Sizzling

bangers

haul in

a host

of medals

A WORCESTERSHIRE butcher proved its bangers were flash when it cooked up a sizzling nine medals at the biggest international food exhibition.

Checketts of Ombersley took three gold stars, one gold and five silvers at the Freshfood 2000 exhibition in Holland.

The county specialist had the medals in the pan after beating specialists from all over the world with duck, pork & orange sausages, pork pies with chicken and pate and white hogs puddings.

Judges recognised the taste, composition, freshness and appearance, product quality and Checketts' butchery skills.

Phil Checketts said the Meat & Livestock Commission, which organised the entries, and the Guild of Q Butchers persuaded him to enter.

"The competition is run every three years and we've entered three times," he said. "But we've done better than ever this year."

Mr Checketts, who runs the business with his son David and brother Tony said the sausages and pies were shipped out to Holland in refrigerated containers.

Judges inspected raw products before cooking and tasting them.

"It's a very stringent judging process," he added.

"Entries come from all over the world. It's a big thing.

"We're really proud of the medals - especially the gold stars for the lamb noisettes and chicken and leek pies.

"The speciality products are something that we're keen to develop. My son David, the shop manager, is doing more and more of them because they sell so well."

The shop, opened by Mr Checketts' grandfather Thomas in 1902, has gone from strength to strength.

"We've got the centenary coming up in 2002," he said.

"We're into the fourth generation now with David and we've got no plans to retire yet."

Keith Fisher, butchery and product development manager for the MLC, said butchers across the country were proving British was best.

"Gaining an award is a tremendous acknowledgement of a quality product and high levels of butchery skills," he said.