A FROZEN food firm founded out of a family farming business has won a gold award from the British Federation of Frozen Food (BFFF) awards.

Farmhouse Potato Bakers, based near Bridlington, won the accolade for its Bannisters’ Farm Cheese and Jalapeño Bites.

The ceremony, which was held at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London, saw experts from across the frozen food industry come together to celebrate the best in new product innovation, with winners selected by consumers.

The latest addition to the Bannisters’ Farm range, Cheese and Jalapeño Bites, made from mini potato skins with cheddar cheese and jalapeños, stormed the ‘best new pizza, savouries and savoury bread product’ category, beating many big-name brands to the top spot.

Marie Medhurst, sales director for Bannisters’ Farm, who collected the award at the event, said: "The Bannisters’ Farm brand has innovation at its heart and we’re absolutely delighted that this has been recognised in these awards.

"We’re always looking to introduce something new and original to the market and it’s this ethos which we feel sets us apart from other brands in the frozen sector."

Commercial director Zoe Bannister added: "We recognised a gap in the supermarket freezer cabinets for British sourced frozen ready baked potatoes in 2007 and launched our Bannisters’ Farm range in response.

"Our mission since has been to produce good wholesome food which unites our traditional farming family values with the busy modern lives of today"

Farmhouse, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, has been producing frozen potato and vegetable products to the catering and retail market since it was founded as a farm diversification project by Rob and Hilary Bannister in 1985.