I smell a winner - Ocado announces Garlic producer as winner of Britain’s next top supplier 2017

Garlic product specialist ‘The Garlic Farm’ wins listings and marketing spend

After a nationwide search, online supermarket, Ocado, has today crowned family-owned business, The Garlic Farm, as the winner of Britain’s Next Top Supplier 2017. It comes as the retailer looks to build on its long heritage of bringing new, pioneering and, most importantly, tasty products to its customers. As the winner, the garlic specialist will receive a number of listings in Ocado and will also collect a £20,000 marketing package to promote its products.

The Isle of Wight-based family producer started growing garlic on the island over 50 years ago and has been experimenting with the allium ever since. The result is a vast range of garlic-inspired produce, ranging from chutneys through to beer. Ocado customers will now be able to buy over 50 of the brand’s premium products at www.ocado.com/garlicfarm; from Black Garlic Beer (£4.25) and Pork Scratchings with Garlic (£1.95), to Garlic Jam with Red Chilli (£3.95) and Vampire Slayer - Seriously Hot Chilli Sauce (£6.95), meaning garlic-lovers need look no further!

Now in its third year, the Britain’s Next Top Supplier competition saw an abundance of unusual foodie entrants which were whittled down to six finalists. As well as The Garlic Farm, the contenders included Field & Flower (meatballs for kids), Coconuts Naturally (coconut vegan ice cream), Axiom Brands (vermouth), Raw & Wild (pili nuts) and Dash Water (wonky veg water) – each finalist bringing its own unique story to the table.

After a closely fought battle, the expert panel made up of Lawrence Hene, Marketing and Commercial Director at Ocado; Rose Price, Head of Buying at Ocado; Rosie Birkett, food journalist and blogger at A Lot on Her Plate; and Kayleigh Rattle, Deputy Editor at Great British Food, selected The Garlic Farm as the ultimate winner.

Lawrence Hene, Marketing and Commercial Director at Ocado, comments: “Every year we are surprised and delighted by the diversity and quality of produce that suppliers bring to our attention.

“It was a tough decision but in the end it was the combination of the quality of the products, Natasha and her team’s passion for garlic and their innovative use of a much loved ingredient that led us to the final result. The panel was truly wowed by the unique use of garlic, with the Garlic Peach & Mango Chutney and Black Garlic Vodka being a couple of products that particularly stood out.”

Natasha Edwards, Operations Manager at The Garlic Farm, comments: “To win Britain’s Next Top Supplier 2017 is an incredible accolade for us. We’ve been innovating with garlic for over 50 years and we are so excited to bring the results of our labour to Ocado customers. We are after all a nation of garlic lovers – and our unusual products will bring that familiar taste to people in ways they have never experienced before.”

For more information about The Garlic Farm products, visit: www.ocado.com/garlicfarm
For more information about Britain’s Next Top Supplier, visit: supplyocado.com/bnts.