The winners of this year’s Best of Organic Market Awards (BOOMs) were unveiled at an exclusive ceremony in Bristol yesterday evening (Wednesday 5th July).
The BOOMs, which are the UK’s only dedicated organic awards, recognise the brands, businesses and people behind the UK’s organic industry and was open to all certified organic businesses in the UK. The awards are run by Soil Association Certification in partnership with headline sponsor Huboo.
Now in their tenth year the bi-annual BOOM Awards are a celebration of excellence across organic farming, food and drink, beauty and wellbeing, fashion and textiles, and home, reflecting the full breadth of organic-certified businesses working to restore nature, health and a safe climate.
Judging was by a panel of experts, including Telegraph columnist, chef and food writer Xanthe Clay, chef, food and travel writer and broadcaster Romy Gill, and Bake-Off contestant, chef and TV presenter Briony May Williams and food expert and TV presenter Andy Clarke. The awards include a category voted for by the public, The Nation’s Favourite, which celebrates the best-loved organic product of the year.
With 16 food and drink categories, six health & beauty and home, 11 business, and three special awards the BOOMs covers every everything organic.
The biggest applause on the night went to four key awards:
Lifetime Achievement which went to Iain Tolhurst (pictured above, left) – Tolhurst Organic who recently received an MBE for Services to Agriculture in the King’s Birthday Honours List. Helen Browning said: “Iain has dedicated his life to organic and has led the way in so many areas such as achieving net zero and inspiring others to do the same. He has farmed organically for 40 years and has held the Soil Association organic symbol for over 30 years, making Tolhurst Organic one of the longest running organic vegetable farms in England. He is a true advocate for the movement both in theory and in practise, and we are so thrilled to be able to recognise this with this special BOOMs Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Winner of Winners which went to Brown Cow Kefir Fermented Yoghurt. The judges said: “The flavour is sensational, it’s sweet, a bit sour and we thought it’s a product that could be used on its own or also in other dishes, sweet or savoury. We also loved the ethos behind the company and a lot of us were blown away that the only ingredient is milk!”
The Nation’s Favourite which was won by Clearspring – Organic Tofu – Silken & Smooth. It received the highest number of votes from a public vote beating off some tough competition including: Freedom Brewery Helles Lager; Grass Roots Dairy Organic Salted Butter and Aspall’s Organic Cyder Vinegar.
The Rising Star was awarded to Sinead & Adam (pictured above, right) – Aweside Farm. The couple upped sticks from their careers and home in London to start an organic farm in Arlington, East Sussex where they have transformed 4.5 acres of ex-arable land into an ecologically thriving smallholding. Sinead said: “Our certified organic flowers celebrate the essence of seasonality, just grown as nature intended never forced. Our flower farm is actively helping to regenerate the landscape and our flowers are home to an ever-increasing number of wildlife. We supply some of the most innovative chefs, creative cake makers, cutting edge caterers in the country with edible flowers and herbs. We pride ourselves on delivering the best of the best, produce that showcases the finest flavours, colours, scents and tastes that the seasons have to offer.”
Soil Association commercial & marketing director Alex Cullen said: “We’re thrilled to announce the winners, who truly represent the best that organic has to offer.
“Organic farming and production offers vital solutions for climate and nature, which is why we’re so excited to see these products making an impression with the public.
“New and diverse representatives are appearing all the time, and we’re proud to celebrate them here. We’ve heard so many of their fantastic stories working with sustainable businesses.
“These are the people who make the system work and draw other people in. It’s thanks to them that we’re so hopeful for the future, and we’re thrilled we’ve been able to recognise them.”
“We’ve been so lucky to work with such a dedicated and expert panel of judges, who worked through hundreds of shortlisted products and entries to with the unenviable task of making the key decisions.”
“This drive to innovate means the organic market remains popular and resilient.”
The winners are being announced at a time when the organic market has shown remarkable resilience, taking its value to £3.1 billion – its highest value yet. This marks 11 consecutive years of growth and over 25.4% growth since 2019.
