Deadline approaching for Highlands & Islands Food and Drink Awards 2014

18th April 2014

Food and drink businesses across the Highlands and Islands and within the Cairngorms National Park area have just days left before the deadline to enter the region’s largest and most prestigious food and drink industry awards.

As the Wednesday, 23 April deadline approaches for entries for this year’s Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards, sponsored by Gordon & MacPhail and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), organisers are calling on the area’s food and drink businesses to make sure they don’t miss the closing date.

The Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards, now in its tenth year recognises and reward the businesses which are displaying best practice, achieving exceptional standards and pushing boundaries in a key growth industry sector.

Quintin Stevens of the Awards’ committee said they were keen to see businesses of all sizes and from all sectors within the industry enter for a range of categories, including the New Business, Healthier Food & Drink, New Product, Best Drink Award, Best Eatery and Restaurant of the Year.

He continued: “There is so much good work being achieved in the industry and we want to shine the spotlight on some of the best innovative and creative businesses out there. We know how hard our peers work and we want to make sure their passion and commitment is rewarded.”

The Awards are the region’s longest-running food and drinks awards, celebrating excellence and achievement in the industry and recognising industry players at the top of their game.

In addition to title sponsors Gordon & MacPhail and HIE, sponsors this year include Bank of Scotland, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Ecosse Professional Services Ltd, JBT Distribution & Parcelinq, Johnston Carmichael, Norbert Dentressangle, North Highland Initiative, Scotland Food & Drink, TIO Ltd, Think Local, University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health. The media sponsor is Scottish Provincial Press.

The closing date for entries is 5pm on Wednesday, 23rd April. Further information on all the award categories and how to enter can be found at www.hifoodanddrinkawards.com.

The shortlisted finalists will be announced in late June, and full details of the Awards Dinner & Ceremony on Friday, 24th October at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness will be announced in due course.