The new stars of Scottish food and drink

• Louise Stoddart
• 3 June 2016

‘Food Pioneer’ award winner, Fred Berkmiller of L’Escargot Bleu

The Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2016 are a reminder of how the Scottish larder is being redefined

This year’s Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards hammered home just how rich and diverse Scotland’s larder really is. The awards were dished out by Sunday Brunch presenter Simon Rimmer, who highlighted the endless culinary possibilities of Scottish produce.

Categories included Young Talent, Food Pioneer and Product of the Year, with 20 businesses awarded for their contribution and enthusiasm towards Scotland as a land of food and drink. Coming from all corners of the country, the winning products demonstrated that Scottish fayre is no longer all about haggis, shortbread and whisky. Highland Coos have been outshone by Buffalo Steaks, Cuddybridge Apple Juice is a strong favourite on the drinks menu and jars are being filled with Piccalilli rather than just another marmalade.

The awards also highlighted the range of cuisines influencing the nation's produce, demonstrated by ‘Food Pioneer’ award winner, Fred Berkmiller (of L’Escargot Bleu), France-born but a passionate supporter of using quality, Scottish ingredients.

Along with diversity and quality, Scottish food producers are also turning their hand to healthier food products. The reformulation of recipes to improve popular food items is an industry theme, and the winners of the ‘Commitment to Health’ category were Eat Balanced, who work closely with a professor of nutrition to create pizzas full of natural ingredients, including seaweed, used to help reduce the salt content in the recipe.

The 2016 Scottish Food & Drink Excellence winners in full:

Soup, Preserves & Accompaniments
Mara Seaweed, Shony Flakes

Dairy
Graham’s The Family Dairy, Spreadable Butter

Meat
The Buffalo Farm, Buffalo Fillet Steak

Confectionery and Snacking
Macamoon, Macamoon’s Scottish Selection

Non-Alcoholic Drink
Cuddybridge Apple Juice, Cuddybridge Gala Apple Juice

Alcoholic Drink
RTM Sales Solutions Ltd, Magnum Scotch Malt Whisky Cream Liqueur

Fish and Seafood
John Ross Jr (Aberdeen) Ltd, Balmoral Fillet

Bakery and Cereal Based
Stoats, Hedgerow Muesli

Foodservice Product of the Year
Millers Larder Ltd, Perfyit Piccalilli

Commitment to Health
Eat Balanced

Brand Success of the Year
Graham’s the Family Dairy

Export Business of the Year
Associated Seafoods Ltd

Innovation
Scottish Sea Farms Ltd

Investing in People
Loch Fyne Oysters

Success Through Partnership
Aldi and The Natural Fruit & Beverage Company

Environmental Sustainability
Ivan Wood & Sons

Scottish Sourcing
Ninth Wave Restaurant

Scottish Food & Drink Entrepreneur
William J Walker, BenRiach Distillery Co Ltd

Young Talent
Daniel Sherry, Eden Mill

Product of the Year
Macamoon, Macamoon's Scottish Selection

Business of the Year
Scottish Sea Farms Ltd

Outstanding Contribution to Food & Drink
Jim Walker, Walkers

Food Pioneer
Fred Berkmiller, chef