Wild Pantry Wins Two Master Awards at the NatureMade Food & Drink Awards 2026

We still can’t quite believe we’re writing this.

Wild Pantry has been awarded two Master Awards at the NatureMade Food & Drink Awards 2026, with our Elderflower Champagne Water Kefir and Fermented Salsa both recognised for their Outstanding Flavour.

The Master Award is the highest accolade available within the awards. Out of all the products entered from across the UK, only nine products received this recognition. To have two of them carrying the Wild Pantry name feels incredibly special.

Especially when you consider that Wild Pantry only launched in August 2025.

It was never meant to become a business...

Wild Pantry began in a way we never expected.

Following Daniel’s diagnosis with Barrett’s Oesophagus, a pre-cancerous condition affecting the oesophagus, we started looking at ways to support our health through dietary and lifestyle changes alongside conventional medical advice.

During that process, we kept coming across fermented foods.

At first, we were sceptical. We certainly weren’t planning a business.

But Alice started making ferments at home and before long, friends and family were asking for jars of kraut and bottles of Water Kefir of their own. We realised there was something missing from the market.

Many fermented foods felt intimidating or were positioned solely towards health enthusiasts. We wanted to create products that people genuinely enjoyed eating and drinking. Products that happened to be fermented, rather than fermented products that people felt they had to tolerate.

Wild Pantry was born from that idea.

The award-winning products

Elderflower Champagne Water Kefir

A naturally sparkling fermented soft drink inspired by the flavours of traditional elderflower champagne.

Light, refreshing and made with live cultures, it’s become one of our most popular drinks for people looking for something a little more special than a standard soft drink.

Fermented Salsa

Our take on a kitchen staple, made using fermentation to add depth of flavour and character.

It’s bright, punchy and incredibly versatile, whether you’re pairing it with tacos, eggs, salads or simply enjoying it with tortilla chips.

What this means to us

Winning awards is wonderful. Winning awards for flavour means even more.

One of our goals from day one has been to challenge the perception that fermented foods are an acquired taste. We believe that if healthy habits are enjoyable, people are far more likely to stick with them.

These awards suggest we’re on the right track. To receive recognition from a judging panel led by Angela Clutton, multi-award-winning cookery writer and Co-Director of the British Library’s Food Season, is something we’re hugely proud of.

Thank you

To everyone who has bought a bottle, picked up a jar at a market, stocked us in your shop, recommended us to a friend or followed our journey online, thank you.

You have helped us grow from a kitchen experiment into an award-winning food and drink business. And this is only the beginning.

Since launching, we’ve sold thousands of bottles and jars to customers across Merseyside and Cheshire. We’re working hard behind the scenes to expand our reach so that more people across the UK can discover Wild Pantry.

For now though, we’re taking a moment to celebrate.

Thank you for being part of the journey.

Daniel & Alice

Co-Founders, Wild Pantry