LOCH DUART SHORTLISTED FOR FDF AWARDS

Loch Duart Shortlisted for Food & Drink Federation Awards 2019. Salmon farm Community Partner finalist in top UK food & drink industry awards. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has chosen Loch Duart, the salmon farm based in Sutherland and the Uists, as one of the finalists for its annual Food and Drink Federation Awards 2019. Shortlisted in the Community Partner category, Loch Duart highlighted its new ‘Salmon Pool’ fund. A partnership with Loch Duart’s fish feed supplier, Cargill Aqua Nutrition, who makes EWOS feed, ‘Salmon Pool’ provides community funding that is available to local charities and projects benefiting local people.

Alban Denton, Managing Director of Loch Duart, said:

“Being shortlisted for the Food and Drink Federation, Community Partner Award is just wonderful. Without the highly experienced, committed and loyal local communities which are central of Loch Duart’s day-to-day involvement in Sutherland and the Uists, we wouldn’t be able to nurture and rear our extraordinary salmon. Integral to the success of the Salmon Pool initiative is the allocation of funds. Loch Duart’s HR & Community Manager Rebecca MacInnes, manages this distribution in a careful and diligent manner, deeply sensitive to the culture of the local communities. We can’t wait to share our stories and community experiences at the FDF Awards.”

Ian Wright CBE, Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Federation, said:

“Congratulations to all the teams, individuals, and brands that were nominated for our Awards. The strength of our industry is its breadth and its boldness, each category will be hard fought. I look forward to toasting our shortlisted nominees in September.”

The FDF Awards 2019, take place Thursday 19 September at The Royal Lancaster, London. The awards celebrate the diversity, dynamism, and dedication of those who work in the industry and ensure that food and drink is so widely enjoyed across the UK, and around the world. British journalist, writer and broadcaster Jay Rayner returns to host the ceremony.

To date the Salmon Pool fund has distributed in excess of £31K to over 10 projects:

• Scourie Primary – outdoor clothing and learning equipment
• Durness Golf Club – new equipment
• North Uist United Juniors FC – new equipment
• Scourie Community Council – enhancing the community play-park
• Connect Assynt Ltd – to extend the community transport service
• Scourie & Badcall Grazings Committee – to complete footpath network
• North Sutherland Sportive – Hall fees for Jujitsu group
• Lochinver Public Hall – to enhance the exterior
• Kinlochbervie Primary – experience of working with horses for children with Downs Syndrome
• Uist Coastal Rowing Club – towards a new Skiff boat
• Community Care Assynt – purchase of defibrillator

For more information on Loch Duart Salmon visit www.lochduart.com

Loch Duart Ltd is an independent Scottish salmon farm based in North West Scotland. Producing around 5,000 tonnes per year, it employs 115 people in the Hebrides and Sutherland. The salmon is supplied to leading hotels, restaurants and retailers at home and abroad.

Loch Duart’s unique farming methods include low density farming, a unique rotational fallowing system, swim-throughs and feed from sustainable sources to ensure lean, fit fish.

Loch Duart’s industry leading innovations include:

• The first fish farm in the world to achieve RSPCA Freedom Food approval.
• Loch Duart’s unique strategy of long term rotational fallowing optimised for each sea site according to conditions and fish numbers.
• In 2004, specifying sustainably sourced marine ingredients from traceable, identifiable lots for its salmon feed.
• Inventing a drum filter which can filter sea water down to 100 micron to collect any parasites and their eggs in the heavy water flows taken from the pens.
• In 2015 securing a source of Icelandic fishmeal to enhance the sustainability and quality criteria of Loch Duart’s salmon feed.
• Practising ‘environmental enrichment’ in their fresh water operations to stimulate the young salmon and improve welfare.The Food and Drink Federation Awards Community Partner Award will go towards a food and drink supply chain company which has carried out outstanding work with their chosen community and made a positive difference.