Shortlist announced for Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2022

Food and Drink businesses from across Scotland have been announced in the shortlist for the 21st Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards.

248 entries were submitted across 14 product categories, and overall, 48 individual items from 36 suppliers have been named as finalists for this year's Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards.

Buyers from some of the UK’s biggest retailers including Asda, Co-op, Tesco and Sodexo, alongside some of the food and drink industry’s most influential figures, were part of a judging panel that tasted and scored each product.

Shortlisted products include everything from Scottish Beef Biltong produced by Errichel & Thyme, Native Hebridean Smoked Scottish Salmon from The Scottish Salmon Company to Chocolate Cornflake Clusters from Lazy Day Foods.

28 individuals, teams and employers who are raising the bar and helping to build Scotland’s reputation as a land of food and drink were also shortlisted across seven business catagories.

Returning after a Covid-enforced hiatus, the 21st Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards  will take place during Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight and be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 8 September.

John Davidson,  Deputy Chief Executive and Strategy Director at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “The Excellence Awards play an important role in recognising the innovation and creativity of everyone that is building the reputation of Scotland’s larder.

"It was fantastic to see such a range of producers and individuals in this years entries and a massive congratulations to all those that have been named in the shortlist.

"We can’t wait to bring everyone together after a challenging couple of years and celebrate in September.”

Ashley Connolly, Local Buying Manager at Asda, who sponsor the awards, added: “Our customers are becoming increasingly conscious of where their food and drink is coming from and so our focus is to source high quality and innovative products that are new and exciting.

"I was delighted to be involved in the judging of this year’s Excellence Awards and it was wonderful to see such a high calibre of entries across all product categories.

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"A massive congratulations to all of the individuals and businesses that have been shortlisted!”

The full shortlist

Tasted categories

CategoryEntryProduct
Artisan Product of the YearArgyll Coffee RoastersClyde Steamer
Blackthorn SaltBlackthorn Salt
Scottish Salmon CompanyNative Hebridean Smoked Scottish Salmon
Webster HoneyScottish Blossom Honey
Errichel & ThymeScottish Beef Biltong
Bakery Product of the YearAldiSpecially Selected Gastro Steak and Black Pudding Single Pie
Clootie McTootClootie McToot Traditional Dumpling
Island BakeryIsle of Mull Cheese Biscuits - Traditional Farmhouse Cheddar
Taste of ArranArran Oaties
Brewing Product of the YearAldiPerfect Storm
Bellfield Brewery LimitedDaft Days Porter
DrygateDisco Forklift Truck
Vault City BrewingVault City x Bruichladdich x Brewgooder Barrel Aged Whisky Sour Beer
Confectionery & Soft Drinks Product of the YearBon Accord Soft DrinksPink Grapefruit Soda
Bon Accord Soft DrinksRhubarb Soda
Nuisance DrinksWild Nettle
Savora DrinksZesty Lime & Sweet Agave
Dairy Product of the YearArran Ice CreamScottish Tablet ice cream
Graham's The Family DairyGraham's The Family Dairy Scottish Butter with Isle of Skye Sea Salt
Rora DairyGreek style yogurt
St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese CompanySt Andrews Farmhouse Cheddar
Distilling Product of the YearCrafty Scottish Distillers LtdHills & Harbour Gin
Duncan Taylor Scotch WhiskyOctave Premium Glen Grant 30 Year Old
Dunnet Bay Distilers Ltd.Rock Rose Gin - Citrus Coastal Edition
Great Glen Distillery LimitedGreat Glen Premium Scottish Gin
Isle of Raasay DistilleryIsle of Raasay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Fish & Seafood Product of the YearAldiHarissa Infused Scottish Salmon Fillets
CAMPBELLS & Co Smokehouse LtdSmoked Steelhead Trout Long Sliced Side
Sutherlands of PortsoyCold Smoked Steelhead Trout
The Scottish Salmon CompanyNative Hebridean Smoked Scottish Salmon
Free From AwardIsland BakerySweet FA Gluten-Free Organic Cookies
Lazy Day FoodsChocolate Cake Bars
Lazy Day FoodsMillionaire's Shortbread
Nudie SnacksCauliflower Crisps - Cheese & Carmalised Onion
Healthier Choice Product of the YearGraham's The Family DairyGraham’s The Family Dairy Squidgies Pouch
Nudie SnacksCauliflower Crisps - Cheese & Carmalised Onion
Planet KukuCauliflower, turmeric, basil and nigella seeds kuku
Meat Product of the YearCastle MacLellanHeston from Waitrose Chicken Liver Parfait
Donald Russell Ltd2 Venison Wellingtons
East Coast CuredSaucisson Sec
East Coast CuredCoppa
Scotch Brand Product of the YearAldiSpecially Selected Scotch Aberdeen Angus Ribeye Steak 36 Day Matured
AldiSpecially Selected Scottish Smoked Streaky Bacon
JOHN GILMOUR BUTCHERGilmour Black Gold
Snacks & Accompaniments Product of the YearLazy Day FoodsChocolate Cornflake Clusters
SHORE The Scottish Seaweed Co.SHORE Seaweed Chips
The Drinks BakeryParmesan Toasted Pine Nuts & Basil
The Drinks BakeryMature Cheddar Chilli & Almond

Business Categories

CategoryEntry
Best for Scottish (Independent)Bonnie & Wild
Café St Honoré
Hickory
MacDuff 1890
Best for Scottish (Multiple)Aldi
Asda
Brakes
Scotmid
Employer of the YearAquascot
Macphie
Scottish Sea Farms
The Scottish Salmon Company
Primary Producer of the YearAngus Soft Fruits
Blackthorn Salt
Infinite Spring Ltd
Uradale Farm
Regional Food and Drink AwardBonnie & Wild
ESS Energy
Outer Hebrides Tourism
Shetland Food & Drink Limited
Sustainability AwardArbikie Distillery
Mackie's of Scotland
PJs Foods Limited
Two Raccoons
We Hae Meat Ltd
Young TalentDevro- Kyle Nielsen
Savora Drinks- Matthew Walker
Tagliotello Ltd- Otello Calvert
The Scottish Salmon Company- Megan Laughlin

To find out more about the Excellence Awards or purchase tickets for the event, visit the website

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Known for cake making, experimental jam recipes, Champagne, whisky and gin drinking (and the inability to cook Gnocchi), Rosalind is the Food and Drink Editor and whisky writer for The Scotsman, as well as hosting Scran, The Scotsman's food and drink podcast.
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