This year’s BOOMs winners list in full:
BEST OF ORGANIC CHOCOLATE
Overall Winner
Ecotone UK – Alter Eco Organic Fairtrade 70% Ecuador
Finalists
Cocoa Loco – Lemon Drizzle White Chocolate
Ecotone UK – Alter Eco Organic Fairtrade Almond Dark Chocolate
BEST OF ORGANIC SNACKS
Overall Winner
Clearspring – Seaveg Crispies – Original
Finalist
Organico – Organic Spelt Grissin
BEST OF ORGANIC FREE-FROM PRODUCTS
Overall Winner
Après At Home Ltd – Organic Sticky Toffee Pudding
Subcategory Winners
Dairy Free: Palace Culture – Truffle & Black Pepper Plant Based Organic Cheeze
Gluten Free: Après At Home Ltd – Organic Sticky Toffee Pudding
BEST OF ORGANIC STORE CUPBOARD
Overall Winner
Bold Bean Co. – Organic White Beans
Subcategory Winners
Cereals & Homebaking: Doves Farm – Organic Heritage Seeded Bread Flour
Oils, Vinegars & Dressings: Sozye – Noya Sauce
Everyday Essentials: Bold Bean Co. – Organic White Beans
Preserves & Spreads: Whole Earth – Crunchy Organic Peanut Butter
BEST OF ORGANIC VEGAN PRODUCTS
Overall Winner
Palace Culture – Feta Barrel-Aged Plant Based Organic Cheeze
Subcategory Winners
Chilled: Palace Culture – Feta Barrel-Aged Plant Based Organic Cheeze
Non-Chilled: Healthxcel Ltd – Organic Turmeric Calm
BEST OF NEW ORGANIC FOOD & DRINK PRODUCTS
Overall Winner
Blue Goose Coffee – Eco Coffee Pod Advent Calendar
Finalists
CANNACOFFEE – Original CBD Coffee Beans 200g
River Cottage – Rhubarb Ketchup
BEST OF ORGANIC MEAT & POULTRY
Overall Winner
Ocado – Organic 2 Beef Fillet Steaks
Subcategory Winners
Charcuterie, Processed Meat & Eggs: Rare & Pasture – Organic Cooking Chorizo with Fresh Chillies
Meat: Ocado – Organic 2 Beef Fillet Steaks
BEST OF ORGANIC ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
Overall Winner
South Hams Brewery Ltd – Vintage Cider
Subcategory Winners
Beers: Black Isle Brewing Co Ltd – Black Isle Spider Monkey Organic IPA
Ciders: South Hams Brewery Ltd – Vintage Cider
Wines: Bordeaux Superieur, Chateau Couronneau 2020 – Available at Vintage Roots
Spirits: Dà Mhìle Distillery – Organic Apple Brandy
BEST OF ORGANIC BAKERY
Overall Winner
Celtic Bakers – Organic Vermont Sourdough
Subcategory Winners
Savoury: Celtic Bakers – Organic Vermont Sourdough
Sweet: Diforti – Organic Vegan Pandolce
BEST OF ORGANIC NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
Overall Winner
Hampstead Tea & Coffee Co. – Organic Biodynamic Earl Grey
Subcategory Winners
Coffee: Owens Organic Coffee – Jabulani
Tea: Hampstead Tea & Coffee Co. – Organic Biodynamic Earl Grey
Soft Drinks: Luscombe – Hot Ginger Beer
BEST OF ORGANIC DAIRY
Overall Winner
Brown Cow Organics – Natural Kefir Fermented Yoghurt
Subcategory Winners
Yoghurt & Chilled Desserts: Brown Cow Organics – Natural Kefir Fermented Yoghurt
Cheese: Cropwell Bishop Creamery – Organic Blue Stilton
Everyday Dairy: Guernsey Dairy – Organic A2 Guernsey Milk
Best of Organic Baby & Children’s Food and Drink Products
Overall Winner
Pip Organic – Sparkling Apple
Subcategory Winners
Baby Food & Drink: Organix – Berry Sunshine Bowl
Children’s Food & Drink: Pip Organic – Sparkling Apple
BEST OF ORGANIC FRESH PRODUCE
Overall Winner
Clover Nursery – Hericium Coralloides
Finalists
Waitrose – Duchy Organic Medjool Dates
BerryWorld – Organic Blueberries
BEST OF ORGANIC CHILLED & FROZEN – SAVOURY
Overall Winner
Borough Broth Company – Free-Range Organic Chicken Bone Broth
Finalists
Borough Broth Company – Grass-Fed Organic Beef Bone Broth
St. James Scotch Choice – BIO ORGANIC Scottish Smoked Salmon – Original
BEST OF ORGANIC CHILLED & FROZEN – SWEET
Overall Winner
Luscious – Organic Madagascan Vanilla Custard
Finalists
Pip Organic – Pip & Mix Fruity Lollies
Waitrose & Partners – Waitrose Duchy Organic Vanilla Ice Cream
