This Award is open to Scottish food and drink companies whose bakery products or offerings are wholly or mainly produced, processed and packaged in Scotland. Products may be new to market or well established but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

This Award is open to Scottish food and drink companies whose beer or cider products or offerings are wholly or mainly produced, processed and packaged in Scotland. Products may be new to market or well established but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

This Award is open to Scottish food and drink companies whose confectionery products or offerings are wholly or mainly produced, processed and packaged in Scotland. Products may be new to market or well established but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

This Award is open to Scottish food and drink companies whose dairy products or offerings are wholly or mainly produced, processed and packaged in Scotland. Products may be new to market or well established but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

The Distilling Award is open to Scottish food and drink companies whose product is manufactured and bottled in Scotland. Products using NGS not made in Scotland are eligible, as long as a compounding process, or distillation has occurred in Scotland. Products made by contract are also eligible, if the above criteria applies. Products may be new to market or well established but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

The Distilling Award is open to Scottish food and drink companies whose product is manufactured and bottled in Scotland. Products using NGS not made in Scotland are eligible, as long as a compounding process, or distillation has occurred in Scotland. Products made by contract are also eligible, if the above criteria applies. Products may be new to market or well established but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

This Award is open to Scottish food and drink companies whose fish or seafood products or offerings are wholly or mainly produced, processed and packaged in Scotland. Products may be new to market or well established but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

The Free From Award will be presented to the business that has demonstrated a strong commitment to developing the most innovative/ground-breaking manufactured product, specifically designed to be free of one or more of the five main allergens: milk, gluten, eggs, nuts and soy. New concepts, innovative use of ingredients or manufacturing techniques, unusual recipes, new ways to deliver health or flavour. We want to know about them. Products may be new to market or well established but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

The Healthier Choice award will be presented to a product where the business that has demonstrated a strong commitment to developing, incorporating and promoting good nutrition and healthier qualities into its product. Products may be new to market, well established or recently reformulated but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

This Award is open to Scottish food and drink companies whose meat products or offerings are wholly or mainly produced, processed and packaged in Scotland. Products may be new to market or well established but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

The Scotch Brand Product of the Year Award recognises businesses in Scotland which are leading the way in producing top quality Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI or Specially Selected Pork products. For products to qualify for Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI or Specially Selected Pork they must be quality assured and, as part of this, have been sourced from cattle/lambs/pigs born, reared and processed in Scotland. Products using Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Beef PGI and Specially Selected Pork as an ingredient must contain a minimum meat content of 25%. Products may be new to market or well established but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

This Award is open to Scottish food and drink companies whose snacks or accompaniments products or offerings are wholly or mainly produced, processed and packaged in Scotland. Products may be new to market or well established but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

This Award is open to Scottish food and drink companies whose soft drink products or offerings are wholly or mainly produced, processed and packaged in Scotland. Products may be new to market or well established but must have been in market since June 2023 or before. Products can be for either the foodservice or the retail market, and will be judged within the relevant context. 

This Award is open to all large scale retail, wholesale or foodservice businesses (including contract caterers and restaurant/pub groups) who place Scottish sourcing at the heart of their consumer experience and proudly promote Scottish provenance. This Award will be presented to the company who has a clear strategy for growth, understands their customers, has a passion for Scottish provenance and is able to reflect that a successful business recognises the value of strong relationships with their suppliers. The company must have 11+ sites to enter this Award; if they less than this, they may enter the Best for Scottish (Independent Business) Award.

The Employer of the Year Award recognises employers that have made an outstanding effort in inspiring and motivating their people in the face of extreme adversity and change; building strong employer brands despite the challenges and hurdles thrown their way. This Award aims to shine a spotlight on the innovation and creativity developed that will leave a lasting legacy on our sector helping to attract the next generation of talented employees. The overall judging will consider how investing in people through health and wellbeing, skills and training and diversity and inclusion initiatives have made a positive contribution to the company, industry and society. The judges will also be looking for how well the initiative(s) have been embedded in the organisation.

Entries are welcomed from those in our farming, crofting, fishing and aquaculture sectors who can demonstrate their passion for their business and ambitions for growth. The Primary Producer award will be given to the producer who is able to demonstrate the most significant all-round achievement in maximising their returns, market awareness and meeting market specification; supporting the quality reputation of Scotland’s food industry. For the majority of producers, income depends on maximising performance by managing costs, the efficiency of production and the quality of the products offered for sale. This requires an awareness of the needs of the next stage in the supply chain and ideally an awareness of the target market further down the supply chain.

This category recognises a business, individual or group that has supported and promoted Scotland’s regional food and drink offerings in an exceptional way. The award is for those who are helping to shine a light on the creativity and diversity of the producers and unique products in their local area, driving the growth of regional food and drink and in turn creating a positive impact on their local community. Whether you are in hospitality and tourism; independent retailing; run a regional food group or a local market; or simply have a passion and dedication to your regional food and drink producers, we are looking for you to demonstrate how you have worked collaboratively to help put Scotland’s regional food and drink on the map. Activities included within the entry form must have been undertaken between January 2023 and January 2024.

Does your company place sustainability at its core? Have you implemented a leading sustainability initiative that’s reduced your company’s impact on the environment? What we eat, where our food comes from, how it’s produced and packaged, and how much food we waste are significant drivers of global climate change. We believe Scotland’s food and drink industry must aspire to be a model for others to follow; a global leader in climate-friendly food production. Scotland has already set world leading targets for emissions reduction; our food and drink industry must be world-leading too. This award seeks to showcase the leaders and the innovators rising to this generational challenge and the opportunities it brings.

The future of the food and drink industry depends on inspiring the next generation. The Young Talent Award aims to recognise the achievements of our young people in the sector and give companies an opportunity to demonstrate the investment they make in their workforce. This Award will be presented to entrants between the ages of 16 and 26 (applicants must be 26 or under on 23 October 2024) who demonstrate the greatest skill in their chosen sector of the food and drink industry and can represent the industry positively. Entrants can be involved in manufacturing, retailing or any sector directly linked to the food and drink industry. Finalists may be invited to interview.