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Cotswold Gold Wins Established Business of the Year

Cotswold Gold Wins Established Business of the Year

Nov 18, 2025

Cotswold Gold Wins Established Business of the Year South West at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2025

Last night at Grosvenor House in London, something special happened for our small corner of the Cotswolds.

Cotswold Gold was named Established Business of the Year South West at The Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2025, our very first time entering.

For a business that started in a converted dairy building on a family farm, it is a moment we are incredibly proud of.

In the photo you can see Charlie and Hannah Beldam at the awards, holding the GBEA trophy. While their names are on the plaque, we see this as recognition for everyone behind Cotswold Gold, our fantastic team, our farming partners, our customers and the many brands who trust us with their products.

From Cotswold Fields to Award Winning British Rapeseed Oil


Cotswold Gold began with a simple idea. Could we take the rapeseed growing on our family farm and turn it into a premium cold pressed British rapeseed oil right here on site
That idea became reality in 2010, when Charlie returned from studying Agriculture and Land Management at the Royal Agricultural University and converted old dairy buildings into a small production space. The mission was clear from day one.

A True Field to Bottle British Oil

  • Use only our own seed, grown on the family farm
  • Cold press with no heat or chemical treatment
  • Create the best British rapeseed oil possible, from field to bottle
What started as a single product has grown into a full range of premium extra virgin cold pressed rapeseed oils, mayonnaises, dressings, infused oils and condiments, all produced on the farm in the Worcestershire corner of the Cotswolds.

Today, we produce over 700 products under our own brands and for others. Our oils and condiments now appear on shelves and menus at names including Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, Daylesford and Diddly Squat Farm, as well as more than 50 premium retailers and some of the UKs most exciting challenger brands.

But the principle that started it all has not changed. Do things properly, or not at all.

What Makes Cotswold Gold Different from Other Cooking Oils

In a food market where supply chains can be long and opaque, we have always believed in keeping things simple and transparent.

Single Estate, Fully Traceable British Rapeseed Oil

  • Everything happens here. We grow the crop, press the oil, bottle it and, locally, even deliver it ourselves. There is no outsourcing and no blending.
  • It is effectively a single estate oil, just like a fine wine. You know exactly where it came from and how it was made.
  • Our oil is cold pressed using traditional screw presses, and we only extract the first 30 per cent, the richest, highest quality fraction of the seed.
  • There is no heat, no chemicals, no dilution and no added water, just clean, vibrant, golden oil.

Health Benefits of Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil

More and more customers are discovering the health benefits of British cold pressed rapeseed oil. Compared with many imported oils, Cotswold Gold has:
  • Less than half the saturated fat of olive oil
  • High levels of Omegas 3, 6 and 9
  • A rich natural source of Vitamin E
For us, it is about offering a British made alternative to olive oil that is better for your health, better for traceability and better for the environment.

A Self Funded, Resilient British Food Business

One of the reasons this award means so much is the path we have taken to get here.
Cotswold Gold was launched in the middle of a recession, with no external funding and no financial safety net. Since day one, the business has been entirely self funded through profitability, no bank loans, no investors, just patient reinvestment over 15 years or so.

Along the way, there have been plenty of challenges.
  • Learning to run a business while learning the language of margins, cash flow, HR and branding on the job
  • Navigating growth that was not always fast or linear, including plateaus that, in hindsight, were the start of maturity and stability
  • Learning to let go and trust others with a business that began as a one person operation
Today, Cotswold Gold supports local employment, with a growing team on site and a network of partners and suppliers who share our values. We have also built a resilient omni channel model, selling through food service, retail, gifting, independents and online, which spreads risk and gives us more control over our future.

Growth, Brand Acquisitions and Manufacturing for 50 Plus Food Brands

The GBEA judges recognised not just our products, but the way the business has evolved.
Over the last few years we have:
  • Acquired like minded brands, including Lucy's Dressings, Ross & Ross Gifts and The Wonky Food Co, to broaden our range while staying true to our core values
  • Developed a strong contract manufacturing arm, now producing for more than 50 brands, from household names to innovative start ups
  • Continued to invest in sustainable farming and production, from soil health and biodiversity to reducing food miles through our field to bottle model
Behind every bottle of oil or jar of mayonnaise is a team that cares deeply about British farming, food integrity and doing things the right way.

Recognition for a Fantastic Cotswold Gold Team

Although awards often focus on founders, we see this win as a celebration of the people who make Cotswold Gold what it is.

From the farm team and production crew to the office, sales and warehouse staff, this is a team effort in every sense. The long days during harvest, the late nights fulfilling Christmas orders, the problem solving when machinery misbehaves, none of that shows up on a trophy, but it is exactly what this award represents.

To our customers, stockists, chefs, retail partners and the brands who trust us to produce their products, thank you. Your support has allowed a small Cotswold farm business to grow into an award winning, established British food producer.

What Winning Established Business of the Year Means for Our Customers

Winning Established Business of the Year South West is a huge honour, but we see it as a starting point rather than a finish line.

We will keep:
  • Investing in our field to bottle production so customers know exactly where their oil comes from
  • Championing British cold pressed rapeseed oil as a healthier, more sustainable choice for everyday cooking
  • Supporting local jobs and skills here in the Cotswolds
  • Partnering with more brilliant brands who care about quality and provenance as much as we do
Most of all, we will keep doing what we have always done, growing good food, making it well and refusing to cut corners.

Thank You for Being Part of the Cotswold Gold Story

If you have ever picked up a bottle of Cotswold Gold, gifted one of our hampers, used our oils in your kitchen or chosen a product we manufacture behind the scenes, you are part of this story.

This award belongs to you as much as it does to us.

Shop Award Winning British Rapeseed Oil and Cotswold Condiments

To celebrate our win at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, you can explore the full Cotswold Gold range here:

Discover More Recognition for Cotswold Gold

Our Great British Entrepreneur Awards win follows national recognition from Prue Leith, who showcased Cotswold Gold on her Cotswold Kitchen series. You can read more about that story here:

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