Food and drink businesses in the north east are being urged to enter the Grampian Food Forum (GFF) Innovation Awards 2016.
This next edition of the annual accolades, now in their 26th year, recognise excellence and innovation in food and drink in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
The categories include best new retail product, best food-service product and best young business.
There are also food and drink entrepreneur and commitment to health and wellbeing honours up for grabs.
GFF, a partnership of public and private sector organisations devoted to promoting the region’s rich larder, has all the details on its website.
Elizabeth Mathie, industry support executive for food and drink at Aberdeenshire Council, said: “The north-east is a stand out area for food and drink in Scotland and the Innovation Awards have developed as the industry has grown.
“The awards provide a fantastic platform to showcase and celebrate outstanding products, innovations and new talent in the sector.”
Past winners include successful exporters like Buckie’s Associated Seafoods and younger firms such as Lossiemouth’s Windswept Brewing Company.
Family-run businesses on the roll of honour include Castleton Farm Shop, of Fordoun, near Laurencekirk, which is among the 2015 winners now supplying food retail co-operative Scotmid.
Castleton’s berries have taken their place in Scotmid’s stores alongside sausages and burgers from The Store at Foveran, gluten-free foods from Aberdeen firm Pulsetta, fish from Downies of Whitehills and cheese from Ballater’s Cambus O’May Cheese Company.
“Entering the innovation awards was a great experience for our business, Castleton’s Murray Mitchell said, adding: “It encouraged us to be more focused, specific and detailed with our marketing plans.
“The awards really helped raise our profile and the ongoing collaboration with Scotmid really is the cherry on the top. I’d strongly urge local businesses of all sizes to enter the awards and earn the recognition they deserve.”
Catering firm ESS Support Services Worldwide is title sponsor for the 2016 competition.
Also supporting the event are Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen City Council, Ardoe House Hotel and Spa, AVC Media, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Johnston Carmichael, Keenan Recycling, Mackie’s of Scotland, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, Scotland Food and Drink, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Moray Council, the Press and Journal and Think Local.
The closing date for entries is Thursday, January 28 and winners will be announced at a dinner and ceremony on Thursday, March 24 at the Mercure Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel and Spa at Blairs, near Aberdeen.
GFF is running a workshop at Thainstone House Hotel, near Inverurie, on Tuesday, January 19 to provide advice for businesses preparing their award entries.