Loch Duart managing director Alban Denton picks up the company's runner-up award in Bolton last night. Photo: Loch Duart

Salmon farmer named Rural Business Awards runner-up

Salmon farmer Loch Duart has been named runner-up in the Best Food Business category in the north section of the Rural Business Awards.

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The Sutherland and Hebrides-based producer, which grows around 5,000 tonnes of salmon annually and employs 115 people, was one of five finalists. Top spot went to Country Puddings, a business founded by a farmer’s wife in Dacre, near Penrith, Cumbria 18 years ago.

Loch Duart managing director Alban Denton, who picked up the company’s prize at an awards ceremony in Bolton, Lancashhire last night, said: “It’s great for Loch Duart to be named runner-up at the Best Rural Food Business Award.

“Our efforts to raise extraordinary salmon are completely wrapped up in being located in the Highlands and Islands. The beautiful rural environment we work in and the wonderful people who live and work in this area are central to Loch Duart’s success.

“I’d like to congratulate all the great businesses recognised at the awards.”

In June Loch Duart was placed at number 78 in the annual Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table, making it fourth among the 10 Scottish-headquartered companies who made the list. Earlier in the year, the company was named a BDO Profit Track 100 company in the Sunday Times list. 

The International Track 200 ranks Britain’s mid-market private companies with the fastest-growing international sales, measured over their latest two years of accounts.