The Excellence Awards Sponsors & Partners 2026
Central to everything Scotland Food & Drink does is partnership and collaboration. The Excellence Awards are no exception. We are extremely grateful for the support of our sponsors and partners who help make the awards a success.
Palletforce
Best for Scottish (Multiple Business of the Year)
Palletforce is a leading UK-based express palletised freight distribution network, established in 2001. With over 100 independent member companies, it connects businesses across the UK and Europe, offering flexible and efficient delivery solutions.
Caledonian MacBrayne
Distilling Product of the Year (Dark Spirits)
Distilling Product of the Year (White Spirits)
Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries to the west coast of Scotland, serving ports on the mainland and 22 of the major islands.
Seafood Scotland
Fish & Seafood Product of the Year
Seafood Scotland is the national trade and marketing organisation representing the Scottish seafood industry. Established in 1999, it serves as a non-commercial body dedicated to promoting and developing Scotland's seafood sector.
Scottish Bakers
Bakery Product of the Year
Scottish Bakers is the Trade Association for the production, retail and craft bakery sector in Scotland.
Scottish Bakers help bakery businesses grow by providing tailored support and toolkits. The trade association also provides networking opportunities, and access to industry insights, thereby enabling bakeries to enhance their skills, reach new markets, and improve the operational efficiency.
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS)
Scotch Brand Product of the Year
QMS is the public body responsible for helping the Scottish red meat sector improve its efficiency, sustainability, integrity and profitability and maximise its contribution to Scotland's economy.
NFU Mutual
Best for Scottish (Independent Business of the Year)
NFU Mutual is dedicated to supporting Scotland's food and drink sector with expert advice, tailored protection, and first-class customer service.
Its approach is built on developing a detailed understanding of your business, enabling the team to help you find the right insurance arrangements that reflect the specific risks and operational realities you face.
The Grocer
Employer of the Year
The Grocer is the UK's leading source of grocery retail news, analysis and insight, covering supermarkets, food and drink brands and the wider FMCG sector.
Eyebright
Sustainable Business of the Year
Eyebright combines unrivalled expertise in both its own industry and its clients’ industries, with seriously smart technology and client-first support. Its approach not only delivers immediate benefits to your business, but enables it to build a partnership that will bring you closer to long-term goals and add sustained value for years to come.
FDF Scotland
Young Talent of the Year
The Food and Drink Federation Scotland (FDF Scotland) is an independent, industry funded trade association, representing food and drink manufacturers from major global brands through to small and medium-sized enterprises in Scotland.
Levercliff
Growth Business of the Year
Levercliff is a team of specialist food and drink experts. It is what the company is passionate about and also what it is famous for. Collectively it shares its knowledge, insights and considerable experience to help clients build their brand and transform their business.
FREAKWORXX
Video Sponsor
FREAKWORXX is Scotland’s premier content creation studio. Working with brands across Scotland, at home and internationally, with a firm focus on hospitality, food and drink.
High-end commercials, brand films and social, producing everything from cinematic-quality company case studies to premium product capture in their film studios; they bring the highest production values, telling bold stories and creating content that has real impact.
Projects can involve collaboration between any or all, filming, post production and creative gen-AI teams; fusing next-gen talent-led expertise with over 20 years of traditional production experience.
Expertise in creating content that works in China, or talks to Chinese visitors here. Try 2.1m views in 24 hrs.
Food Standards Scotland and Reformulation for Health
Healthy or Free From Product of the Year
The Reformulation for Health programme provides free support to SME food and drink businesses to help improve Scotland’s products and people. The programme develops resources to help manufacturers understand and succeed in recipe reformulation, as well as providing bespoke support, and funding opportunities to help with the associated costs of reformulation. Funded by Scottish Government, managed by Food and Drink Federation Scotland, and supported by external partners including Scotland Food & Drink and Food Standards Scotland.
NielsenIQ (NIQ)
Beer & Cider Product of the Year
NielsenIQ (NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering comprehensive insights into consumer buying behaviour and market performance. By combining advanced analytics with extensive retail measurement data, NIQ helps manufacturers and retailers make informed business decisions, identify growth opportunities, and understand changing market trends. Operating in over 90 countries, NIQ provides a complete view of the consumer landscape, enabling businesses to stay competitive in a dynamic marketplace. Through innovative data solutions and industry expertise, NIQ empowers organisations to drive sustainable growth and improve performance.
Farne of Scotland
Based in the Scottish Borders, Farne of Scotland is a leading producer of fresh and smoked salmon products. From its purpose-built facility in Duns, the company combines expertise, innovation and responsible sourcing to supply a wide range of salmon, trout and mackerel products.
Brakes Scotland, a Sysco Company
Provided Dean's Shortbread and Bon Accord Cream Soda
Brakes Scotland is a leading foodservice supplier showcasing the best of Scotland’s larder. Its extensive regional range features more than 500 Scottish products from local producers across the country, supporting hospitality and food businesses with quality, provenance and choice.
