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Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards 2023 ‒ open for entries!


By Features Reporter

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Previous award winners Julia Mackillop, senior brand manager of Cù Bòcan Single Malt and Douglas Hardie, co-owner of Bad Girl Bakery and director of Highland Food & Drink Trail. Picture: Ewan Wetherspoon
Previous award winners Julia Mackillop, senior brand manager of Cù Bòcan Single Malt and Douglas Hardie, co-owner of Bad Girl Bakery and director of Highland Food & Drink Trail. Picture: Ewan Wetherspoon

The Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards are back for 2023 and calling for entries from businesses across the region with three new categories.

From Wednesday, April 5, businesses can submit their nominations across 14 categories at www.hifoodanddrinkawards.com before the closing date of Friday, June 9. Shortlisting will take place during the summer and the evening awards ceremony will take place on Friday, October 27.

Three new categories have been added this year that considers a wider cross-section of the industry: E-commerce, Best Start Up and Best Street Food.

Gilpin Bradley, member of the award’s Steering Group, and current awards’ Ambassador, said: “We have a spectacular range of hard-working, passionate people and teams from Unst to Arran, Barra to Aberlour and everywhere in between, who offer the very best quality food and drink products and experiences. I would encourage businesses of all sizes to enter as we have created a diverse range of categories suited to growers, bakers, chefs, distillers and butchers who live and work here.”

The awards are supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Elaine Jamieson, head of Food and Drink and Life Sciences at HIE, said: “The Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards are a valuable chance for individuals and businesses to network and celebrate achievements across the food and drink and hospitality industries. As we have seen with previous winners, the accolade of being amongst the best in class raises the profile of outstanding businesses and products and can lead to significant new market opportunities. We are delighted to be able to support the awards once again, and look forward to meeting friends old and new in October.”

Winners will be revealed at the prestigious awards ceremony at Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness on Friday, October 27. Tickets will be available to buy later in the year.

The categories are:

  • Best Drink (alcoholic & non-alcoholic) (large and small business) sponsorship available
  • Best Food (retail or foodservice) (large and small business) sponsorship available
  • Best Food & Drink Tourism Experience sponsored by Caledonian Sleeper (pending)
  • Best Start Up sponsorship available
  • Best Street Food sponsorship available
  • E-Commerce sponsorship available
  • Independent Retailer of the Year sponsorship available
  • Primary Producer sponsored by Salmon Scotland
  • Sustainability sponsored by Scotland Food & Drink
  • Supply Chain Business sponsorship available
  • Best Eatery sponsored by Highland News & Media
  • Restaurant of the Year sponsored by Williamson Foodservice
  • Young Ambassador of the Year sponsored by Brook Street
  • Ambassador of the Year sponsored by Saffery Champness

Follow the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards on their social media to keep up-to-date with the latest news and announcements. Find them on @hifadawards

For further information on the categories and to apply, visit www.hifoodanddrinkawards.com

For sponsorship opportunities contact hifad@luxevents.co.uk


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