Food and Drink businesses from across Scotland have been announced in the shortlist for the 21st Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards, which takes place on 8 September.
248 entries were submitted across 14 product categories, and overall, 48 individual items from 36 suppliers have been named as finalists.
Buyers from some of the UK’s biggest retailers including Asda, Co-op, Tesco and Sodexo, alongside some of the food and drink industry’s most influential figures, were part of a judging panel that tasted and scored each product.
Shortlisted products include everything from Scottish Beef Biltong produced by Errichel & Thyme, Native Hebridean Smoked Scottish Salmon from The Scottish Salmon Company to Chocolate Cornflake Clusters from Lazy Day Foods.
28 individuals, teams and employers who are raising the bar and helping to build Scotland’s reputation as a land of food and drink were also shortlisted across seven business catagories.
Returning after a Covid-enforced hiatus, the 21st Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards will take place during Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight and be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 8 September supported by headline sponsor Asda.
John Davidson, Deputy Chief Executive and Strategy Director at Scotland Food & Drink, (pictured centre) with Stephanie Pritchard. Head of UK Supplier Development (right), said, “The Excellence Awards play an important role in recognising the innovation and creativity of everyone that is building the reputation of Scotland’s larder.
'It was fantastic to see such a range of producers and individuals in this years entires and a massive congratulations to all those that have been named in the shortlist. We can’t wait to bring everyone together after a challenging couple of years and celebrate in September.”
Ashley Connolly, Local Buying Manager at Asda, (pictured left), said, “Our customers are becoming increasingly conscious of where their food and drink is coming from and so our focus is to source high quality and innovative products that are new and exciting.
'I was delighted to be involved in the judging of this year’s Excellence Awards and it was wonderful to see such a high calibre of entries across all product categories. A massive congratulations to all of the individuals and businesses that have been shortlisted!”
