Why Has Soanes Poultry Chicken Won So Many Great Taste Awards In 2025?

Ever walk down a supermarket aisle and wonder what makes one packet of chicken different from another? It's a fair question. But sometimes, a local business comes along and answers it with a shelf full of awards. That's exactly what's happened for an East Yorkshire poultry business, which has just proven its chicken has a seriously great taste.

The team at Soanes Poultry is celebrating, and for good reason. They've picked up not one, not two, but three shiny new awards for the incredible flavour of their chicken, which is something special. These aren't just any old awards, either; they're the kind of accolades that food lovers and chefs pay close attention to.

So what's all the fuss about?

Let's get straight to it. The awards in question are the Great Taste awards, which are basically the Oscars for the food and drink world. Getting one is a big deal. Getting three in one go? That's massive. The competition, run by the Guild of Fine Foods for 2025, involves hundreds of experts blind-tasting thousands of products. So there's no hiding behind fancy packaging. It all comes down to pure, unadulterated taste. The team at Soanes Poultry saw their hard work pay off with some serious recognition. Here's what they won:

• A one-star award for its Higher Welfare Whole Chicken
• A one-star award for its Grain Fed Skin Off Chicken Breast Fillets
• A two-star award for its Grain Fed Bone In Thighs

A one-star award means the food is 'simply delicious', which is a great compliment. But a two-star award means it's 'outstanding'. For a simple cut like a chicken thigh to get that kind of praise, it has to be pretty special. This latest win brings their total to an incredible 22 Great Taste awards over the last decade. Ben Lee, the MD at Soanes Poultry, puts it perfectly: "We're delighted and proud to have won more Great Taste awards, which prove how tasty our chicken is. Over the last 10 years, our chicken has won 22 of these prestigious awards that are dubbed the Oscars of the food industry." That's not just a lucky streak; it's a pattern of excellence which shows this is a business that cares about flavour.

The judges have their say on those thighs

So, what did the expert judges actually think? They had some pretty great things to say, especially about the two-star winning chicken thighs. It seems this humble cut of meat completely blew them away. They're the real experts, the people who taste amazing food for a living, and they were seriously impressed. Here's what they said: "Nicely sizeable thighs suggest the chickens grew to a sound maturity. The meat proved moist, nicely resilient while amply tender, and pleasingly savoury, with something of a sound Sunday roast flavour. The crisp, golden skin is an added pleasure."

Just reading that makes you hungry, doesn't it? They're not just saying "it's nice." They're talking about how the size points to a well-reared bird, and that the texture is both tender and has a good bite. And that "Sunday roast flavour" is the kind of compliment that speaks to everyone. They even raved about the crispy skin, which everyone knows is one of the best bits. But they didn't stop there. The judges added: "We are always advocating using thighs instead of breast for their succulence and flavour. These are lovely, meaty chicken thighs, have really crisp skin and offer the promised taste and juiciness. One would be ample for a portion, which is also great. We think these have an exceptional flavour, which is a big and delightful surprise." It's a great point. Lots of people automatically reach for chicken breast, but chefs and foodies often know that thighs pack way more flavour and stay juicier when cooked. These comments confirm that Soanes Poultry is producing chicken that tastes like chicken is supposed to taste. It's a testament to the quality of the food this business produces.

It's more than just chicken, it's about welfare and great food

So, how do they do it? It's not magic. It's down to a lot of hard work and a focus on doing things the right way. Two terms keep popping up: 'Grain Fed' and 'Higher Welfare'. But what do they actually mean? 'Grain Fed' is pretty straightforward. It means the chickens are fed a diet of wholesome grains. This affects the final flavour of the meat, giving it that rich, savoury quality the judges loved. Think of it like this: if you eat good food, you feel better. It's the same for chickens, and a good diet results in a better-tasting product. 'Higher Welfare' is about how the chickens are raised. It means they have more space to roam, more natural light, and generally live a less stressful, more natural life. A happy, healthy bird leads to better quality meat. This is a huge part of the story, and it's something Soanes Poultry clearly takes seriously. Their chickens are reared by a sister company, Clive Soanes Broilers, making it a real family and team affair.

Claire Wright, the MD there, said: "These awards are 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." This really shows that the great taste starts way before the chicken reaches the kitchen. It begins on the farm with a commitment to quality and animal welfare, which is something a lot of people look for in their food choices today.

A family business with a history of great taste

This success is built on decades of experience. Soanes Poultry isn't some new start-up. It's a family-owned business that has been rearing and preparing chicken since 1947. That's a long time to be perfecting a craft. With over 160 people on the team, it's a local employer that sells its award-winning **chicken** to butchers and independent shops across Yorkshire and to wholesalers nationwide. Because they've won so many Great Taste Awards over the years, the business can now use the 'Great Taste Producer' logo.

This is a badge of honour. When you see it, you know you're buying from a company that consistently produces food that has been judged to be genuinely brilliant. It's a reliable stamp of approval in a world full of confusing labels. So next time someone is choosing chicken, it's worth remembering that some producers go the extra mile. And for Soanes Poultry, that extra mile has led to some very impressive awards and a reputation for truly great taste.