The British Academy of Gastronomes has awarded its annual Grand Prix of Gastronomy to Tebay Services, owned and managed by the Dunning family.  The Grand Prix is annually awarded for anyone or anything that has done most in the preceding 12 months to improve further quality of food in the UK.  Previous winners in the Award's 9 years' existence included the Prince of Wales for reviving the interest in British mutton; Michel and Albert Roux for dramatically increasing British restaurant standards; Jane Grigson for her publications' influence on cooking and  "Somerset Cheddar" for its world-wide appeal.

Sarah Dunning, Chief Executive of Westmorland, was handed the award ( a large sculpted glass trophy) by Egon Ronay, founder of the British Academy of Gastronomes, after a celebratory dinner for members of the Academy.  Egon drew attention many years ago to the exceptionally high standars of Tebay's home cooking.  It is still run by the same family and meat from the family's butchery business for instance, is typical of Tebay's high quality cooking.