Great Taste 2026: whole strawberries in white chocolate with pistachio win over blind judges
No packaging, no brand, no story. Just the product and the taste. That is how the Great Taste judges tried our whole strawberries in white chocolate with pistachio this year, and why they gave them one of the most respected awards in gourmet food and drink.
On a shelf full of pralines and seasonal chocolate, every product claims to be the best. Shoppers have a few seconds to decide whom to believe. That is why independent awards in confectionery are more than decoration on a pack. They are one of the few signals both shoppers and buyers trust.
This year we received one of them again. Choco Fruits whole strawberries in white chocolate with pistachio have been awarded Great Taste 2026.
How Great Taste judges
Great Taste is run by the UK's Guild of Fine Food and is considered the largest and most respected food and drink accreditation scheme in the world. In the industry it is often called the "Oscars of the food and drink world".
The numbers explain why. This year more than 15,000 products from 3,919 companies in 116 countries were entered, a record. Judging took 105 days across rooms in London, Dorset, Ireland and Italy, with more than 800 experts on the panels: chefs, critics, product developers, retailers and food writers.
What matters most is how they judge. Every product is blind-tasted. No packaging, no branding and no story to influence the judges. Just the product. And the taste.
What won the judges over
A blind tasting leaves no room for marketing. The product has to make its case on its own, in the first bite. With our strawberries, that means three layers that arrive one after another.
First comes smooth gourmet white chocolate that melts at body temperature. A second later comes the crunch of a whole freeze-dried strawberry, which keeps its colour, acidity and natural sweetness because it was never heated. Real pistachios finish it with depth and a gentle savoury note.
The mix of fruity freshness, creamy white chocolate and rich pistachio now carries an international seal of approval, too.
Not the first, but each one counts
This award joins a growing collection of international recognitions for our chocolate creations. It includes previous Great Taste awards, the Academy of Chocolate and the International Taste Awards.
Every one of these awards was given for taste, not packaging. That matters to us, because all our award-winning products are made on the same lines in Maribor that produce our partners' private label products.
What the award means for retailers
- Independent proof of quality. A verdict from a blind panel of more than 800 experts is an argument shoppers understand without explanation.
- A selling point on the shelf. The recognisable Great Taste mark on a pack or display helps a product stand out in a crowded category.
- A premium price with a reason. Whole strawberries, real chocolate and award-winning taste justify a higher price than ordinary sweets.
- The same standard for private label. Recipes, ingredients and IFS Food certified production stay the same, whatever name is on the bag.
Want award-winning Choco Fruits on your shelves, or a similar product under your own brand? Get in touch and we will send samples.
