Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in north east Scotland’s vital food and drink sector

Industry-leading food and drink businesses from across north east Scotland have been recognised for their excellence and innovation.

Industry news
Published: 09/05/2024

Industry-leading food and drink businesses from across north east Scotland have been recognised for their excellence and innovation.

The 2024 North East Scotland Food & Drink Awards, delivered by Opportunity North East (ONE) in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, brought the industry together to celebrate achievements and successes in the vital growth sector and recognise investment in people, products and processes.

Winners of the 2024 awards across nine categories – including best new products, innovation and growth – were AGD Duff & Partners, Amity Fish Company, Associated Seafoods, Burnside Brewery, Little Brown Dog Spirits, Reynolds Cocktails and Singularity Sauce Co. Fraser Chapman, a trainee auctioneer with ANM Group received the rising star award and SeaFest Peterhead landed the best food and drink tourism experience title.

The results were announced at the awards dinner at Meldrum House Country Hotel on Thursday (9 May) evening, with an audience of more than 230 industry professionals, hosted by food and drink writer and broadcaster Aleesha Hansel.

For over 30 years, the awards have served as a catalyst for businesses venturing into new markets. Entrants have reaped the benefits of expert feedback and insights from judges across the UK food industry to enhance their competitive edge, including senior representatives from Waitrose and SPAR Scotland on this year’s judging panel.

ESS, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, is the title sponsor for the awards, and SPAR Scotland, Strachans, Serco NorthLink Ferries, CMS, Scotland Food & Drink, DYW North East Scotland and G McWilliam (Aberdeen) support the awards.

The awards dinner saw Martyn Lee, Executive Chef for Waitrose, who leads the retailer’s food innovation team, and Alison Hargreaves from Young’s Seafood share insights on the importance of their retailer and supplier relationship.

Stanley Morrice MBE, Chair of the ONE Food, Drink and Agriculture Board, said: “Food and drink manufacturing and production are at the heart of north east Scotland’s economy and have a vital role to play in driving growth, productivity and providing high-skills jobs for the future. These awards recognise the success of committed and talented people and teams across the sector, and I congratulate all the finalists and winners on their achievements in the past year.

“Opportunity North East works with ambitious business founders and leaders to achieve their goals and lead their food and drink businesses to the next level. ONE challenges and inspires ambition, provides access to industry expertise, connections and commercial facilities, and supports with entrepreneurial education and mentoring. The sector-specialist support ONE has developed over the past eight years with partners will combine with manufacturing and innovation space at ONE SeedPod, when the new hub opens in 2025.

“ONE SeedPod will be a unique growth catalyst and commercial resource for the industry to use, and I look forward to seeing how it inspires and enables new and established businesses to innovate and grow,” said Mr Morrice.

Chair of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Alan Turner, said: “For many years now these awards have helped showcase the very best north-east food and drink producers, successfully raising the profile of their businesses and products to local and national markets. We are delighted to continue our partnership with ONE to recognise these success stories, promoting the region as a pacesetter in the Scottish food and drink industry.

“Each year, the north east of Scotland’s economy is massively bolstered by £2.2billion thanks to its tremendous food and drink production. Not only that, the sector continues to support around 22,000 jobs across the region which is hugely important for our communities.

“The Food and Drink Awards play an important role in celebrating local businesses and key figures within the industry who, despite all the challenges facing them such as ongoing energy and supply costs, continue driving innovation and business growth.

“To our award winners, I congratulate you all for demonstrating how you have successfully seized upon opportunities and tackled head on the challenges the food and drink market has faced during recent years,” said Cllr Turner.

The full list of winners and finalists is as follows.

 

BEST YOUNG BUSINESS

 

Reynolds Cocktails

Winner

CocoCaramel

Highly commended

D!P

Shortlist

Cabezon Beverage

Shortlist

 

BUSINESS GROWTH

 

A G D Duff & Partners Ltd

Winner

Mackie's of Scotland

Highly commended

Amity Fish Company

Shortlist

Auchmaliddie Mains Beef and Lamb

Shortlist

 

MOST INNOVATIVE BUSINESS

 

Associated Seafoods

Winner

Mackie's of Scotland

Shortlist

Raw Culture

Shortlist

Brew Toon

Shortlist

Singularity Sauce Co

Shortlist

 

BEST NEW FOOD PRODUCT

Singularity Sauce Co

Buffalo Hot Sauce

Winner

Amity Fish Company

Fish Pie

Highly commended

Balmoral Game

Venison Kofta

Shortlist

Mearns Marmalades

Heather Honeyed Red Grapefruit Marmalade

Shortlist

Maclean’s Highland Bakery

Maclean's Luxury Highland Bakery All Butter Scottish Shortbread Selection 400g

Shortlist

Kincardine Castle Kitchen

Seeded Rye Crackers with Scottish Sea Salt and Olive Oil

Shortlist

 

BEST NEW DRINK PRODUCT

Company

Product

 

Little Brown Dog Spirits

Aberdeenshire Foraged Gin - UNLIMITED EDITION

Winner

Ellon Spirit Company

Ellon Spirits - Sloe Gin

Highly commended  

Fierce Beer

Fierce Cerveza 4pk

Shortlist 

Little Brown Dog Spirits

Wee Mongrel Blended Rum

Shortlist 

Reynolds Cocktails

Single Serve Cocktail Pouches & Christmas Gift Boxes

Shortlist 

Lost Loch Spirits

Cutaway Rum

Shortlist 

 

BEST NEW DRINK PRODUCT (LOW OR NO ALCOHOL)

Company

Product

 

Burnside Brewery

Wayfinder

Winner

Figment Coffee Company

Beanstalk: Home Compostable, Specialty Coffee Pods by Figment Coffee

Highly commended

Raw Culture

Raw Culture reimagined!

Shortlist

Brew Toon

St Clement's Radler - Brew Toon x Summerhouse Drinks

Shortlist

 

TEAM OF THE YEAR

 

Amity Fish Company

Winner

Raw Culture and Singularity Sauce Co

Highly commended

Scottish Pig Producers

Shortlist

Walker's Shortbread International team

Shortlist

 

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR

 

Fraser Chapman, ANM Group

Winner

Emma Irvine, Rora Dairy

Highly commended

Leona Rhind, Dean's of Huntly

Shortlist

Luke Burnett, Marshall's Farm Shop

Shortlist

 

BEST FOOD & DRINK TOURISM EXPERIENCE

 

SeaFest Peterhead

Winner

Wild Food Stories

Shortlist

The Lobster Shop

Shortlist

Westerton Farmers

Shortlist

Aberdeen Cocktail Week

Shortlist

Get the latest direct to your inbox

Sign-up to our newsletter to receive updates and latest news.

Newsletter sign up