Highlands & Islands Food and Drink Awards - Last Call

5th June 2012

Last Call for 2012 HIFDA Entry.

With entries closing on June 15th, this is the last chance to submit an entry for the 2012 Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards.

Scotland's reputation as an innovative producer of some of the best food and drink in the world has never been higher. Yet it is less widely reported that much of the industry's growth is being driven by food and drink companies based in the Highlands and Islands.

That's where the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards have a key role to play. Being held for the eighth time in 2012, the event aims to showcase the wide range of diverse products and businesses now operating in the region, celebrate their achievement and encourage them to be innovative, forward thinking and collaborative.

Organised by the high-profile Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Forum, the Awards are now open for entry, and it is hoped that companies of all shapes and sizes will put pen to paper as part of their ongoing strategy to grow and develop their business - and fly the flag for the industry in their own area.

Orkney Fishermen's Society won the Partnerships for Success Award and overall Excellence Award last year and, in 2010, the Distance No Object Award. The company also won the Success Through Working in Partnerships category in the recent 2012 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards. Says Stewart: "While we don't expect to enter awards and win every time, when you do win it recognises the hard work of the people within your organisation who are so committed.

"It's good for your people, it's good for enhancing the profile of your business because it opens more doors for you and, in our case, it's a real flag-waving exercise for Orkney. We want to promote our area and the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards have really helped us put Orkney on the map."

Another award-winner - also in 2009 and 2011 - is Reids of Caithness. According to managing director Gary Reid, it is important to get involved in awards initiatives if you want to grow your business. "It works for us as a company on several different levels," he says. "We're in the business of growing our business and the exposure you get from being part of the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards, even if you don't win, is absolutely fantastic.

And Gary's advice to companies, particularly small ones that don't think they can compete against bigger, more experienced companies/ organisations? "Don't let that put you off," he urges. "We're a very small company operating with a tight team but we are ambitious and want to grow, so entering the Awards is great way of getting everyone focused on where we need to make improvements.

"In our view entering the Awards is a really good business exercise in itself. We were really honoured just to be shortlisted a couple of years ago but the staff were so excited and it gave everyone a real buzz, so to then go on to win twice has given us a tremendous boost and got the Reids name - and our products - noticed."

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) continues to support the Awards. As Iain Sutherland, senior development manager for food and drink at HIE points out: "The quality of our food and drink products plays a key role in defining the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to the rest of the world. We continue to lend our support because of our belief in the potential for further development and the need to encourage and reward those businesses which contribute to an industry which is such a significant economic driver for the region."

Those interested in submitting an entry should note the closing date of Friday, 15th June.

Further information on award categories and how to enter can be found at www.hifoodanddrinkawards.com