Scottish larder celebrated at biggest awards event to date
The late Andrew Fairlie was remembered as Excellence in the food and drink industry was celebrated at a glittering Edinburgh show
Andrew Fairlie, the two Michelin starred chef who died this year, has gained one more plaudit for his excellent work at his restaurant in Gleneagles and in the wider industry. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was at the Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards to hand over the Outstanding Contribution Award, posthumously, to the man who was arguably Scotland’s greatest chef. Acknowledging the impact Andrew had on the sector, and the instrumental role he played in inspiring an entire generation of Scottish chefs, it was accepted by his widow, Kate Fairlie.
Ms Sturgeon said: “It was an honour and a privilege to present the Outstanding Contribution Award. Andrew Fairlie was one of Scotland’s greatest chefs and his passion for and promotion of Scottish food and drink inspired many people both here and abroad.
“While Andrew was taken from us far too soon, his contribution to the industry and to Scotland will always be remembered. Our food and drink industry is one of Scotland’s success stories, with recent figures showing this growth sector achieved record turnover, so it was fantastic to celebrate the people and businesses who are behind these achievements
at the Excellence Awards.”
Kate Fairlie received rousing applause as she gave an emotional speech about her husband. “To receive this award is an enormous honour and I am proud beyond words,” she said. “Anyone who knew Andrew, the wonderful, kind, brave human being that he was, knew of his remarkable determination to succeed professionally and also his determination to beat his illness right to the very end.”
The Awards showcase the best in Scottish produce as well as the industry’s leading individuals, suppliers and companies. Among the big winners on the night were Loch Fyne Oysters, whose Kinglas Fillet of salmon scooped the top prize in the Product of the Year Category. North Lanarkshirebased Lazy Day Foods was named Business of the Year.
Hosted by restaurant critic, writer and broadcaster, Jay Rayner, the awards ceremony at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh was attended by more than 800 people from across the industry and the wider community. Some 52 food and drink businesses from across Scotland were named as finalists across the 19 product and business categories. Well-known producers, as well as innovative start-ups, triumphed on the night. Showcasing innovation, enterprise and, above all else, excellence on the Scottish food and drink scene, winners included: Grahams the Family Dairy, East Coast Cured, Dean’s, Harviestoun Brewery, Wester Spirit Co, Wild Fig, Mccaskie Butchers, Three Chimneys and Aldi.
James Withers, Chief Executive of Scotland Food and Drink, said: “Winning an Excellence Award is more than simply having a wellwritten award entry – it’s testament to the commitment and dedication of our producers to creating truly exceptional products and business practices. The passion of the farmers, fishermen and food and drink producers within the industry is inspiring. The pursuit of perfection, combined with a genuine appetite for innovating, means we have some of the best businesses and products in the world and these awards give us the opportunity to celebrate that. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and finalists.”
The awards received a record 320 entries across all categories, most notably in distilling, which increased from 18 in 2018 to 41 this year. It was recently announced that the Scottish food and drink sector has contributed a record £14.8 billion to Scotland’s economy.