Northern Irish En Place strikes gold at Jampionships

En Place Foods, Northern Ireland's award winning producer of jams, relishes and chutneys, has won two trophies at Jampionships, the world's biggest event for jam makers.

The company, based at Cookstown in county Tyrone, lifted the gold medal in the artisan section for its unique Chorizo Picante jam with Oloroso and silver for strawberry with figs and Armagnac. The chorizo also won a Great Taste award earlier in the year.

Now in its fourth year the World Jampionships aims to preserve traditional jam making skills the world over and build up jam making at all levels with categories for both amateur and professional artisan jam-makers.

Paul Clarke, managing director of En Place Foods, says: "Winning a gold medal at such a prestigious event in the jam industry calendar is a marvellous development for us and will help to raise our profile among potential customers."

Twelve classes of jam entries were involved ranging from traditional varieties like strawberry and blackcurrant to Merry Berry (an alcoholic jam), chocolate jams and savoury jams. There is also a special class for jelly entries.

Around 300 entries were received from as far afield as US, Germany and Singapore. From traditional heritage varieties of jam like strawberry, raspberry and blackcurrant to exotic flavours like pina colada, chilli, carrot cake and chocolate, the World Jampionships has attracted entries from across the world.

The winners were announced at the Dundee Food and Flower Festival on 6 September.

Formed in 2010, En Place specialises in the development and processing of handcrafted foods designed to complement and enhance the home dining experience.

In addition to the En Place range of flavoured oils and jams, the company produces the Moyallon range of chutneys and relishes,

En Place products do not use artificial preservatives, flavours, colouring, modified starches or any other fillers or bulking agents. The company has now won over 50 UK Great Taste Awards. In 2013, the company had two jams listed in the Top 50 Foods by the UK Guild of Fine Food.