Brownings the Bakers
Provided branded individual empire biscuits
Established in Kilmarnock in 1945, Brownings the Bakers is one of Scotland’s largest traditional craft bakeries. The award-winning bakery is renowned for its morning rolls, tattie scones, savouries and famous Kilmarnock Pies, alongside a much-loved range of Scottish sweet treats.
The Edinburgh Butter Co.
Provided branded stress cows
The Edinburgh Butter Co. began in 2018 from a home kitchen. The business started by focusing on the foodservice sector, securing The Balmoral hotel as its second customer. Now producing well over 3Mt per week it supplies top hotels, restaurants, bakeries and deli's with its Cultured Butters all over the UK every week.
Wee Smoky Whisky
Provided Salted Caramel Whisky canned cocktails
Wee Smoky brings a distinctive Scottish twist to spirits and cocktails, creating full-strength drinks with a subtle smoky character. Its range includes whisky-based products and ready-to-drink cocktails, developed with a focus on quality, flavour and a little Scottish flair.
Farne of Scotland
Provided branded bottle openers
Based in the Scottish Borders, Farne of Scotland is a leading producer of fresh and smoked salmon products. From its purpose-built facility in Duns, the company combines expertise, innovation and responsible sourcing to supply a wide range of salmon, trout and mackerel products.
Lazy Day Foods
Provided shortbread for bags and table favours
The Lazy Day brand stands for products people can trust with outstanding quality. The mission is to make it easy to enjoy the best quality free-from foods you have ever tasted.
Growers Garden
Provided various crisp flavours
Growers Garden turns surplus and wonky Scottish vegetables into delicious snacks, helping to tackle food waste while celebrating the humble vegetable. Its range of broccoli and cauliflower crisps is vegan, dairy-free and made without artificial colours or preservatives.
The Grocer
Provided magazines
The Grocer is the UK's leading source of grocery retail news, analysis and insight, covering supermarkets, food and drink brands and the wider FMCG sector.
Woven Whisky Makers
A whisky-blending studio in Leith crafting flavour-forward, quietly complex expressions from grain and malt whiskies worldwide, chosen for texture and depth, not origin or reputation.
Orkney Gin Company
Orkney Gin Company is a family-run distillery in Orkney, Scotland, established in 2016. As Orkney's first gin producer, the company creates spirits such as gins, Orkney Vodka, and Scotland's inaugural Akvavit. Its products, made using traditional techniques and selected botanicals, are sold online, in local shops, and via wholesalers.
Six°North
Six Degrees North has been producing modern, artisanal beers in the North East of Scotland since 2013 and now offers a broad range of styles to suit all tastes and palates; producing a core range of beers which is complimented by seasonal releases throughout the year.
Deerness Distillery
Founded in 2016, Deerness Distillery began as a self-built, family-run venture on the beautiful Orkney Islands. What started as a passion project has evolved over the last nine years into a thriving independent distillery, producing handcrafted gin, vodka, whisky, and liqueurs – all designed to deliver a truly unique sensory experience.
Simon Howie
Simon Howie, known as the Scottish Butcher, is a family-run business rooted in Dunning, Perthshire. Built on a passion for quality meat, the business has grown from a local butcher shop into an award-winning brand, supplying everything from its bestselling black pudding and haggis to premium meat products across the UK. Alongside supplying leading chefs, hotels and supermarkets, Simon Howie also operates award-winning butcher shops, renowned for quality, craftsmanship and friendly service.
Salar Smokehouse
Salar Smokehouse opened as a small business in South Uist in 1997, with the original owner designing and building his own unique kilns. Now based on the Isle of Benbecula, the company employs a team of 10 dedicated and highly skilled local people all year round, as well as seasonal staff during peak times throughout the year. Its award-winning Flaky Smoked Salmon has won numerous awards.
Edinburgh Butter Co.
The Edinburgh Butter Co. began in 2018 from a home kitchen. The business started by focusing on the foodservice sector, securing The Balmoral hotel as its second customer. Now producing well over 3Mt per week it supplies top hotels, restaurants, bakeries and deli's with its Cultured Butters all over the UK every week.
Giacopazzi's Wholesale Ice Cream
A lengthy love of gelato – producing for 126 years – has enabled Giacopazzi's Wholesale Ice Cream to build a rich knowledge of the industry and the products that give people the most pleasure. The business continues to be passionate and innovative about its product range, keeping up with trends and developments within the sector.
Angus Soft Fruits - Good Natured Berries
Angus Soft Fruits, established in 1994 by three growers, is a leading supplier of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries to UK and European retailers.
Mrs Tilly's
Established in 1997, the business has earned an enviable reputation as a producer of premium quality traditional confectionery.
Lazy Day Foods
The Lazy Day brand stands for products people can trust with outstanding quality. The mission is to make it easy to enjoy the best quality free-from foods you have ever tasted.
Purley Scottish
Purely Scottish Natural Mineral Water supplies sustainably packaged natural mineral water, including the world’s first 100% paper bottle (recyclable, compostable, two-year shelf life), plus aluminium, glass, cans and boxed options, avoiding small single-use plastic while promoting innovative, low-impact packaging.