Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards - Shortlist Announced

Sector In Profile: Food and Drink

Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards - Shortlist Announced

Seafood, ice cream, salad leaves, chocolate, restaurants and brewers are just some of the 28 first class products and businesses celebrating today after being shortlisted for this year’s Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards.

Recognising excellence and achievement in the food and drink industry, the Awards are organised by the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Forum, and supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. With strong competition amid a larger entry field than previous years, the shortlisted businesses and organisations demonstrate the top quality produce available across the Highlands and Islands today.

Ian McWilliams of Keltic Seafare and Lucy Midgley-Smith of the Crannog Bistro are in the running for the Young Ambassador this year, an Award recognising their outstanding contributions to the industry. Other award categories recognise healthier food and drink, innovation, new products, new businesses, and businesses working in collaboration with each other.

Quintin Stevens, co-chair of the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards, said: “All of the companies and organisations short-listed for this year’s awards deserve our huge congratulations – this year has attracted more entries than ever before, with many from new businesses. The Forum is pleased to acknowledge the support of our partners who have chosen to sponsor the awards, and contribute to the campaign for excellence in the food and drink industry in the Highland and Islands.”

Iain Sutherland, Senior Development Manager for Food and Drink at Highlands and Islands Enterprise said: "HIE is delighted to be supporting the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards again this year, and the record number of entries shows how the sector in the area is going from strength to strength. Last year’s winners, including Isle of Eriska Hotel and Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK Ltd have found that being awarded such a prestigious accolade is an excellent marketing tool. In terms of the 2011 shortlist, it is clear that these very high standards are continuing and Scottish food and drink can be considered some of the best in the world."

The winners in each category will be revealed at a spectacular Awards Dinner hosted by BBC Scotland’s Catriona Shearer and showcasing delicious, quality food and drink from the region at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness, on Friday 21 October 2011. Tickets for the Awards Dinner are available by visiting www.hifoodanddrinkawards.com or by telephoning 0845 838 2748.

The shortlist for the Highlands & Islands Restaurant of the Year Award will be announced later in September.

The full shortlist for the 2011 Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards is as follows:

Best Use of Local Food and Drink, sponsored by Swansons Fruit Company and Speyside Specialities


Comfort Foods
Rosemarkie, Ross-shire

Craggan Mill Restaurant
Grantown on Spey, Moray

Crannag Bistro
Bonar Bridge, Sutherland

Creelers of Skye
Broadford, Skye

Red Roof Café Gallery
Glendale, Skye

The Puffer Bar & Restaurant
Easdale Island, Argyll


Distance No Object Award

Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK Limited
Lerwick, Shetland

Millers of Speyside
Grantown on Spey, Moray

Reids of Caithness
Thurso, Caithness


Environment Award, sponsored by Tio Ltd

Highland Eggs
Arderseir, Inverness

Red Roof Café Gallery
Glendale, Skye

The Ethical Shellfish Company
Aros, Isle of Mull, Argyll

Wester Ross Fisheries Ltd
Ardmair, Ullapool, Ross-shire


Healthier Food and Drink Award, sponsored by Robert Wiseman Dairies

Aquascot
Alness, Ross-shire

Highland Wholefoods Workers Cooperative Ltd
Inverness

Saladworx
Mill Farm, Dornoch, Sutherland

The Larder
Alness, Ross-shire


Innovation Award, sponsored by Scotland Food and Drink

Café Artysans
Inverness

Isle of Skye Brewing Co Ltd
Uig, Isle of Skye

Saladworx
Mill Farm, Dornoch, Sutherland


New Business Award, sponsored by JBT Distribution and J&D Cowper

Argyll Smokery
Sandbank, Dunoon, Argyll

Fochabers Ice Cream Parlour
Fochabers, Moray

Red Roof Café Gallery
Glendale, Skye

The Ethical Shellfish Company
Aros, Isle of Mull, Argyll


New Product Award, sponsored by Polaris Learning Ltd

Edinburgh Salmon Company – Garnished Boneless Salmon Steak
Dingwall, Ross-shire

Keltic Seafare – Crab Product Range
Dingwall, Ross-shire

Loch Duart Ltd –Smoked Salmon Range
Lochcarnan, South Uist, Western Isles

Oban Chocolate Company – Scottish Artisan Chocolates
Oban, Argyll

Reids of Caithness – Range of Shortbreads and Oat Biscuits
Thurso, Caithness

Saladworx – Range of Salad Dressings
Mill Farm, Dornoch, Sutherland



Partnerships for Success Award, sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Loch Fyne Oysters
Cairndow, Argyll

Orkney Fishermen’s Society
Stromness, Orkney


Young Ambassador, sponsored by The STOREHOUSE & The DORES INN

Ian McWilliams, Keltic Seafare
Dingwall, Ross-shire

Lucy Midgley-Smith, Crannag Bistro
Bonar Bridge, Sutherland




The Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards 2011 are organised by the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Forum, and are supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Source: Scotland Food and Drink Website