Four wins and two of them the coveted two-star kind — Altrincham-based Lovingly Artisan Bakery has enjoyed one of its finest showings yet at this year's Great Taste Awards.

The Guild of Fine Food has revealed its 2026 winners, with the Northwest bakery — which operates across Altrincham, Manchester and Kendal in the Lake District — picking up two two-star awards and two one-star awards.

The Ancient Emmer & Kombucha and Danish Rugbrøad loaves each secured a two-star accolade, while the Wholemeal Barber Wheat Sourdough and Sourdough Malt Tea Loaf were both awarded one star.

Danish Rugbrød

Wholemeal Barber Loaf

Catherine Connor, co-owner of Lovingly Artisan Bakery, said the achievement belonged to the whole team. "Winning four Great Taste Awards, including two coveted two-star honours, means the world to us. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at Lovingly Artisan; our team is always exchanging ideas and pushing our craft forward, all in pursuit of one goal: putting exceptional, carefully made bread into the hands of every customer.

"Being a family-run business is something we take great pride in, and none of this would be possible without the hard work, skill and heart our entire team pours into every day. This award belongs to them, to the early mornings, the late nights and the relentless commitment behind the scenes. To every single person in the Lovingly Artisan family: thank you for continually giving your very best. We couldn't be more grateful."

The scale of the achievement is best understood against the competition: more than 15,000 products went through this year's blind judging process, with only 4,286 awarded a one-star rating ("simply delicious"), 1,596 a two-star rating ("outstanding"), and just 306 reaching the rare three-star tier ("exquisite").

Every entry is tasted with all packaging removed, leaving judges no clue as to provenance or maker — only a factual description supplied by the producer. Flavour comes first, followed by appearance, aroma, texture and mouthfeel, before a product is deemed worthy of the scheme's black and gold seal.

This year's judging ran over 105 days, with more than 800 judges assessing entries from 116 countries. Now in its 33rd year, Great Taste is regarded as the largest, longest-standing and most respected food and drink accreditation scheme in the world.

Of the two-star Danish Rugbrøad, judges noted: "This rustic-looking loaf tastes as good as it looks. The rye comes through clearly on the nose and the palate; the chew is deeply satisfying; the seeds add textural and flavour interest and contrast, whilst the crumb is moist and deeply flavoured. The crust is a joy in its own right. A long, lingering taste that smacks of healthy living at its best."

The Ancient Emmer & Kombucha fared just as well: "This loaf looks magnificent. It's scored well, has had a hot bake, but it's even and pleasing. The crust is lovely, with an excellent chew and proper sourness. The crumb is moist, sour and tangy, with plenty of complex flavour, long and nutty. It's a generous size and a decent height — ideal for sandwiches and toast. It would enhance any dining table."

John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, said the awards carried added weight amid wider concerns about food security. "Food security is becoming an increasingly pressing issue across the globe, so it feels more pertinent now than at any other time in our thirty-year history to be supporting and promoting independent producers and retailers. Our directory of award recipients is a rich source of data, guiding people from all walks of life to make informed decisions about their food and drink choices. Great Taste is all about celebrating craftsmanship and dedication to well-sourced local ingredients and traditional, often simple production methods, which is more important now than ever."