A SMALL Exmoor cottage industry has beaten off competition from the cream of the crop to scoop not one but two food 'Oscars' in the prestigious Great Taste Awards. Brendon Hill Crafts struck gold for its strawberry jam and unusually named accompaniment for cheese, raspberry and redcurrant fruit cheese, in the awards organised by the Guild of Fine Food Retailers. The company was up against hundreds of other top quality producers from across the country for the accolade of a gold award. The family-run business is now in the running for the ultimate title of supreme champion, which will be announced in September having been chosen from the select group of gold winners. Brendon Hill Crafts, which is based on Brendon Hill, specialises in the production of high quality preserves based on traditional kitchen recipes. Run by David and Liz Jessup, production has grown from modest beginnings in 1983 to more than 35,000 jars of home-made jams, marmalades, jellies and chutney a year. The couple will be able to put gold stickers on jars of their strawberry jam and raspberry and redcurrant fruit cheese in recognition of their status as award winners. Mr Jessup said he was pleased to be honoured by the Guild of Fine Food Retailers, especially as the great British favourite - strawberry jam - had been among the winners. He said: "It is harder to win awards for the more basic recipes so we're particularly pleased to have won with our strawberry jam. "The raspberry and redcurrant fruit cheese is a Victorian idea using very concentrated fruit to make a solid jelly which is traditionally served with cheese. "Although the idea is Victorian, the recipe is very much ours." A record number of foods produced in the South West were included in this year's Great Taste Awards, which are billed as the 'Oscars' of the world of fine food and drink. After weeks of regional assessment by more than 200 judges, the foods considered to be of gold standard were re-submitted to an exclusive panel of top chefs, food writers and retailers chaired by Jean-Christophe Novelli. The panel then had to decide on the overall regional winners as well as the coveted supreme champion award, the results of which will remain a closely guarded secret until the glittering awards ceremony on September 5. Bob Farrand, national director of the Guild of Fine Food Retailers said judges had to pick their way through some 4,000 products before deciding on a select few for golden glory. He said: "Each of the foods was judged like with like, being decanted and blind tasted along the way. "Being granted a gold award is recognition of the craft and dedication in the making of superb food and drink." Visitors to today's (Friday) Dunster Show will be able to sample the award-winning Brendon Hill Crafts' produce for themselves in the main craft tent.