FODDER, the regional food shop and cafe on the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, has won one of the most prized national awards in the industry.

Judges chose the multi-award winning enterprise as the "Great Taste Shop of the Year 2014" from a total entry figure of 3,000 shops from throughout the UK.

The "Golden Fork" award was presented by The Guild of Fine Food at a glittering ceremony in London, on Monday. (8th).

John Farrand, Guild managing director, said: "Fodder had glowing comments from our judges who described the store as food retailing at its best.

"They were impressed by the layout of the store, the signage and especially the merchandising of products explaining the provenance of the hundreds of local and regional food and drink products on sale.

"But as we all know, a shop is nothing without a great team and Fodder also has a brilliant team of people who are friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable; they have created an atmosphere where children are welcome and our judge could see that this was a place where families come to shop regularly."

Fodder has a deli, butchers and cafe and its products are drawn from more than 310 small Yorkshire producers and farmers. There are five butchers and five chefs serving a comprehensive menu of locally inspired food.

Heather Parry, managing director of Fodder and deputy chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) who opened it five years ago to champion local food said: "This is the ultimate accolade and to say we are over the moon is an understatement. It is wonderful to receive such recognition from our peers and is a terrific endorsement of the quality of our producers, the expertise and the dedication of our team of staff."

Fodder has won many awards, most recently a Visit England Gold in the Taste of England category. It is unique in that all profits are ploughed back into YAS for its charitable work in the industry.