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The Orkney Fishermen’s Society has received the coveted Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Excellence Award, an award presented by the judges recognising excellence in any one category.
The society was one of 10 organisations and individuals from Argyll to Orkney to be announced as winners of awards in the prestigious Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards for 2011 in Inverness on October 21.
The awards, organised by the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Forum, and supported by Highlands & Islands Enterprise, recognise the best use of local food and drink, healthier food and drink, good environmental practice, innovation, businesses working in collaboration with each other, as well as new products and new businesses.
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson, addressed guests at the awards, hosted by BBC Scotland’s popular presenter, Catriona Shearer.
Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson said: ‘The Highland and Islands Food and Drink Awards are a key date in the food and drink industry calendar, and are a valuable celebration of the hard work and dedication which goes into producing the high quality products available throughout the region. I would like to congratulate all those companies nominated and I am delighted to be presenting the Excellence award to the Orkney Fishermen’s Society in recognition of their particular achievements in the crab processing field.’
Orkney Fishermen’s Society is a fishermen’s co-operative (est 1953) operating a crab-processing factory and exporting live lobsters, brown and velvet crabs. The business processes some 1500 tonnes of brown crab each year selling products to retail and wholesale customers in the UK, Europe and the Far-East. Some 40 tons per annum of live lobsters are also handled, mostly air-freighted direct to markets in Europe and Scandinavia. Around 250 tons of velvet crabs are shipped live by a weekly truck to Spain each year.
Based in Aros, Mull, the Ethical Shellfish company is not yet two years old, but it is demonstrating its potential for future success by winning the Environment Award, sponsored by Tio Ltd.
Adjudicators were drawn to the company’s ‘catch to order’ ethos, which sees no damage to other species or the marine environment.
The selective process also means only the right size and shape of king scallop – their core product – is caught to exactly meet demand.
The company is owned by husband and wife team Guy Grieve and Juliet Knight.
Guy said: ‘We really didn’t expect to win it and I think any kind of award helps build your reputation further.
‘We’re only one year and nine months old, but this gives us a new sense of direction and motivation.’
The New Business Award went to Argyll Smokery, Dunoon, which beat off stiff competition from the Ethical Shellfish Company to clinch the prize.
Started from scratch by Allan McDougall and Karen Baxter, the business has already won three two-star gold Great Taste Awards.
Allan said: ‘We supply our products throughout the UK to discerning delis, restaurants and wholesalers. Our philosophy is very simple; never fresher, never better - fine tasting foods made without compromise.’
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