Winning products could drive sales for Scottish convenience retailers
SCOTTISH convenience retailers looking to promote the nation’s produce in-store should check out the winners of last night’s Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards.
Hosted by TV personality and chef Simon Rimmer, who stars on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, the ceremony at the Doubletree by Hilton, Glasgow, was attended by 500 people from across the industry to celebrate the finest food and drink across retail and hospitality.
Addressing the audience, Rimmer spoke of how he loved coming north of the border and acknowledged that Scotland’s produce was the envy of many others across the UK and the world.
Popular Carnoustie restaurant and piemaker WeeCOOK was the big winner on the night, taking both the Scottish Product of the Year and Fish & Seafood Product of the Year for its Fishwife Pie.
But among other brands of note for c-store owners SHORE The Scottish Seaweed Co., which won Healthier Choice Product of the Year for its SHORE Peking Duck Seaweed Chips and Snacks & Accompaniments Product of the year for its Sweet Siracha flavoured variant.
The Little Bakery’s The Big Box of Little Pies picked up the Bakery Product of the Year, while Free-From Product of the Year was Nakey Bakey’s Mixed Berry Granola. Meanwhile, Original Lemonaidan, from Cruice, was named Soft Drinks Product of the Year.
Highland Game won Meat Product of the Year for its premium “hill to plate” venison and for developing the game meat supply chain to restaurants and retailers alike.
There were plenty of winners for retailers to consider for their off-trade categories, too, starting with 8 Doors Distillery, which took the Artisan Product of the Year for its Five Ways Blended Liqueur.
Young Spirits’ Ferg & Harris 12YO Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky landed the Distilling Product of the Year (Dark Spirits), while The Highland Liquor Company lifted the White Spirits equivalent for its Seven Crofts Fisherman’s Strength Gin.
And 71 Brewing secured the Beer & Cider Product of the Year for its Haze Halo 5.0% Hazy IPA.
Scotland Food & Drink chief executive Iain Baxter said: “The Excellence Awards celebrate Scotland’s food and drink producers, whose drive and dedication take the industry from strength to strength each year.
“The calibre of this year’s entries is a testament to the innovation and skill that are ubiquitous within our sector, setting new benchmarks for quality and creativity.
“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists – their achievements are a credit to Scotland’s world-renowned food and drink community.”
Ashley Connolly, local buying manager for Scotland at Asda, added: “We’re thrilled to mark 13 years of Asda’s headline sponsorship of the Excellence Awards. Every year it feels as though we see Scotland’s food and drink producers reaching new heights.”
For the full line-up of winners, visit Excellence Awards Winners.
