Caithness seaweed company among winners in Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards
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Caithness-based company Shore has been named among the winners in the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards 2022 for its range of seaweed chips.
It took the Best Food: Retail accolade at Friday night's event in the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, where 250 guests celebrated the best of the region’s larder.
The judges said Shore had "demonstrated a clever marketing strategy and even started their own beach-cleaning programme across Scotland to heighten awareness".
They added: "This product has also helped to bring a unique and distinctive flavour into the mainstream market for the first time."
Shore says its plant-based chips appeal to a growing number of health-conscious consumers seeking sustainably sourced foods.
The Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards, now in their 17th year, aim to recognise the best products, food and drink experiences, retailers and businesses demonstrating sustainability, quality and diversity.
The Ambassador of the Year title went to Gilpin Bradley for his work as managing director of Wester Ross Salmon over 32 years.
The judges said: "He has been a fantastic ambassador, not just for Wester Ross Salmon but for Wester Ross as an area, for the Highlands and Islands and for Scottish salmon in general."
Mr Bradley said: “I am incredibly honoured to have received this award and delighted that it will give me further opportunities to promote awareness of these awards, the sector and its importance to the economy of the Highlands and Islands throughout the coming year in my position as ambassador.
“The resilience, innovation and passion within the Highlands and Islands food and drink industry never fail to impress and inspire, and I offer my congratulations to all of the winners and finalists.”
Elaine Jamieson, head of food and drink and life sciences at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, chairs the judging panel.
She said: “Congratulations to all winners and finalists who represent the very best in world-class products and services from the Highlands and Islands. After a two-year absence the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards are back with a record-breaking number of entries, each of an exceptional calibre.
“Selecting the winners was a difficult task for the judging panel. The quality of products, the degree of innovation and the drive on sustainability shone through the entries and was really exciting to see.
"It was particularly positive to see a large number of entries for the eatery categories, given the difficult trading conditions during the pandemic, and the awards truly celebrated the return of the region’s hospitality industry.
"Of course, the backbone of all of this is the people who work in the sector, and it is an important occasion to celebrate them."
The awards are delivered by a steering group including John Scott (Fearn Farm), Marian Armitage (Shetland Food and Drink), Sam Faircliff (Cairngorm Brewery) and Douglas Hardie (Bad Girl Bakery). The steering group is supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise who are the principal event sponsor.
Full list of winners:
- Best Drink, sponsored by Speylife:
- Best Brewed – Winner: Windswept Brewing Company, Windswept Brewing Barrel Aged Range
- Best distilled – Winner: Highland Liquor Company, Seven Crofts and Seven Crofts Fisherman's Strength
- Highly commended: Isle of Barra Distillers, Island Dark Rum
- Best whisky – Winner: Tomatin Distillery, Cù Bòcan single malt
- Best Food: Foodservice – Winner: Salar Smokehouse Ltd, Salar Smoked Salmon
- Best Food: Retail – Winner: Shore, the Scottish Seaweed Company, Shore seaweed chips
- Highly commended: Bogrow Farm Charcuterie, Ross-shire air-dried ham
- Highly commended: Chocolates of Glenshiel, vegan selection
- Best Food and Drink Tourism Experience, sponsored by Caledonian Sleeper – Winner: Downright Gabbler
- Independent Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Williamson Foodservice – Winner: Bùth Bharraigh.
- Primary producer, sponsored by Salmon Scotland – Winner: Bakkafrost Scotland
- Supply Chain Business, sponsored by MacRoberts – Winner: Williamson Foodservice
- Sustainability, sponsored by Scotland Food & Drink – Winner: Bakkafrost Scotland. Winner: Beinn an Tuirc Distillers
- Best Eatery, sponsored by Highland News & Media – Winner: IV10
- Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by MacGregor Supplies – Winner: Harbour Kitchen
- Young Ambassador of the Year, sponsored by Brook Street – Winner: Ella Moxon, Midge Bite Café
- Highly commended: Amy McBean, Highland Bakery
- Judges' Award 2022 – Winner: Left Coast Culture
- Young Ambassador of the Year 2022 – Winner: Gilpin Bradley
