Scottish salmon farmers vie for export award
The Scottish Salmon Company and Scottish Sea Farms are both in contention to be named Export Business of the Year at this year’s the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards.
The salmon farmers are among four finalists in the category, alongside Loch Fyne Oysters Ltd and Aberdeenshire ice-cream maker Mackie’s.
Edinburgh-based SSC is also a finalist in the Primary Producer of the Year and Business of the Year categories.
Smoked trout
Loch Fyne Oysters also has two products – Kinglass Fillet and Bardan Rost - in the Fish & Seafood category. The other finalists in that category are Ritchie’s of Rothesay for its smoked trout, and Campbells & Co Smokehouse Ltd of Linlithgow for its Beetroot & Dill Smoked Salmon D Sliced Whole Side.
South Uist’s Salar Smokehouse is up against a salami maker and a gin distiller in the Artisinal Product final.
Winners from all 19 categories will be announced in front of 800 guests at an awards ceremony and dinner on Thursday, May 23 at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh.
Diverse range
Scotland Food & Drink chief executive James Withers said: “Every year the Excellence Awards attracts an incredibly diverse range of entrants, all of which are of a very high quality. This year we’ve had a record number of entries and the standard has never been higher.
“While tasting each of the products entered into the awards sounds like a dream, in reality, selecting the very best of the best has been extremely difficult for our expert judging panel.
“Now celebrating its 20th year, the Awards will yet again be the premier night in one of Scotland’s most valuable and successful industries. Congratulations and good luck to all the finalists.”
