Food & Drink Excellence Awards

Food & Drink Excellence Awards

The winners of the Scottish food Oscars were announced at a presentation ceremony and dinner in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Museum last night (May 7) attended by Scottish Food Minister Richard Lochhead with more than 300 leading figures from the food and drink industry.

Mr Lochhead said: "These awards are a welcome opportunity to showcase our world-class, mouth-watering produce, and in Homecoming Year what better time to be spreading the message that Scotland truly is a land of food and drink. We will shortly unveil the next stages of Scotland's first-ever National Food and Drink Policy. It will aim to boost business, put even more Scottish food on consumers' plates and deliver major health and environmental benefits."

The 2009 Excellence Award is the latest in a host of awards for Salar's flaky smoked salmon which also won the fish and seafood category. Using Loch Duart salmon fillets, the company's unique process involves smoking to a very high temperature over seasoned oak, producing a brown outer smoky layer, but with the flesh still salmon pink and succulent. Salar's salmon is available in selected supermarkets, food halls and delis and is now being exported to five countries.

The name Macsween of Edinburgh is synonymous with haggis and in addition to the Business of the Year title, the company won the category award for environmental sustainability. Its green credentials include waste segregation policies, an extensive re-cycling procedure and feasibility studies into the use of renewable energy. These are all integral to the production of Scotland's national dish, including the classic vegetarian haggis which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

Two family farming companies won double category awards - Summer Harvest of Ferneyfold Farm, Madderty, Crieff, and Grahams The Family Dairy, Airthrey Kerse Farm, Bridge of Allan.

The Cameron family have grown oilseed rape at Ferneyfold for the last 25 years and last year launched their Summer Harvest Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil, winner of the soup, preserves & accompaniments and the healthy eating awards.

The dairy category and best marketing initiative awards went to the Graham's Gold range of milk, cream and butter from the family's herd of Jersey cows reared on the pastures of the Carse of Stirling.

There were new awards in 2009 for product innovation and food tourism.

Product innovation winner was Carmichael Estate Farm Meats from Biggar whose unique venison rashers, made from farmed venison haunch, are claimed to be 'better than bacon'.

Viewers of STV's 5.30 show voted for the food tourism award after the programme featured four short-listed companies. The winner was chocolate maker Cocoa Mountain, Balnakeil, Durness, Lairg.

The various category winners were chosen from a short list of more than 40 food and drink products and companies by panels of specialist judges.

The Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards, now in their eighth year, are organised and co-sponsored by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland and Scotland Food & Drink. Other sponsors include The Grocer, Scottish Enterprise, Envirowise, Food & Health Alliance, Scottish Development International, Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society, Sodexo and VisitScotland.

Paul McLaughlin, Chief Executive, Scotland Food & Drink, said: "These awards go from strength to strength and are a true measure of the excellence that abounds in our industry. We are keen to get the message across that Scotland is a land of food and drink which excels on quality and innovation. Our 2009 winners exemplify that message."

Gareth Baird, RHASS Director with responsibility for food and drink, added: "Scotland's success in food hinges on the collaborative effort between primary producer, processor and retailer. I am particularly encouraged this year by the number of companies at the primary end of the chain who have taken their businesses a step further to achieve success."

The full list of category winners is as follows:

Retail

Soup, Preserve, Accompaniments

Extra Virgin Cold-pressed Rapeseed Oil

Contact: Mark Bush Tel: 01786 474770

sponsored by The Grocer Summer Harvest, Madderty, Crieff

Fish & Seafood

South Uist Flaky Smoked Salmon

Contact: Fiona Macdonald Tel: 01870 610324

sponsored by The Grocer Salar Smokehouse,

Bakery & Cereal-based

Deliciously Different Range Of Biscuits

Contact: Louise Creevy Tel: 01555 662884

sponsored by The GrocerBorder Biscuits, South Fauld Road, Lanark

Meat (Red, White & Game)

Dunning Scottish Dry Cure Bacon

Contact: Emma Louise Loftus Tel: 01764 684332

sponsored by The Grocer Simon Howie Butchers, Findony, Muckhart Road,

Drink (Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic)

Berry Good Vodka Infused With Scottish Berries

Contact: Jill Brown Tel: 07787 541561

sponsored by The Grocer Berry Good, Tiree Cottage, Watten, Caithness

Fruit or Vegetable

Good Natured Fruit - Strawberries, Raspberries & Blueberries

Contact: Jill Orr Tel: 07894 096123

sponsored by The Grocer Angus Soft Fruits, East Seaton, Arbroath

Dairy, Confectionery & Snacking

Graham's Gold Jersey Dairy Products

Contact: Carol Graham Tel: 01786 833206

sponsored by The Grocer Graham's The Family Dairy, Airthrey Kerse Farm, Bridge of Allan

Food Service

sponsored by SodexoIain Burnett - The Highland Chocolatier, Legends of Grandtully, Grandtully, Perthshire

The Velvet Truffle - Gourmet Chocolate Truffle

Contact: Iain Burnett Tel: 07814 149505

sponsored by SodexoIain Burnett - The Highland Chocolatier, Legends of Grandtully, Grandtully, Perthshire

Product Innovation

Venison Rashers

Contact: Andrew Carmichael Tel: 01899 308336

sponsored by Scotland Food & Drink Carmichael Estate Farm Meats, Westmains, Carmichael, near Biggar

Healthy Choices/Healthy Eating

Summer Harvest Extra Virgin Cold-pressed Rapeseed Oil

sponsored by Food & Health Alliance Summer Harvest Extra Virgin Cold-pressed Rapeseed Oil

International Business of the Year

Exporters of salmon products to the international food service market

Contact: Henry Angus Tel: 01261 843255

sponsored by Scottish Development International Gourmets Choice, Shore Street, Portsoy

Marketing Initiative of the Year

Graham's The Family Dairy for Graham's Gold Jersey Dairy Products

sponsored by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland

Success Through Working in Partnerships

Mix of products from primary and secondary producers

Contact: Fergus Younger Tel: 01586 552502

sponsored by the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society Argyll Food Producers Food From Argyll, Campbeltown

Environmental Sustainability

Makers of award-winning haggis

Contact: James Macsween Tel: 0131 440 2555

sponsored by Envirowise Macsween of Edinburgh, Dryden Road, Bilston Glen, Loanhead, Edinburgh

Food Tourism

Cocoa Mountain, Balnakeil, Durness, Lairg Europe's most northerly chocolate maker

Contact: Paul Maden Tel: 01971 511233

sponsored by VisitScotland

Product of the Year

Salar Smokehouse's Flaky Smoked Salmon

sponsored by Scottish Enterprise Salar Smokehouse's Flaky Smoked Salmon

Business of the Year

Macsween of Edinburgh

sponsored by Scottish Enterprise Salar Smokehouse's Flaky Smoked Salmon

For further info please contact: melissa.dickson@scotent.co.uk