Retailer, Processor and Butcher Shortlisted for Top Accolade at Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards

A retailer, a processor and a butcher have been selected as finalists in the Scotch Brand Product of the Year category at the forth-coming Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2017.

Aldi, Highland Meats and West Lothian-based John Lawsons Butchers have all been shortlisted for the best product made with Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI or Specially Selected Pork.

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is supporting the new category of “Scotch Brand Product of the Year” which aims to recognise businesses in Scotland which are selling Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI or Specially Selected Pork in products of exceptional taste and quality.

The Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on 18 May 2017. Attracting over 800 attendees and consisting of 21 categories, the awards showcase the skill, innovation and dedication of Scotland’s producers.

Growing year on year, the awards offer an invaluable platform on which businesses can showcase their quality produce to the nation.

Marion MacCormick, Buying Director for Aldi Scotland, said: “‘We are thrilled to have both our 30 day matured Aberdeen Angus Sirloin and Angus Gourmet Burger shortlisted. These products have emerged from a strong partnership with Scotbeef which capitalise on great sourcing and their manufacturing expertise, so hopefully the proof was in the eating!”

Niall Brennan, UK Commercial Director from Highland Meats, said: “Producing consistent quality products from sustainable sources is at the heart of everything we do and our Matured Caledonian Crown Scotch Beef PGI Flat Iron steak epitomises our ethos. From the locally sourced Scotch cattle to our unique production processes, we are immensely proud of the products we produce.

“It is a real privilege to have been recognised for all the hard work everyone at Highland Meats contributes to producing such a great product and we are delighted to have been chosen as finalists in the Scotch Brand Product of the Year category.”

John Lawson of John Lawson Butchers said: “We are absolutely over the moon to have been shortlisted for the Scotch Brand Product of the Year category at this year’s Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards.

“We’ve worked hard to get our Himalayan Salt Dry Aged Scotch Sirloin Steak just right so it’s fantastic to be recognised as finalists at such high-profile awards. Fingers crossed for the win in May!”

For products to qualify for the Scotch Brand Product of the Year they must have been made from Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI or Specially Selected Pork, be quality assured and, as part of this, have been sourced from cattle/lambs/pigs born, reared and processed in Scotland.

Products could range from roasts, steaks and products which have a 100% meat content to products which use Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI or Specially Selected Pork as ingredients. Products using Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Beef PGI and Specially Selected Pork as an ingredient must have contained a minimum meat content of 25%.

Suzie Carlaw, QMS Marketing Controller said that she was delighted with the finalists’ products which had been judged primarily on taste - something that Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork are renowned for, along with world-leading levels of traceability, assurance and welfare standards.

“It's fantastic to see retailers, processors and butchers using great quality ingredients, such as Scotch Beef PGI, and adding value to these to create their own signature products.

“Good luck to all the finalists.”