The annual Scotland Food & Drink Excellence awards, which have been running for over 22 years, recognise the highest quality produce as well as leading individuals, suppliers, and companies.
This year, winners will be announced at a black tie award night by TV personality Fred Sirieix on 7 September at the EICC.
Tasted categories in this year’s Excellence Awards focus on the standout products driving value and consumer choice in the market.
These categories have all been tasted and judged by an expert panel of industry buyers, chefs, hospitality leaders, and food and drink writers.
Shortlisted businesses and products represent the breadth of Scottish food and drink production, from quality shellfish to craft beer, dairy to tea, and confectionary to Scotch beef.
Showcasing innovation, enterprise and above all else, excellence, in the Scottish food and drink scene, businesses shortlisted include major producers like Graham’s, the Family Dairy, Bakkafrost, and Mackie’s, as well as smaller artisanal producers like Chocolatia, Scottish Honeyberry Growers, and The Wee Scottish Cider Company.
Iain Baxter, Chief Executive at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “Every year the Excellence Awards attract an incredibly diverse range of entries of seriously impressive quality.
“While tasting each of the products entered into the awards sounds like a dream, in reality, selecting the very best of the best has been extremely difficult for our expert judging panel.
"This year, judges remarked on the exceptional quality, innovation, and diversity of products on show.
“The industry has been through a lot of challenges in recent years but it’s fantastic to see our food and drink businesses continue to pursue excellence in terms of their production and their broader business practices.
“This year’s Awards will yet again be the premier night in one of Scotland’s most valuable and successful industries. Congratulations and good luck to all those shortlisted.”
Asda continues its support for the Excellence Awards as headline sponsor.
Ashley Connolly, Local Buying Manager Scotland, Asda, added: “Asda is honoured to support The Excellence Awards again this year, where we get to witness the passion that these Scottish producers have for their craft.
“Judging the tasted categories was a tough feat, but I, and the rest of the judging panel, believe the finalists are the best of the best within the industry.”
Taste:
| Category | Entry | Product |
| Artisan Product of the Year | OR-ganic | Premium cold pressed organic rapeseed oil |
| Belhaven Smokehouse | Charcoal smoked salmon | |
| Brose Oats | Brose Original Style | |
| Angels Dare Cocktails | Secret Orchard | |
| Salar Smokehouse Ltd. | Flaky Smoked Salmon | |
| Bakery Product of the Year | Clootie McToot Ltd | Apple pear and cinnamon clootie dumpling |
| Stockan's Oatcakes Ltd | Orkney Heritage Bere Barley chilli and cheese oatcakes | |
| Lazy Day Foods | Mini Vic the Vegan Catapillar Cake | |
| Beer & Cider Product of the Year | The Wee Scottish Cider Company | Seidear, Champagne Method cider from Scottish castle gardens |
| Heather Ale Ltd/ Williams Brothers | Orange Ginger Beer | |
| Six°North | Framboise | |
| Confectionery Product of the Year | Fetcha Chocolates | Campbeltown Distilleries Collection |
| Ross's of Edinburgh Ltd | Ross's Butter Tablet Highland Cow Gift Box | |
| Chocolatia | Chloe’s Signature Collection | |
| Braemar Chocolate Shop | Spirit of Scotland selection | |
| Mademoiselle Macaron | French Macarons | |
