Now in its 19th year the awards aim to acknowledge and celebrate the breadth of industry talent based in the Highlands and Islands.

Entries can be made online before the closing date of Monday 24 June. The awards ceremony will take place on Friday 1 November at venue partner, The Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness. Tickets will be available to buy later in the year.

A number of award categories have already attracted sponsorship from a range of businesses and organisations, and there’s a new innovation award this year to recognise a business innovating in sustainability, digital transformation, e-commerce, supply chain improvements, packaging improvements or new product developments.

Well known author, Marian Armitage, who has been involved in HIFAD Awards since 2019, relishes the contact with businesses, especially the less established, that her role brings.

A former Ambassador of the Year, and a current member of the Steering Group, she said: “I always very much enjoy my time working on the HIFAD Awards.

“As chair of Shetland Food & Drink, I’m used to promoting what we do best, and I’d say to those thinking of entering, to consider the benefits of networking and the exposure that the Awards can bring.

“I look forward to another vibrant year helping with these awards. I’m confident that, once again, I, and the others involved in these awards, will be extremely impressed by the quality of those entering.”

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is supporting the awards. Elaine Jamieson, head of food and drink and life sciences at HIE said: “High quality products from across the Highlands and Islands have a strong competitive advantage connected to place, people and provenance and are sought after across the world.

“The Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards offer a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the success and achievements of the industry and provides a valuable chance for individuals and businesses to get together, make new contacts and strengthen existing relationships.

“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 opportunities. We are delighted to be able to support the awards once again and look forward to meeting friends old and new in November.”

Gillian Osborne, head of marketing & communications at Wester Ross Fisheries Ltd, and new to the Steering Group this year, commented: “I’m excited to bring my experience, particularly in the export market, to bear over the next few months.

“I’d say to any food & drink business looking to get involved in the HIFAD Awards to go for it. Getting through to the awards night itself is a fantastic opportunity for a smaller business to network and make valuable connections with larger more established businesses.”

Mike and Yvonne Crook of event and outside catering company, Good Highland Food, were jointly awarded Ambassadors of the Year 2023.

Speaking of their award, they said: “We were delighted to win the Ambassadors of the Year Award in 2023, our 20th year in the business of promoting the fantastic range of Highlands and Islands food and drink we have access to.

“Our mission is to continue to put the region’s food and drink experiences at the heart of everything we do. If you are a food and drink business in the Highlands and Islands, we couldn’t recommend highly enough what the HIFAD awards can do for you.”

Alongside Marian and Gillian, Yvonne is a member of this year’s Awards Steering Group.

Categories:

• Best Drink (Alcoholic & non-alcoholic)
• Best Food Retail
• Best Food Foodservice sponsored by Seafood Scotland
• Best Food & Drink Tourism Experience
• Best Start Up Award sponsored by Be Personnel
• Best Street Food Award
• Best Marketing Award
• Innovation Award sponsored by Food & Drink TechHUB
• Independent Retailer of the Year
• Primary Producer Award sponsored bySalmon Scotland.
• Sustainability Award
• Supply Chain Business Award sponsored by Wester Ross Fisheries
• Best Eatery sponsored by Highland News & Media
• Restaurant of the Year sponsored by Highland Industrial Supplies
• Young Ambassador of the Year sponsored by Scotland Food and Drink
• Ambassador of the Year sponsored by Saffery