Food and drink businesses in Scotland’s north east are being urged to enter the Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards 2016, which launch today (Friday, November 27).

The Awards, which are entering their 26th year, recognise excellence and innovation in food and drink in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and Moray. The categories include Best New Retail Product, Best New Foodservice Product, Best Young Business, Food and Drink Entrepreneur and Commitment to Health and Wellbeing. Organised by Grampian Food Forum, it is even easier to participate this year with all the information available on the new Forum website.

Elizabeth Mathie, Industry Support Executive for Food and Drink at Aberdeenshire Council said:

“The north east is a stand out area for food and drink in Scotland and the Innovation Awards have developed as the industry has grown. The Awards provide a fantastic platform to showcase and celebrate outstanding products, innovations and new talent in the sector. We hope the new website will be a useful tool for businesses and will help attract interest from companies that perhaps haven’t entered before.”

Past winners have included a huge range of businesses from successful export businesses like Associated Seafoods Ltd to younger businesses like Windswept Brewing Company and family-run organisations such as Castleton Farm Shop.

ESS Support Services Worldwide have come on-board as title sponsor for the 2016 Awards, recognising the benefits of raising the profile of the sector and celebrating best practice in Grampian food and drink. Also supporting this year are; Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen City Council, Ardoe House Hotel, AVC Media, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Johnston Carmichael, Keenan Recycling Ltd, Mackie’s of Scotland, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, Scotland Food & Drink, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, The Moray Council, The Press and Journal and Think Local.

Research suggests that winners of the Awards have seen significant benefits in entering with a selection of last year’s winners receiving listings with multiple retailer Scotmid. Scotmid now sells a range of local products within their stores including berries from Castleton Fruit Farm, sausages and burgers from The Store, gluten-free foods from Pulsetta, Downies fish, as well as cheese from Cambus O’May Cheese Company.

Murray Mitchell from Castleton Fruit Farm and Farm Shop, winner of the Independent Retailer of the Year Award said:

“Entering the Innovation Awards was a great experience for our business. It encouraged us to be more focused, specific and detailed with our marketing plans. The Awards really helped raise our profile and the on-going collaboration with Scotmid really is the cherry on the top. I’d strongly urge local businesses of all sizes to enter the Awards and earn the recognition they deserve.”

The closing date for entries is Thursday, January 28 and winners will be announced at a presentation dinner, which will take place on Thursday, March 24 at the Mercure Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel and Spa.

Grampian Food Forum is running a workshop at Thainstone House Hotel on Tuesday, January 19 to provide advice for businesses preparing their award entry. Further details of the Awards, the workshop and the opportunity to register can be found at www.grampianfoodforum.co.uk.

The full list of categories comprises:

  • Best New Retail Product for Businesses with more than 25 Employees
  • Best New Retail Product for Businesses with up to 25 Employees
  • Best New Foodservice Product for Businesses with more than 25 Employees
  • Best New Foodservice Product for Businesses with up to 25 Employees
  • Company Commitment to Health and Wellbeing
  • Grampian Food & Drink Entrepreneur 2016
  • Investing in Skills Development
  • Denis Emslie Above and Beyond Award
  • Most Successful Product from the 2015 Awards
  • Best Young Business
  • Judges’ Choice

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