Top food and drink awards back for 2022

Published on behalf of Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards

The fourteen categories will be open for nominations and entries from 21 April. Entries can be made online at www.hifoodanddrinkawards.com before the closing date of the 31 May. Shortlisting will take place during the summer and the evening Awards Ceremony will take place on 28 October.

Two new categories have been added this year that considers a wider-cross section of the industry: Best Food & Drink Tourism Experience and Supply Chain Business.

A successful Food & Drink Tourism Experience will demonstrate excellence in customer engagement, attracting visitors from both the Highlands and Islands and further afield thus developing our reputation as a great place to experience local food and drink.  

The supply chain is  an integral part of a successful sector so it seems apt to introduce the Supply Chain Business Award to  acknowledge those who play an important role in supporting the food and drink industry be its best. It could be a veterinary services provider to the farming sector or a tech company that supports innovation and productivity. 

Marian Armitage, member of the award’s Steering Group, and current Award’s Ambassador, said:

“It is wonderful to have the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards back this year after a two-year hiatus and it’s great to see the food and drink industry in this area is just as exciting as ever. The contribution to the industry of the wider cross section in tourism and the supply chain is vital and I’m delighted we are honouring these categories in the 2022 awards. It’s with huge importance that we all work together to strengthen bonds and make the food and drink industry in the Highlands and Islands the best it can be and I’m looking forward to celebrating that”.

Other categories that are available to enter include the Young Ambassador of the Year sponsored by Brook Street and the Sustainability Award sponsored by Scotland Food & Drink.

The awards are supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Elaine Jamieson, Head of Blue Economy and Food and Drink at HIE said, “We are delighted to support the return of the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards. The past few years have seen disruptions beyond our imaginations and consequently award events have been paused.  The 2022 Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards will celebrate businesses and individuals achievements and will be an evening for those working in and supporting the sector to gather together and reflect on the challenges and changes we have experienced and to share ideas and aspirations for the future.’

Previous winners at the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards have spoken of the benefits they have experienced because of participating in the awards. Anna Younie, Marketing and Events Manager of Orkney Distillery Ltd said of winning the brand-new product category of 2019.

“Winning the new product award for our Beyla - Honey & Raspberry Old Tom Gin really helped its promotion and growth as a new product in a positive way. We are always extremely grateful when our products win an award and particularly one such as this, that showcases and acknowledges quality produce from across the different regions of Scotland. We are incredibly proud to have won one of the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards - it has encouraged us to continue to enter Beyla alongside some of our other gins in a variety of competitions.”

Winners will be revealed at the prestigious awards ceremony at Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness on Friday 28 October. Tickets will be available to buy later in the year.

Follow the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards on their social media to keep up to date with the latest news and announcements. Find them on @hifooddrink on Twitter and Facebook.

For further information on the categories and to apply, visit www.hifoodanddrinkawards.com

Notes:

Today, the food and drink industry in Scotland is worth £15bn and the strategy aims to double the value of the industry to £30bn by 2030 driving growth via innovation, integrating supply chains, investing in people and skills, and focusing on market growth opportunities domestically and internationally. There is a wide range of diverse products and an equally diverse profile of businesses, from world-renowned businesses to small innovative producers.

The Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards showcase and celebrate excellence and achievement in the food and drink industry in the Highlands and Islands.

The Awards Steering Group who help drive forward the Awards are:

• Marian Armitage, Shetland Food & Drink
• Sam Faircliff, Cairngorm Brewery 
• John Scott, Fearn Farm 

Categories

• Best Drink: Brewed
• Best Drink: Distilled
• Best Drink: Whisky
• Best Food: Retail
• Best Food: Foodservice
• Independent Retailer
• Primary Producer
• Sustainability
• Best Eatery
• Restaurant of the Year
• Best Food & Drink Tourism Experience – NEW
• Supply Chain – NEW
• Young Ambassador
• Ambassador of the Year

Sponsors

• Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• Scotland Food & Drink
• Brook Street
• MacRoberts
• MacGregor Industrial Supplies
• Highland News & Media.