Double gold win for Conwy Valley delicatessen.

A CONWY Valley delicatessen has won two golds in this year's Great Taste Awards.

Blas ar Fwyd, based in Llanrwst, won a coveted three star gold award - the highest accolade and one of only 80 awarded by the Guild of Fine Foods Retailers - for its Seville Marmalade and a one star gold for Broccoli and Perl Las Cheese Soup. The Great Taste Awards are regarded as a badge of excellence in the fine food world.

The company will discover at the awards presentation dinner later this month if it has won other major trophies for three star gold winners.

Established by Deiniol ap Dafydd and his wife Chandra in 1988, Blas ar Fwyd is no stranger to the Great Taste Awards, having been on the winners' list every year since 2000.

"Winning awards year after year at the very highest level is essential to the company, as it demonstrates consistency of quality," said Mr ap Dafydd. "People now recognise Wales as a country that has the inspiration and confidence to produce a range of world class food products, not just a couple of quality raw materials.

"We are passionate in Wales about producing quality food, from the farmers who produce the raw materials to the dedicated people that add value afterwards."

Mr ap Dafydd, who formerly ran a leisure and entertainment centre in London, returned to North Wales to establish his own food business.

Twenty-one years on, Blas ar Fwyd now employs 40 people, providing delicatessen, restaurant, event catering and wholesale services, as well as selling products, including Welsh produce, European specialities, fine wines and traditionally made sweets and cakes, online.

CAPTION(S):

Deiniol ap Dafydd and his wife Chandra (left), head chef Gwenda Evans and the gold award winning Seville Marmalade