LAVERDE ARTISAN Wins Silver and Bronze at the Great British Food Awards 2026
Press release — London, 6 October 2026
LAVERDE ARTISAN, the London-based Sicilian pantry brand, has won two medals at the Great British Food Awards 2026: Silver for its Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the Kitchen Condiments category, and Bronze for its Black Lentils from Villalba, Sicily in the Store Cupboard Essentials category.
The results were announced at the Great British Food Awards ceremony in London on Tuesday 6 October 2026. Both products had been named on the official shortlist published on 11 August 2026. The medals arrive in LAVERDE ARTISAN's first year of trading, and follow two awards at Great Taste 2026 earlier this year.
The two medals
- Silver — Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Category: Kitchen Condiments. Judged by Thuy Hoang. Great British Food Awards 2026 — Silver Award Certificate: Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil (PDF)
- Bronze — Black Lentils from Villalba, Sicily. Category: Store Cupboard Essentials. Judged by Maria Elia. Great British Food Awards 2026 — Bronze Award Certificate: Black Lentils from Villalba, Sicily (PDF)
Founder's comment
“Nature makes it once — we go and get it. To win two medals in our first year of trading is something we never imagined, and it tells us that honest food, made one harvest at a time, speaks for itself.”
— Luis Laverde, founder, LAVERDE ARTISAN
About the Silver: Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
LAVERDE ARTISAN's extra virgin olive oil is a single-estate Sicilian oil made from the Biancolilla olive, cold-pressed at 900m altitude in Caltanissetta, central Sicily, from a single November harvest. It is imported directly from the family producer. The Silver applies to the oil itself, which is bottled in three formats: 100ml, 250ml and 500ml. More on the oil: extra virgin olive oil UK.
About the Bronze: Black Lentils from Villalba
The Black Lentils from Villalba are a heritage variety from central Sicily: small, dark lentils that hold their shape when cooked and carry a deep, earthy flavour. LAVERDE ARTISAN imports them directly from Villalba and is the only UK direct importer it is aware of. The same lentils hold a 1-star award from Great Taste 2026.
A first year of recognition
- Great British Food Awards 2026 — Silver, Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Kitchen Condiments)
- Great British Food Awards 2026 — Bronze, Black Lentils from Villalba, Sicily (Store Cupboard Essentials)
- Great Taste 2026 — 2 stars (Outstanding), Madrigal Colombian Specialty Coffee
- Great Taste 2026 — 1 star, Black Lentils from Villalba, Sicily
Every award, with certificates and official listings, is recorded on the LAVERDE ARTISAN Awards & Recognition page.
About the Great British Food Awards
The Great British Food Awards were launched in 2014 and are judged by a panel of chefs, food critics and industry figures. Entries are assessed across more than 60 categories before Gold, Silver and Bronze awards are decided.
About LAVERDE ARTISAN
LAVERDE ARTISAN is a London-based premium Sicilian pantry brand. It imports single-estate Biancolilla extra virgin olive oil, raw Sicilian honey and Villalba black lentils directly from their producers in Sicily, alongside Madrigal Colombian specialty coffee, roasted weekly in small batches by LAVERDE in London. The range is stocked by 30+ independent London retailers and sold online at laverdeartisan.com. Its guiding idea is simple: nature makes it once.
Press contact
Luis Laverde, founder — press@laverdeartisan.com
Company background, approved boilerplate, images and certificates: LAVERDE ARTISAN Press Room