Kelly Turkeys and Sainsbury’s among winners at British Turkey Awards

Kelly Turkeys has walked off with the British Turkey Award 2008 for Best Premium Christmas Turkey, fighting off fierce competition from Copas and Waitrose.

The KellyBronze was declared a Christmas winner for the second year running by TV chef Phil Vickery and Catriona Lee in front of 200 guests and VIPs at Claridge’s, in London last month.

Judges claimed it had best flavour and was the quickest to cook. But the judging panel emphasised all three birds were excellent quality and any of them would make a memorable Christmas dinner.

Organisers decided to split the all-important Christmas category into three parts to showcase premium whole bird plus traditional family birds and convenience products.

Lincs Turkeys won the trophy for a family favourite bird with its fresh Lincolnshire turkey. Judges said the turkey would create a real wow factor when carried to the Christmas table. Tesco was named Christmas Convenience winner for a ready-to-cook thigh and breast joint.

Kellys also picked up the trophy for Best Innovation for its ground-breaking Demi KellyBronze – a whole turkey chopped down the middle to give small families and couples the “KellyBronze experience” with minimal waste. The judges praised the idea, saying the Demi KellyBronze would allow small families to enjoy all the benefits of a whole bird.

Copas won the Best Accompaniment trophy for the second year running, this time with its new Very Very Special Coronation Sauce with Apricots, aimed at transforming leftovers into delicious meals.

Sainsbury’s scooped the coveted British Turkey Retailer of the Year title, being declared the winner for the sheer variety of its products. Judges also requested a special mention for Waitrose for its clear labelling flagging up usage, nutrition and provenance.

Catriona Lee, marketing spokesman for the British Turkey Federation, said: “The quality and variety of British turkey products now available all year round on supermarket shelves is at an all-time high.”

Turkey winners:

Ready-to-eat Adlington Traditional Oak-Smoked Turkey

Christmas turkey Lincs Turkeys Fresh Lincolnshire Turkey

Christmas convenience Tesco Christmas Fresh Family Turkey Breast and Thigh Joint

Christmas premium Kelly Turkeys KellyBronze Turkey

Barbecue product Asda Turkey Sausages

Branded product Lincs Turkeys Fresh Lincolnshire Turkey

Innovative product Kelly Turkeys DemiBronze Turkey

Accompaniment Copas Very Very Special Coronation Sauce with Apricots

Added value Bernard Matthews Big Green Tick Seeded Steaks

Best primary product Waitrose Fresh Lincolnshire Free Range Turkey

Best catering product Loxton Food Company Turkey Escalope

Retailer of the Year Sainsbury’s