Irish food producers have taken 46 three-star awards at the prestigious Great Taste Awards 2026.
The three-star accolades are the highest honours at the awards, which are organised by the Dorset-based Guild of Fine Foods (GFF) in Britain. The GFF describes them as the largest global accreditation scheme for food and drink.
Of all 5,000 product entries to the competition this year, just 306 secured the three-star certification, meaning Irish food produce accounted for 15 per cent of products taking the highest award.
Overall, 745 food products from Ireland received a one-, two-, or three-star award, up from the 728 recognised in 2025 .
Entries are judged first and foremost based on their taste, followed by their appearance, aroma, texture, and “mouthfeel”.
Among the Irish three-star recipients, several producers won an award for more than one of their products.
Aldi Ireland took home three three-star awards for its Wild Sage and Sauteed Onion Sourdough Stuffing, its Irish Black Angus Fillet Steak, and its Clonbawn Irish Sour Cream Full Fat.
Boyne Valley Cheese was recognised for Boyne Valley Blue and Rathkenny cheeses, while Dunnes Stores also picked up two awards for its own-brand Creamy and Nutty Gubbeen Cheese and its Simply Better Handmade Sticky Toffee Pudding Crown.
Lidl collected a trio of three-star awards for its lamb, turkey and beef products, while Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland also garnered recognition for its ham and steak products.
Meanwhile, Hannan Meats from Co Armagh took home no fewer than six three-star awards for its pork products.
Lisdergan Butchery in Co Tyrone collected two three-star awards for its Wild Sika Venison French Rack and its Salt Aged Buttermilk Bone in Rind on Pork Belly.
Antrim-based Our Brewery also won two three-star awards, recognised for its Low Land – Oud Bruin – Flemish Brown Ale and Séasúr – Mixed Ferm Saison.
The full list of Irish one-, two-, and three-star recipients can be found here .
While the Great Taste awards are run by the GFF in England, companies from anywhere in the world can enter. This year, entries came from 116 countries, with Armenia, Bermuda, Bolivia, Burundi, Ethiopia, Grenada, Libya, Mozambique and Sierra Leone entering for the first time.