BAKKAFROST SCOTLAND WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD AT HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS

Bakkafrost Scotland wins prestigious award at Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards. Bakkafrost Scotland has picked up the prestigious Primary Producer award, at this year’s Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards in Inverness.

With a total of 15 categories, The Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards, now in its 18th year, showcase and celebrate excellence and achievements in the food and drink sector, from world-renowned businesses to small innovative producers.

The Primary Producer award was sponsored by industry trade body, Salmon Scotland, and was presented to Bakkafrost Scotland in recognition of the business’ responsible business growth and commitment to the environmental, cultural and economic sustainability of rural Scotland.

The judging panel felt Bakkafrost Scotland had highlighted its responsibility in terms of working and living in economically fragile areas and were ‘committed to creating shared value’.

The judging panel added:

“This business has a true commitment to Scottish provenance, offering the highest quality production standards to ensure their products are fit for their supply chain.

“Our winner has really identified the importance of transparency for their customer, offering complete traceability of their products to convey a truly unique provenance story. With an impressive export strategy and equally impressive B2C strategy, our winner is a knockout.”

Native Hebridean salmon is a local native breed that grows well in its natural environment. The guaranteed provenance of our Native Hebridean Salmon and integrated value chain underpins the integrity of our brand with provenance guaranteed.

Fully traceable to the Scottish waters in which it is raised, Native Hebridean is robust, lean, and noticeably firmer. It is harvested and processed in Stornoway, delivered as fresh fillets to Bakkafrost Scotland’s Stornoway smokehouse where artisan smokers hand cure it using a ‘Traditional Island Recipe’ of finely crushed sea salt, before it is laid out for the aromatic oak kiln smoke wood shavings of aged Scotch whisky barrels. The sea-fresh flavour, quality appearance and exceptional eating quality are all as a result of years of research and development work.

Ian Laister, managing director, Bakkafrost Scotland said:

“We’re engaged in every stage of the value chain, from Broodstock, through freshwater to rearing in Scottish seas, helping create and retain value in the local economy and maintain control of quality standards. Bakkafrost Scotland also has a significant investment plan in Scotland to extend our value chain to ensure sustainable growth.

“Our globally unique strain, Native Hebridean, is of pure island heritage and bred from wild stock – the story behind it, and its artisan production process, epitomises sustainable salmon production.

“The award is a real testament to our team, the people who are essential to the success of our business, and who ensure our products meet the highest possible standards every day.”

Chair of the judging panel, Elaine Jamieson, head of food and drink and life sciences at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), said:

“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists. These businesses truly represent the very best of Scotland’s larder from the Highlands and Islands.

“This year we’ve had more entries than ever before, giving our judges a difficult job. The level of innovation, expertise and quality of our entries never ceases to amaze me and I feel incredibly grateful that the Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards gives us the opportunity to celebrate the amazing work that is being done within the sector.”

Source