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.

Irish three-star Great Taste Award winners

  • Aldi Ireland: Specially Selected Wild Sage and Sauteed Onion Sourdough Stuffing, Specially Selected Irish Black Angus Fillet Steak, Clonbawn Irish Sour Cream Full Fat
  • Aurivo Co-operative Society Limited: Connacht Gold Pure Irish Butter
  • Baronscourt Estate: Wild Sika Venison Loin
  • Boyne Valley Cheese: Boyne Valley Blue, Rathkenny
  • Carlingford Oyster Company Ltd: Carlingford No 3
  • Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers: Organic Cashel Blue
  • Coco Milis: 63% Dark Chocolate Croithlí Whiskey Infused
  • Coolattin Cheddar Ltd: Coolattin Mature Cheddar
  • Do Me A Flavour: Do Me a Flavour Truffle and Pink Peppercorn Butter
  • Dunnes Stores: Dunnes Stores Creamy and Nutty Gubbeen Cheese, Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Sticky Toffee Pudding Crown
  • Green Pastures (Donegal): 25% Sour Cream
  • Hannan Meats Ltd: Guanciale, Buttermilk dry Cure Bacon Rack, Sugar Pit Buttermilk Bacon Rack, Sugar Pit Buttermilk Bacon Chop, Buttermilk Bone in Pork Chop, Buttermilk Boneless Pork Loin Joint
  • Honey Harvest: Ivy Blossom Honey
  • Irish Country Meats: Aldi Specially Selected Wicklow Butterfly Lamb Leg Fillet with Salt and Pepper
  • James Whelan Butchers: Heritage Cure Ham
  • Kepak Watergrasshill: Bright Meat Company Quality Beef with a lower carbon footprint 30 Days Matured Thick Cut Irish Beef Fillet Steak
  • Kettyle Irish Foods: Kettyle Salt Moss Dry Aged Pork Belly
  • Killadoon Milk: Killadoon Milk – Whole Milk
  • Lidl Ireland: Lidl Deluxe Irish Angus 3 Rib Roast on the Bone 40 Days Matured in Giftbox 2.5–3.5kg, Lidl Deluxe Lamb Rump Roast with Sea Salt, Garlic and Rosemary 400g, Lidl Deluxe Bronze Turkey Crown Dressed with Bacon Lattice and Butter 1.8kg
  • Lisdergan Butchery: Salt Aged Buttermilk Bone in Rind on Pork Belly, Wild Sika Venison French Rack
  • Molloy Honey: Molly Honey
  • Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland: Signature Tastes Unsmoked Irish Hampshire Ham Fillet, Signature Taste Slow Cooked Irish Hampshire Ham on the Bone with Light Muscovado Sugar and an Orange Blossom Honey Glaze, Signature Tastes Irish Hereford Cote de Boeuf Steak
  • Our Brewery: Low Land – Oud Bruin – Flemish Brown Ale, Séasúr – Mixed Ferm Saison
  • Silver Hill Duck: Silver Hill Duck Fillets
  • The Curious Farmer: Braised Beef with Blue Cheese Crumble Pie
  • The Curly Pigs: Coppa
  • The Farmhouse Bees and Trees Ltd: The Farmhouse Raw Ivy/Heather Fusion Honey
  • Tom Hixson of Smithfield: Rosendale Wagyu Short Ribs
  • Wexford Home Preserves: Wexford Home Preserves Blackcurrant Jam
  • Wildwood Vinegars: Wild Blackberry with Winter Spices Balsamic
  • Woodcock Smokery: Woodcock Smokery