Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards 2008
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More than 25 businesses and individuals in the food and drink industry from across the Highlands and Islands are celebrating the news that they have been shortlisted for this year’s prestigious Scotland Food & Drink – Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards 2008. The Awards, supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Forum and Williamson Foodservice, celebrate excellence and achievement in the food and drink industry in the Highlands and Islands. Judged by a panel of industry experts with representatives across the sector, the winning entry in each category will be revealed at a mouth-watering Awards Dinner - featuring produce from throughout the Highlands and Islands - and Ceilidh Dance, to be held at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness, on Friday 26 September 2008. The food and drink sector employs over 30,000 people across the Highlands and Islands, with a diverse range of products from fish, shellfish, meat, preserves, dairy, biscuits and confectionary generating sales in excess of £1billion per annum. There are over 250 processing businesses and it is a key sector in the region generating over £500 million in overseas sales. Gary Williamson, of Williamson Foodservice and chair of the judging panel, said: “The standard of entries this year has been very high – making the job of the judges extremely difficult! However, it means that we are confident the shortlisted entries are a good representation of the high quality produce and personnel in the food and drink industry of the area. In particular, the judging panel was delighted to see entries from right across the Highlands and Islands – from Shetland to Mull, Skye to Moray, Caithness to Lochaber, and all points in between.” Extending the opportunities to recognise high standards and quality across the industry, three new award categories have been added in 2008: ‘Collaboration in Supply Chains’, ‘People Development through Skills’ and the ‘Press and Journal Taste of the Highlands and Islands Restaurant of the Year Award’. Other categories reward successful new products, innovation, promotion of healthy living, good environmental practice, commitment to local produce, and individual achievement. Hazel Gordon, chair of the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Forum, said: “In this fourth year of the Awards, The Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Forum is pleased to see a consistent commitment to excellence and achievement from the individuals and businesses making up this important industry sector in the area. With the generous support of all the Award sponsors, we hope to continue to encourage quality produce and high standards in years to come. And in line with other developments, we have been pleased to launch a new logo for the Awards this year.” Hazel added: “We’re really pleased to have the Press and Journal as a partner to the new Taste of the Highlands and Islands Restaurant of the Year Award – restaurants have a vital role to play in promoting the tremendous range of food and drink from the Highlands and Islands, and the high standard of entries received in this category in particular shows just what a rich larder we have here in the Highlands and Islands. Now is the time to book your ticket for the Awards Dinner and Dance on 26 September – and sample some of our great produce for yourself!” Iain Sutherland, senior development manager at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “The food and drink industry is very important to the economy of the area and we want to celebrate this and encourage more businesses to reflect on their achievements. The awards represent a growing confidence within the sector and we are looking forward to building on the success of last year’s event, raising the profile of the diverse range of food and drink products grown and processed in the Highlands and Islands.” To book tickets for the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards Dinner and Dance on Friday 26 September 2008, contact Caledonian Concepts on 0845 838 2748 / info@caledonianconcepts.co.uk For further information visit http://www.scotlandfoodanddrink.org/. The shortlisted entries for this year’s Awards are as follows:Collaboration in Supply Chains (new)
People Development Through Skills (new)
New Product Award
Innovation Award
Environment Award
Best Use of Local Food and Drink Award
Individual Contribution Award
Healthier Food and Drink Award
Taste of Highlands and Islands Restaurant of the Year Award
The winners of the Scotland Food and Drink-Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards 2007 were: New Product Award New Business Award Innovation Award Environment Award Best Use of Local Food Award Entry to a New Market Award Individual Contribution Award Excellence Award Special Mention To read case studies giving details of selected winners from the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards 2007 visit www.scotlandfoodanddrink.org - case studies include: Henshelwoods Fine Foods; Bogbain Adventure and Heritage Farm; and North Highlands Products/Mey Selections. |
