A HAMPSHIRE ketchup brand has scooped up a coveted award for its healthy alternative to the classic sauce. 

Winchester-based Real Good Ketchup was awarded a two-star Gold Award in this year’s Great Taste Awards, the international competition which can make or break businesses. 

Known as the "Oscars of the food world", the Great Taste Awards are the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink awards, putting hundreds of products to the test with its panel of over 500 experts.

Awards are only given to those products that tick all the boxes when it comes to taste and quality. 

READ MORE: Great Taste Awards: Hampshire businesses three stars

Liz Jones, founder of Real Good Ketchup (Image: Liz Jones)

In this year's competition the judges awarded a coveted two-star accolades to Real Good Ketchup, the "100% natural, no added sugar and 80% less salt" ketchup brand. 

“We are over the moon with this result,” said Elizabeth Jones, founder. “These awards are judged purely on taste, which proves that our 100% natural and no added sugar ketchup hits all the right notes for both taste and health.”

In praise of the ketchup, the judges said: “This deep ruby-red ketchup is exactly what we would expect of a good artisanal ketchup, with good sweetness and tang and the tomato flavours coming through.

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"This has great colour and the smooth, spoonable texture is immediately appealing, as is the rich tomato aroma. Tomato presence is marked on the palate, with acidity and sweetness at an apt level. Thick in texture and palate coating, the balance of this ketchup is appealing and it finishes sweet, rich and rewarding.”

Elizabeth added: “The Great Taste Awards are incredibly highly regarded and competition for stars is fierce. We're delighted that our ketchup has scored so highly and with such high praise from the judges.”

Real Good Ketchup is a "healthy" tomato ketchup with no added sugar, 80 per cent less salt than other brands and top 14 allergen free ingredients. It is available in a 310g recyclable squeezy bottle from Ocado and Wholefoods Market. 

For more information on Real Good Ketchup, visit realgoodketchup.com.