The winners of this year's Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards were announced at the awards dinner on Thursday 5 October at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness. These prestigious awards, in their second year, celebrate the diverse range of food and drink products grown and produced locally, as well as industry related services. The awards, organised by the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Forum, attracted a record breaking 90 entries from 52 different companies.
Over 160 people from the food and drink industry from as far afield as Shetland in the north to Arran in the south attended the awards ceremony, which was chaired by Gary Williamson, Managing Director of the main commercial sponsor, Williamson Foodservices.
Commenting on the awards he said: “We’re delighted to have received a record 90 entries for this year’s Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards. The wide range of companies that have submitted entries emphasises the important contribution that the food and drink industry makes to our local economy.”
Dennis Overton, Managing Director of Aquascot and the chairman of the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Forum welcomed all the guests and introduced the guest speaker Dr Maitland Mackie, chairman of Mackies Food Group who talked of the challenges and opportunities his family business had faced over the last 40 years, diversifying the farming activities into the manufacture of the world-renowned Mackies ice cream.
One of the main winners of the evening was Connage Highland Dairy of Ardersier on the Moray Firth, which won both the New Business Award and the New Product Award. This small dairy farm originally producing organic milk has diversified into cheese manufacturing and now produces a range of four organic and vegetarian cheeses. They were praised for their thorough market research, the range of their new products and their marketing materials and packaging.
Loch Fyne Oysters was also presented with two awards. They won the Food and Environment Award and Andrew Lane, who stepped down as MD this year, was announced as the winner of the Individual Contribution Award – a new award for 2006 – in recognition of thirty years at the helm of Loch Fyne Oysters, which he founded with Johnny Noble in 1978. The company is recognised throughout Britain as an example of how a local business can develop sustainably, both for its people and for the environment and Andrew has worked tirelessly to promote both his business and the environment over the years.
The food and drink industry in the Highlands and Islands generates in excess of £600m per annum and supports over 6,500 full time jobs across the region. There is a wide range of diverse products including fish and shellfish, meat and dairy products, biscuits and confectionery and an equally diverse profile of businesses, from internationally renowned Baxters to small innovative producers supplying niche markets.
Jo Hunt, Network Leader for the Highlands and islands Local food Network commented: “The Highlands and Islands Local Food Network gives their warm congratulations to all the winners at the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards. It is good to see the new local food producers that are springing up all over the Highlands and Islands being recognised for their excellence.”
There are ten categories in the 2006 Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards and the category winners are listed below.
Winners of Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards 2006
New Business Award - sponsored by Aquascot - presented by Alex MacInnes
The award recognises the significant contribution to the food and drink economy. Looking for a business that can demonstrate initial success and which the judges feel has great potential to contribute further to the local economy or enhance the perception of Highlands and Islands food and drink.
Winner: Connage Highland Dairy, Ardersier, Moray Firth
Commended: North Highland Products Ltd
Marketing Award – sponsored by Falls of Shin - presented by Tim Kent
The judges were looking for a planned approach to marketing, bringing together product, packaging, pricing, distribution, promotion and customer service into a campaign that delivered demonstrable success.
Winner: Johnson Sustainable Seafoods – No Catch Cod
Commended: Aquascot Ltd
Health Enhancement Award – sponsored by FIND - presented by Hazel Gordon
We recognise the increasing importance of health-enhancing products in the market place and the drive to improve the nation’s diet. This award looks to recognise contributions to achieving these, whether as a product or service, and the judges were extremely impressed by the quality of entries for this award.
Winner: Healthways Ross and Cromarty
Commended: The Strawberry Stall
Environment Award – sponsored by TIO Ltd - presented by Adam Barber
The Highlands and Islands promotes itself as an area of purity and a high quality of environment. In this category, we sought to recognise the contributions made by businesses to improving the environment through good business practices.
Winner: Loch Fyne Oysters
Commended: Ardalanish Organic Farm and Weaving Mill
Food Tourism Award - sponsored by John M Munro, Dingwall - presented by Mo Shepherd
Standard of entries extremely high, very difficult decision. Increasing use and promotion of local food and drink in different types of businesses. Seen as a way to add value to visitors’ experience.
Winner: A Taste of Arran
Commended: The Whitehouse Restaurant, Lochaline
Innovation Award – sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise - presented by Bob Stubbs
Entries ranged from innovation in business culture to methods of distribution and marketing. Innovation is hugely important to a business’s success and this award seeks to recognise that contribution to the industry. The range of innovation varied from the business culture to product to distribution and made judging very difficult indeed.
Winner: Isle of Skye Brewing Co Ltd
Commended: J & J Publishing (Boxing Clever Cookbook)
Export Award - sponsored by J & D Cowper- presented by Ronnie MacKenzie
Importance of exporting for the H&I food and drink businesses – the food and drink industry is the main exporting industry in the H&I - £134 million per annum, excluding whisky (£925m) and fish (£39m).
Winner: Millers of Speyside
Commended: Summer Isles Foods
New Product - sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise - presented by Mark Georgeson
The rich variety of products available from the Highlands and Islands is one of the area’s strengths and this award seeks to recognise those who have brought a new product to market.
Winner: Connage Highland Dairy (four cheeses)
Commended: Sinclair Breweries
Individual Contribution - sponsored by Baxters Food Grou - presented by Bill King
A new category for this year, which recognises the contribution made by an individual to the food and drink industry in the Highlands and Islands.
Winner: Andrew Lane, Loch Fyne Oysters
Commended: Lisbeth Broome, Ben Damph Inn
Excellence Award - sponsored by Williamson Foodservice - presented by Mark Williamson
Winner: Inverawe Country Park and Smokery
