A large sprinkling of success for Golborne’s salt and pepper seasoning

Simply Seasonings’ salt and pepper seasoning was tried, tested and tasted by judges at the beginning of 2024 and it was given a one-star: simply delicious rating.

The Guild of Fine Food’s Great Taste Awards 2024 are dubbed the Oscars of the food and drink world.

Nearly 3,500 companies entered Great Taste this year, between them offering 13,672 products for review.

Each entry was blind tasted by the Guild’s expert judging panel of more than 500 food critics, chefs, recipe creators, buyers, retailers and other specialists in the field of food and drink.

Simply Seasonings was launched in May last year by Heather Hansford.

She was trying to lose weight after having her little boy and found that most seasonings on the market were full of sugar, additional salts, additives and preservatives.

Heather said: “I wanted to create my own healthier seasonings and when I realised I could make them myself, Simply Seasonings was born.

“I started in November last year and after receiving a five-star food hygiene rating I began doing small artisan markets, meeting customers and sharing my experiences.

“I simply wanted to lose weight while not losing flavour in my food.”

All you need is a pinch of the pure spice

Simply Seasonings is pure spice so a pinch is all you need to transform a piece of meat, fish or potatoes and the only salt-based product is the now award-winning salt and pepper seasoning, which contains pure pink Himalayan salt.

Heather’s signature range is three staple seasonings and her best seller is the salt and pepper seasoning.

She also has smoky BBQ and spicy BBQ seasonings and is looking to add more to the range as limited edition products.

The range is available from Kenyon Hall Farm and via the business’ website – www.simplyseasonings.com

The Great Taste Awards, now in its 31st year, judge products made anywhere in the world with organisers saying it is the largest global accreditation scheme for food and drink.

Entries were analysed across 92 judging days, each receiving detailed feedback, whether or not they obtained an award.

Simply Seasonings products don't contain any additives or preservatives

This is what the judges said about the salt and pepper seasoning: “The spice blend smells of cloves with a hint of fennel.

“The flavours in the mouth are more complex and there is a sweetness followed by a saltiness which are well balanced.

“[We] think this is a good quick flavour enhance and tastes very natural.

“This is a very aromatic spice blend with bold, rich aromas. The spices work well in harmony with one another, with a generous level of salt and a heat which develops on the palate.

“[We] could envisage this having a wide range of uses including on grilled meats and fish.”

Heather said: “We've never won any awards before – this is the first.

“I never thought my products would impress people in the world of food!

“I've not even been doing it a full year and I entered thinking I’d just get some feedback from the judges - I didn’t expect to become a winner!”

She added: “I was amazed to discover that I’d won.

“A Great Taste award is huge accolade and a real seal of approval.”

Heather Hansford