Helston and Lizard based company Cornish Sea Salt has received a prestigious award for providing natural salt to chefs and homes around the country.

Named “best foodie product of 2013” at the Food magazine reader awards, Cornish Sea Salt, which is harvested at Porthkerris on the Lizard Peninsula, is favoured by famous chefs such as Rick Stein and Jamie Oliver.

It beat the likes of Yeo Valley Yoghurt, as well as fellow Cornish businesses Kernow Sausage and Cornish Yarg, to take the title.

Operation manager Philip Tanswell said: “We're thrilled to have won this award - we really believe in the great taste of Cornish Sea Salt, and it's fantastic to know that others think the same.

“We spend a lot of time at food events across the country, and it's always great to see the reaction of consumers when they taste the difference between Cornish Sea Salt and processed table salt.”

Established in 2008 by Tony Fraser, the salt is described as a “tastier, healthier alternative” to table-salt.

The company takes sea water, harvests the salt and returns it back to the ocean as sea water, making it environmentally friendly.