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News • August 13th, 2026
|A poultry business in Middleton on the Wolds, East Yorkshire, is celebrating after winning three prestigious Great Taste Awards. Soanes Poultry, known for its Grain Fed, Red Tractor Assured chicken products, received recognition in this highly regarded food and drink accreditation scheme.
Great Taste Awards
The Great Taste Awards are organised by the Guild of Fine Food and are considered the largest and most trusted accreditation scheme for food and drink in the UK. They support and promote both large and small food producers, offering buyers and food enthusiasts reliable recommendations for quality products. This year, Soanes Poultry's achievements added to their impressive history, allowing them to display the coveted Great Taste Producer logo for their multiple wins over the years.
Award-Winning Products
This year, Soanes Poultry's whole chicken was awarded a two-star rating, while their wings and Yorkshire Christmas Cockerel each received one star. The awards are based on rigorous blind-taste testing, where judges evaluate the products without knowing their origins. The feedback for the Grain Fed whole chicken was particularly glowing, with judges describing it as “a handsome looking bird” that is “plump with great colour on the skin.”
The judges noted that the chicken “cuts really well” and provides a “dense flavour-filled eat.” They remarked on the moistness of the meat and the flavour, which stood out even when simply cooked without seasoning, highlighting the difference that high-quality rearing can make. The Yorkshire Christmas Cockerel was praised as a “reliable bird on the Christmas table” and a more flavourful alternative to turkey.
Team Effort
Dmitrijus Solovjovas, the factory manager at Soanes Poultry, expressed pride in the team's achievements, saying:
“Over the last decade, our chicken has won 25 of these prestigious awards that are dubbed the Oscars of the food industry.”
“The ability to rear consistently delicious chickens is a testament to our farmers’ high welfare standards and to the skill of our operations team. It’s a real team effort, and I couldn’t be more pleased.”
About Soanes Poultry
Soanes Poultry is a family-owned business that has been rearing and preparing chicken since 1947. With over 180 employees, the company sells its products to butchers and independent retailers across Yorkshire, as well as to wholesalers and catering butchers nationwide. The business prides itself on its commitment to animal welfare and producing high-quality chicken, making it a staple for many in the region.
