Businesses from the north-east were celebrating last night after taking home gongs recognising the region’s best food and drink.
Winners of the North East Scotland Food and Drink Awards were announced at the Ardoe House Hotel, Aberdeen.
They were delivered in partnership with Opportunity North East (One) and Aberdeenshire Council.
The 12 categories highlighted the diversity of the ever-growing industry.
Winners were: Balvenie St. Ice Cream for Best New Retail Product; The Lost Loch Distillery for Best New Brewed or Distilled Product; Rora Dairy for Best New Foodservice Product; Wooha Brewing for Best Young Business; Duncan Farms for Investing in Skills Development and Innovation; Glen Garioch Distillery for Best Food and Drink Tourism Experience; Esker Spirits for Most Successful Product from 2017 Awards; Summerhouse Drinks for Best New Retail Product – Medium Businesses; and John Ross Junb for Best New Retail Product – Large Business.
Gregor Mackintosh, founder of Mackintosh of Glendaveny, was awarded the North East Scotland Food and Drink Entrepreneur award, and Craig Wilson from Eat on the Green won the Denis Emslie Above and Beyond Award.
Pat Machray, chairman of One’s Food, Drink and Agriculture Board, said: “These awards promote north-east Scotland’s food and drink industry, which is a sector of national significance.
“At One we see food, drink and agriculture at the heart of our future economy. We want to ensure we have a pipeline of start-ups and growing companies to provide new employment across the region.
“We have outstanding primary produce here and we have to add value and command a premium for that by identifying the right market opportunities.
“We are very ambitious for the sector and see real potential to scale up established businesses and build new businesses with international ambitions.”