| Dairy Product of the Year | Mackie's of Scotland | Strawberry Swirl |
| Mossgiel Organic Farm | Mossgiel Organic Milk | |
| Graham's The Family Dairy | Skyr Pouches | |
| Graham's The Family Dairy | Kefir Yogurts | |
| Distilling Product of the Year (White Spirits) | North Uist Distillery Co. | Downpour Scottish Dry Gin |
| Muckle Brig | Lind & Lime Gin | |
| Isle of Barra Distillers Co. | Barra Atlantic Gin | |
| Distilling Product of the Year (Dark Spirits) | Stravaig Spirits | Tri Carragh |
| Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky | Black Bull 12-Year-Old blended Scotch whisky | |
| Cabezon Beverage | Ron Cabezon | |
| Fish & Seafood Product of the Year | St. James Smokehouse (Scotland) Ltd. | Smoked Salmon Pure Royal Filet |
| Belhaven Smokehouse | Belhaven Cure Cold Smoked Salmon | |
| Bakkafrost Scotland | Native Hebridean Scottish Salmon | |
| Campbells Prime Meat (Meat, Fish & Deli) | Orkney Hand Dived Scallops | |
| WeeCOOK | WeeCOOK Fishwife Pie | |
| Free From Award | Beastly Brews | Panther M*lk |
| Nudie Snacks | Cauliflower Crisps | |
| Tilly Confectionery Ltd | Mrs Tilly's Vegan Original Fudge 150g | |
| Angelic Free From Ltd | Safetylicious Oat Squares | |
| Healthier Choice Product of the Year | Genius Brewing | Gen!us India Pale Ale |
| Graham's The Family Dairy | Kefir Yogurts | |
| The Prebiotic Company Ltd. | ió fibrewater | |
| Scottish Honeyberry Growers | Freeze Dried Honeyberries | |
| Aye Pickled | Kimchi | |
| Meat Product of the Year | Great Glen Charcuterie | Green Pepper Venison Salami |
| Simon Howie Foods | Black Label Gastro Burger | |
| Highland Meats a division of Dunbia (UK) | Angus 1808 Dry Aged Cote de Boeuf | |
| East Coast Cured | Black Garlic & Oloroso Sherry Salami | |
| Hugh Black & Sons Ltd | Traditional Haggis | |
| Scotch Brand Product of the Year | Hugh Black & Sons Ltd | Ribeye Fillet Steak |
| Hugh Black & Sons Ltd | Scotch Lamb Valentine Steak | |
| John Gilmour Butchers | Tweed Valley 35 day dry aged Cote de boeuf | |
| Campbells Prime Meat Ltd | Scotch lamb Valentine Steaks | |
| Soft Drinks Product of the Year | Shibui Tea | Tropical Green |
| The Prebiotic Company Ltd. | ió fibrewater | |
| Kilduff Farm Kilduff Farm | Sweet Apple Juice | |
| Cruice | Original Lemonaidan | |
| Snacks & Accompaniments Product of the Year | Aye Pickled | Kimchi Hot Sauce |
| Findlaters Fine Foods | Wilted Spinach and Ricotta Dip with Roasted Cashew nuts | |
| Schoolyard Chillies | Chocolate Chilli Pretzels | |
| The Drinks Bakery | Drinks Biscuits - Mature Cheddar, Smoked Chilli & Almond | |
| Galloway Lodge Ltd | Spicy Pear Chutney |
Business:
| Category | Entry |
| Best for Scottish (Independent) | Cafe St Honore |
| John Gilmour Butchers | |
| Mharsanta Restaurant & Bar | |
| Hickory | |
| Best for Scottish (Multiple) | Scotmid Co-Operative |
| Asda Stores Ltd | |
| Hugh Black & Sons | |
| Aldi | |
| Employer of the Year | Hickory |
| Aldi | |
| Lazy Day Foods | |
| Clootie McToot Ltd | |
| Primary Producer of the Year | Deer Manor Gourmet Mushrooms |
| Angus Soft Fruits | |
| Regional Food and Drink Award | Bowhouse |
| Outer Hebrides Tourism | |
| Eat SW Scotland | |
| Salar Smokehouse Ltd | |
| Highland Food and Drink Trail Ltd | |
| Sustainability Award | Highland Spring Group |
| Mackie's of Scotland | |
| Albert Bartlett & Sons (Airdrie) Ltd | |
| Angus Soft Fruits | |
| Young Talent | Albert Bartlett- Rebecca Letham |
| A&D Hunter- Nia Hunter | |
| Quaker- Aimee Scott | |
| Tabrifics Ltd- Johnathan Livingstone Laing |
