing importance of the British Charcuterie sector, Chr. Hansen, Slow Food in the UK and BlackPudding.Club have also joined the growing line-up of sponsors for the Awards 2020/21.

New Classes for 2020/21 are British Snacking Charcuterie and further new Star Awards include Best Smoked Product - to be awarded to the best cured and hot- or cold-smoked product and Best Black Pudding for the best black pudding entered.

Past winners of the awards include Tempus Foods, Lishmans of Ilkley, Ludlow Farm Shop and Great Glen Charcuterie.

Entries can be submitted at www.britishcharcuterie.live.