Judges agree with Loch Duart bosses as firm’s latest buy scoops top prize

Salar flaky salmon named product of the year with family-owned haggis-maker best business

By Joe Watson

Published:

An iconic producer of smoked salmon from the Western Isles and one of the country's best-known haggis makers were celebrating last night after winning the top two prizes at Scotland's annual food “Oscars".

Flaky salmon from the South Uist-based Salar Smokehouse was named product of the year at the annual Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards, attended by more than 300 people in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

Salar was bought last year by Loch Duart from founders Eric and Jane Twelves. They had since 1997 been simultaneously cooking and smoking salmon to the create their distinctive flaky product that is available in selected supermarkets, food halls, delicatessens and exported to five countries.

Scourie-based Loch Duart jumped at the chance to buy the firm when the Twelves decided to retire as several of its directors were addicts of the famous flaky smoked salmon. Salar also won the fish and seafood category.

Recognised for its salmon exports too was Portsoy-based Gourmet’s Choice, which won the international business of the year after achieving a 43% increase in export sales.

The business, part of family-owned fish processor A. J. Sutherland, ships a range of salmon products, kippers and mackerel to Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, India, Italy, Germany, Greece, Singapore and Japan.

Family-owned haggis producer Macsween, of Edinburgh, won business of the year plus the award for environmental sustainability.

It has been creating haggis since 1953. It is exported around the world. Among its innovations is a vegetarian haggis that is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

It was a fitting win for the firm in the year of Homecoming, the year-long celebration that marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of national bard Robert Burns and whose contribution to Scotland has long been marked with haggis.

The environmental award recognised Macsween's green credentials. It has strict waste-segregation policies, is committed to recycling and is also is looking at how it can use renewable energy.

Two relatively new food businesses were also among the winners.

The Cameron family who have since last year been producing extra virgin rapeseed oil under the Summer Harvest marque from the oilseed rape grown on their farm at Ferneyfold, Madderty, Crieff, won the soup, preserves and accompaniments plus healthy eating awards.

Caithness student Jill Brown, 29, was celebrating her second win in a week as she lifted the drink award for the Scottish strawberry and raspberry infused Berry Good vodka she produces from her home at Watten.

Last week, Miss Brown scooped bronze in the annual Pinnacle Awards for agricultural students.

Other firms winning prizes included Perthshire-based Simon Howie Butchers, for its Scottish dry-cure bacon; Arbroath's Angus Soft Fruits, for its Good Natured range of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries that are produced without pesticides, and Iain Burnett, the Highland Chocolatier, who from Grandtully produces a range of gourmet chocolate truffles.

The new food tourism award went to one of the most remote food firms: Cocoa Mountain, which produces hand-made chocolates from Balnakeil, Sutherland.

The awards are organised by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland and Scotland Food and Drink. Scotland Food and Drink chairman Allan Burns used the event to call on supermarkets to offer better terms to their suppliers, saying: “They (the big retailers) need to give a much longer commitment to help the supply base that makes them great.”

Other winners:

Retail, bakery and cereal-based – Border Biscuits, of Lanark, for its Deliciously Different range.

Retail, dairy, confectionery and snacking and marketing initiative of the year – Graham’s the Family Dairy, of Airthrey Kerse Farm, Bridge of Allan, for its Graham’s Gold Jersey dairy range.

Product innovation – Carmichael Estate Farm Meats, of Westmains, near Biggar for its venison rashers.

Success through working in partnerships – Argyll Food Producers for its Food From Argyll initiative.