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
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