On Friday 14^th March 2008 the winners of the Wiltshire Life Awards initiative were announced at a ceremony held at Wilton house, Wilton, Wiltshire. Former Conservative Party Deputy chairman and bestselling author Michael Dobbs presented a total of 10 awards recognising excellence across Wiltshire.

Chippenham based chocolatier Diana Short of Lick the Spoon was delighted to be named as Wiltshire’s Best Independent Food Producer. The award nominated by readers of Wiltshire Life magazine recognises the person who has produced the highest quality product and has developed strategies to market and sell their produce in the county and beyond 

On Friday 14^th March 2008 the winners of the Wiltshire Life Awards initiative were announced at a ceremony held at Wilton house, Wilton, Wiltshire. Former Conservative Party Deputy chairman and bestselling author Michael Dobbs presented a total of 10 awards recognising excellence across Wiltshire.

Chippenham based chocolatier Diana Short of Lick the Spoon was delighted to be named as Wiltshire’s Best Independent Food Producer. The award nominated by readers of Wiltshire Life magazine recognises the person who has produced the highest quality product and has developed strategies to market and sell their produce in the county and beyond 

Michael Dobbs said the judges described Lick the Spoon chocolates as simply "World Class" and noted the Mulled Blackberry and Strawberry truffle as particular favourites. Awards co presenter and founder of "The Black Farmer" brand, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, said of Diana that, "if you are passionate about food, you should meet this lady!" Chocolatier Diana Short is delighted and attributes the success to the “classic combination of quality ingredients and original recipes, beautifully hand tempered chocolate, and oodles of passion!”

Diana described the wonderful produce available in Wiltshire and the West Country and the delicious fresh local organic cream and honey used in Lick the Spoon chocolates. “As well as being used in our honey truffle, honey is a natural invert sugar and can be used as a perfect natural substitute for glucose in some of our other recipes” explained Diana. “Our chocolates are seasonal...we like to feature special recipes to suit the time of year. We are already planning a new collection which will feature a real West country provenance”.

The small family business has only been going for just over a year and work from home with their two small children, but they hope to eventually expand into a shop. For now, their chocolates can be bought from their website or from a few select retail outlets, amongst them, The Allington Farm shop who supply them with the cream and local honey for their creations.

“It’s wonderful to win an award nominated by somebody who has enjoyed our product” says Diana… “we would like to thank them whoever they are!”

Diana Short

www.lickthespoon.co.uk

01249 658090

80 Langley Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1DB