The winners of this year’s Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards were announced at a glittering awards dinner last night (14 September) at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness.

These prestigious awards, in their third year, celebrate the diverse range of food and drink products grown and produced locally, as well as industry related services. Over 160 people from the food and drink industry from as far afield as Orkney and Shetland in the north to the Island of Bute in the south attended the awards ceremony, which was chaired by Gary Williamson, managing director of the main commercial sponsor, Williamson Foodservice.

Commenting on the awards he said: “Here in the Highlands and Islands we have an amazing range of fantastic local food and drinks products and these awards celebrate the achievements of companies, both large and small. The high standard of entries from over 70 different companies shows how important the food and drink industry is to our economy.”

Dennis Overton, managing director of Aquascot and chairman of the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Forum welcomed all the guests and introduced guest speaker, Allan Burns, the recently appointed chairman of Scotland Food and Drink.

This organisation, an evolution of Scottish Food and Drink, is the new leadership body, which aims to harness the collective resources of one of Scotland's most successful sectors to create an industry worth £10 billion by 2017. It is bringing together everyone involved in the food and drink supply chain to work to a common agenda that will deliver greater success in global markets.

Allan Burns spoke of how Scotland Food and Drink will bring together everyone involved in the food and drink supply chain to work to a common agenda that will deliver greater success in global markets. In his speech, he commented: “We want to position Scotland globally as one of the top producers of premium products. We want to ensure that Scotland is internationally trusted for the quality of our food and drink brands - we will be recognised for our great quality products, produced with care from the freshest of ingredients. At all times we will put the consumer at the centre of our thinking.”

Among this year’s winners is Robert Campbell Preston the owner of the specialist smokery, Inverawe Smokehouses, who won the Individual Contribution Award – given to the person who has made the biggest individual contribution to the food and drink sector. Robert painstakingly researched the traditional slow-smoking process and smoked his first side of salmon more than 30 years ago. He has passed on this knowledge, but still oversees operations at Inverawe, where he and his family have developed an international award winning business, employing over 50 people at Taynuilt in Argyll.

The Excellence Award was presented to North Highland Products Limited by Mark Williamson, director of Williamson Foodservice, main commercial sponsor of this year’s awards.

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.

There are eight categories in the 2007 awards and the winners are listed below.

New Business Award – sponsored by Aquascot Limited, presented by Robert Gray
Award for a new business, started since 1st July 2006 that has, through its success, made a significant contribution to the Highlands and Islands food and drink economy. It may be a producer of a new or innovative product, a retailer or foodservice outlet displaying excellence in the use of local food and drink products, or a service provider contributing significantly to the success of the sector.

Winner: Bogbain Highland Market
Bogbain Highland Market has been developed since September 2006 and is now emerging as one of the key areas of Bogbain Adventure and Heritage Farm. The Farm Shop and Country Kitchen under the banner of 'Bogbain Highland Market' were established with the aim of promoting local and organic produce.

Food and Environment Award – sponsored by TIO (This is Organics) Ltd, presented by Steven Ryan
Recognition of food and drink based products; services of ways of doing business that protect or enhance the environment of the Highlands and Islands. This category recognises good environmental practice in the production and/or distribution of food and drink products.

Winner: Loch Duart Ltd
Sustainability, environmental responsibility and producing salmon ‘tasting as salmon really should’ are the core philosophies of Loch Duart Ltd, independent salmon farmers based on the NW tip of Sutherland. Their salmon is sold in 14 countries and is served by name on the menus of Gordon Ramsay and Rick Stein.

Best Use of Local Food or Drink Award – sponsored by John M Munro Ltd, presented by Grant MacNicol, Dornoch Castle Hotel
New award category for 2007 - Award for the Highlands and Islands-based business or organisation, which, through its use of Highlands and Islands produce has demonstrably enhanced the product it offers and enhanced the profile of the food and drink industry in the Highlands and Islands since 1st July 2006.

Winner: The Frigate Café and Bistro
The Frigate Café Bistro in Ullapool offers a unique dining experience with the very best in locally sourced produce in the informal café or evening bistro. The food is attractively presented and draws customers to return again and to take some of the produce home via the Ullapool Catering Company.

Innovation Award - presented by Hazel Gordon, FINDS
Recognition of the business that has displayed outstanding innovation in product or service development. This award is offered to those who can demonstrate they have driven either their own business, or those of the Highlands and Islands food and drink sector forward by being truly creative.

Winner: Highlands and Islands Local Food Network – Local Apprentice Scheme
In February 2007, Highlands and Islands Local Food Network started delivering a 'Local Food Apprenticeship' in horticulture. The course provides new or existing primary producers with all the skills they need to make the transition to growing a diverse range of fruit and veg for sale to the local market. This is the first such training programme in Scotland, and possibly the UK too.

Entry to a New Market (at home or abroad) Award – sponsored by J & D Cowper, presented by Taylor Cowper
New award category for 2007 - Developing new markets is a hugely important factor in the  food and drink economy, whether it is domestic or overseas. The award recognises the food or drink producer demonstrating outstanding success in entering a new market since 1st July 2006.

Winner: Nevis Bakery Ltd
Nevis Bakery is a family owned bakery trading from Fort William. Recently the company developed a range of premium loaf cakes, biscuits, and oatcakes, which have all received Great Taste Awards. The products are marketed throughout the UK by a mix of distributors and independent retailers.

New Product Award – sponsored by Falls of Shin Visitor Centre, presented by June McAuliffe
Recently launched food and drink products from the Highlands and Islands, which demonstrate both initial market success and ongoing potential. The product may be available locally, nationally or internationally.

Winner: Henshelwoods Fine Foods 'Chutney for…' range
Henshelwoods Fine Foods, based in Rothesay, started as a new company in January 2006. They are dedicated to providing fine foods for independent retailers using the best available seasonal ingredients and with the minimum possible food miles. All the products are hand-made in small batches and are free from artificial colourings and preservatives. The pickles, chutneys and jams are preserved using natural ingredients; spiced and flavoured to our own unique recipes

Individual Contribution Award - presented by Allan Burns
This award is presented to the individual who has made the biggest individual contribution to the food and drink sector as decided by the judges from a list of those nominated from within the food and drinks industry.

Winner: Robert Campbell-Preston
Unfortunately Robert was unable to attend the awards and Mark Georgeson from HIE accepted the award on his behalf. Robert Campbell-Preston is the charismatic owner of specialist smokery, Inverawe Smokehouses. Passionate about great tasting smoked fish, Robert painstakingly researched the traditional slow-smoking process and smoked his first side of salmon more than 30 years ago. He has passed on this knowledge but still oversees these ancient methods at Inverawe. As a result he has created a highly regarded, award winning, business which employs over 50 people in Taynuilt, Argyll.

Excellence Award – sponsored by Williamson Foodservice, presented by Derek Marshall

Winner: North Highland Products Ltd
North Highland Products Ltd forms part of the three-pronged North Highland Initiative, conceived by HRH the Prince Charles. The aim of NHP is to sell food and drink products from a defined territory with a strong brand name – Mey Selections.