A FAMILY run company from Colchester is celebrating scooping a major award handed out annually to reward excellence in local produce.

The East of England Co-op prides itself on stocking local producers and as such held its annual Supplier Supper bringing together more than 200 producers, family and friends.

And it also announced Colchester-based potato and crisp producers Fairfields Crisps as its overall producer of the year for 2016.

All 200 food producers are part of the company’s Sourced Locally initiative which has grown from just a handful almost ten years ago to more than 100 today supplying products to East of England Co-op stroes across Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

With sales growing year on year, Sourced Locally has seen more than £45million ploughed back into the local economy since 2007 - an increase of £11million in the past year alone.

And in keeping with the celebration of good food guests at the celebration, when awards were also handed out, high quality local food was also served up.

Guests tucked in to a steak and ale pie created in partnership with Hollybush Farm produce and Woodfordes Brewery and enjoyed panna cotta for desert served in Marybelle Pur Natur cream and Shawsgate sparkling rose.

In the build up to unveiling its producer of the year three commendations, in differently titled categories, were also awarded.

Meat producers Hundred River Foods, based in Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds company The Taste of Suffolk won its commendation in the newcomer category while The Taste of Suffolk, in Bury St Edmunds, for its award for its Sweetcure Ham having been singled out as the best project.

Great Tilkey Honey, which is in Coggeshall, Essex, was singled out for a commendation in the Engagement category.

Owner Michael Coe introduced is honey four years ago with no bar code or branding, just filling it jars of the sweet treat from his home.

The product is now on sale in more than 50 East of England Co-Op stores and Michael acts as advocate for the importance of bees and the benefits of honey, visiting a number of stores with his bees in a bid to educate the public.

Taking home the top prize of the evening, Fairfields Crisps is run by husband and wife team Robert and Laura Strathern.

It made it through to the final round of the competition along with Havensfield Eggs in Suffolk and Wendy’s House Cakes in Norfolk after receiving almost 4,000 votes and seeing off fellow Essex producers.

It was the second year in a row the company had made it through to that stage in the competition, missing out to Cornerway’s Nursery in Norfolk just last year, but the first time they had lifted the coveted prize.

The panel of judges, including Terry Hunt, Polly Robinson and Emma Crowhurst, selected Fairfields Farm as the overall Producer of the Year after meeting with the three finalists.

And in reaching their decision they were asked to consider a number of criteria including innovation, performance and demonstration of true co-operative spirit.

Fairfields Farm has been supplying East of England Co-op stores for more than eight years.

Roger Grosvenor, Joint Chief Executive for the East of England Co-op explains: “Following another exciting year for Sourced Locally, it was an honour to present Robert and Laura with their much deserved award.

“They’ve been truly supportive of the Sourced Locally initiative and are a great example of the genuine partnerships we strive to build with all of our local producers.

The third generation of potato farmers ten years ago Robert and Laura decided to take things a step further and began producing the crisps made exclusively with their own potatoes using flavours from other locally grown products such as Wicks Manor Bacon in Essex, Suffolk Farmhouse Cheeses and Aspall Cyder from Debenham.

From digging up and hand selecting the quality of the potatoes used, to washing, slicing, cooking and bagging, every part of the process takes place at their on site factory at the home farm.

Kevin Warden, local sourcing and fresh food product manager at Co-op, says: “The annual Supplier Supper is a highlight in the Sourced Locally calendar.

“It’s a true privilege to have a true partnership with our producers, and seeing them all together in one room is testament to that.

“2015 was hugely successful for Sourced Locally and with our second Sourced Locally Fortnight taking place in just a few months, we hope even more local people will get behind the scheme and enjoy eating fresh local produce.”

To find out more about the East of England Co-op’s Sourced Locally initiative visit www.eastofengland.coop