A MORAY SEAFOOD firm was amongst the winners at the Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards this week.
Businesses across the north east were celebrating success at the region’s most prestigious food and drink awards, including Moray’s Associated Seafoods Limited (ASL).
The Buckie-based firm won two major awards – the Best New Food Service product for their Royal Fillet Scottish Salmon, and the Denis Elmsie ‘Above and Beyond’ award, which was given to Marion Martin, ASL’s production manager.
Marion’s positive approach impressed the judges and prompted ASL managing director, Victor West, to comment “This is a truly deserving award for a quite remarkable lady. She always has a cheerful attitude and ‘can do’ approach to everything she does.
“She is an absolute credit to herself and the business – nothing is too much trouble and she displays in abundance the qualities of loyalty, generosity, energy and enthusiasm.”
The firms commercial director, Henry Angus, welcomed the Best New Foodservice product award, saying: “We are thrilled to have won this award. Only ever using Scottish salmon, our master smokers know the importance of taking great care and attention during all stages of the smoking process.
“This award is testament to the dedication of our employees in producing the highest quality Scottish smoked salmon.”
Organised by Grampian Food Forum, the awards celebrate excellence and innovation in food and drink in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and Moray.
The winners were announced on Thursday at the Mercure Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel and Spa at a gala dinner.
Leading the judging panel was Sarah Mackie, who said: “The Awards are a great platform for rewarding and celebrating innovation in the food and drink sector and we are delighted to see existing companies driving innovation with new products as well as an encouraging a number of new local businesses starting up and others evolving.”
A record number of 39 businesses entered the Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards this year of which 29 were shortlisted with ten recognised on the night.