Ten Shropshire companies have impressed judges and shot through to the shortlist of the prestigious HEART of ENGLAND fine foods (HEFF) Diamond Awards 2010. 

The Diamond Awards celebrate the fantastic food and drink available in the Heart of England region which includes Shropshire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Birmingham and The Black Country. 

Four Shropshire winners from last year’s Diamonds have made the shortlist again this year with different products:- Heather’s Harvest, Bonbonniere, The Wood Brewery and Gill’s Puddings Ltd. 

Other Shropshire finalists are Mr Moyden’s Handmade Cheese, Newport, for its Wrekin Blue, and Maynards Farm Bacon, Weston-under-Redcastle, has both its Oak Smoked Treacle Streaky and its Sweetcure Gammon in the Meats category. 

Ludlow Vineyard and Distillery is a finalist for its Clear Cox Apple Juice as is Wenlock Spring, Church Stretton, for its Still Water.  Wenlock Spring is also shortlisted in the Special Diamond Award for Grow alongside Great Ness Oil, Great Ness. Alternative Meats, Wem, is a finalist in the Special Diamond Award for Innovate. 

Hobson’s Brewery, in Cleobury Mortimer, (on the Shropshire/Worcestershire border) has also been shortlisted for the Special Diamond Award.

The winners of the HEFF Diamond Awards will be announced at the awards Gala Dinner on Saturday 15 May at Aston Villa Football Club, Birmingham. 

For more information telephone HEFF office on 01743 452818.