Pictured above: (l-r) Steve Lashford of AW Lashford & Son, winner of the 'tastiest speciality sausage' with Tom Cooke sales manager of BHJ UK Protein Foods Limited

BHJ UK Protein Foods Limited has helped crown the tastiest bangers at the tenth annual West Midlands Tastiest Sausage Competition 2011.   

The Tipton based ingredients manufacturer joined forces with HEART of ENGLAND fine foods (HEFF) to help judge the 'tastiest breakfast sausage' and 'tastiest speciality sausage' from more than 140 sausages from butchers across the West Midlands. 

AW Lashford & Son Ltd, Hall Green, won the 'tastiest speciality sausage' category with its sovereign sausage - lamb, mint and apricot, and DT Waller Ltd, Ledbury, won the 'tastiest breakfast sausage' category with its large traditional pork sausage.

As the official event sponsor, BHJ UK took centre stage to present the winners with their individual awards at The Aga Shop in the Mailbox, Birmingham.

Tom Cooke, sales manager of BHJ UK, said: "It was great to throw our support behind this regional competition and help raise awareness of locally sourced products.

"This year's competition was extremely tough with some excellent tasting, locally produced sausages being presented by butchers throughout the region."

BHJ UK is the only producer to offer British Quality Assured Pork (BQAP) accredited DRINDE® - a versatile functional meat ingredient which helps bind fat and water while delivering excellent textural properties and value in pork-based products such as sausages.