BEST OF ORGANIC INDEPENDENT RETAILERS
Overall Winner
Better Food
Finalists
Unicorn Grocery
Manor Organic Farm Shop
BEST OF ORGANIC EATING OUT
Overall Winner
The Bull Inn – Totnes
Finalists
Better Food
Daylesford Organic
BEST OF ORGANIC ONLINE RETAILING
Overall Winner
Riverford Organic Farmers
Finalists
Neal’s Yard Remedies
Coombe Farm Organic
BEST OF ORGANIC SUPERMARKETS
Overall Winner
Waitrose & Partners
BEST OF ORGANIC BOX SCHEMES
Overall Winner
Riverford Organic Farmers
Finalists
Eva’s Organics
Coombe Farm Organic
BEST OF ORGANIC INNOVATIONS
Overall Winner
Terre Verdi – NeroliPom Moisturiser
Finalists
Coombe Farm Organic – Organic Rose Veal
Growing Good Technology Ltd. – Veg Box Software
BEST OF ORGANIC SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
Overall Winner
SunFresh Produce Sustainable Packaging
Finalists
Waitrose Duchy Organic Packaging Reduction – Bananas and Wine
Obvs Skincare Sustainable Packaging
BEST ORGANIC MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Overall Winner
Riverford Organic Farmers
Riverford x Fareshare Southwest
Finalists
Waitrose & Partners – Waitrose Duchy Organic Relaunch
Yeo Valley Organic – Yeo Got This
BEST OF ORGANIC FOOD & DRINK START-UPS
Overall Winner
Kinetic Kitchen Ltd
Finalists
Hill & Vale
Goldling Spirits Co
BEST OF ORGANIC FASHION & TEXTILES PRODUCTS
Overall Winner
Piccalilly – Puffin 3 Piece Baby Set
Subcategory Winners
Fashion Products: MAI ‘Making Animals Important’ – Organic Adult Sweatshirt
Baby & Children’s Products: Piccalilly – Puffin 3 Piece Baby Set
BEST OF ORGANIC HOME PRODUCTS
Overall Winner
Hypnos – Organic No. 4 Mattress & Topper
Finalists
Skär Organics – Organic Beeswax Dinner Candles
Woolroom – Organic Washable Bedding Set – All Season
BEST OR ORGANIC HAIR CARE PRODUCTS
Overall Winner
Intelligent Nutrients – Soothe-Sayer Bi-Phase Scalp Serum
Finalists
Dr Organic – Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo
Odylique – Hydrating Lavender Shampoo
BEST OF ORGANIC SKIN CARE & MAKE UP PRODUCTS
Overall Winner
Rhug Wild Beauty – Protecting Face Oil with Bakuchiol
Finalists
Obvs Skincare – Intensive Skin Recovery Cream
Neal’s Yard Remedies – Frankincense Intense Age Defying Overnight Mask
BEST OF ORGANIC PREGNANCY & BABY PRODUCTS
Overall Winner
Neal’s Yard Remedies – Baby Bath and Shampoo
Finalists
Myrtle & Maude – Postpartum Hair Growth Mask
Wooden Spoon – Gentle Diaper Cream
BEST OF ORGANIC HEALTH & PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS
Overall Winner
HayMax – Organic Drug Free Allergen Barrier Balms
Finalists
YES O YES – Organic Clitoral Stimulant Oil
The Green Woman – Mineral Toothpaste
Best of Organic Farms (Over 10 Hectares)
BEST OF ORGANIC FAMRS (OVER 10 HECTARES)
Overall Winner
Manor Organic Farm
Finalists
Goodwood Home Farm
The Roaming Dairy – Kingsclere Estate
BEST OF ORGANIC SMALLHOLDINGS & MARKET GARDENS (UNDER 10 HECTARES)
Overall Winner
Sunshine & Green – Ark Farm
Finalists
Eversfield Organic Market Garden
Mora Farm
WINNERS OF WINNERS (WOW) AWARD
Winner
Brown Cow Organics – Natural Kefir Fermented Yoghurt
NATION’S FAVOURITE ORGANIC FOOD 7 DRINK PRODUCT
Winner
Clearspring – Silken Tofu
Finalists
Freedom Brewery – Helles Lager
Aspall – Organic Cyder Vinegar
Momo Kombucha – Ginger & Lemon
OMGTea – Organic Matcha Green Tea
JustIngredients – Organic Curry Powder
Mr Organic – Ketchup
Liquid Gold Products – Cretan Liquid Gold Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Seed & Bean – Sea Salt & Orange Organic Dairy Free Milk Chocolate
Grass Roots Dairy Co. – Organic Salted Butter
Rising Star Award
Winner
Sinead & Adam – Aweside Farm
Finalists
Sarah Langford
Claire Ratinon
Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner
Iain Tolhurst – Tolhurst Organic