Celebrating Innovation in North East Scotland's Food and Drink Sector

Industry-leading food and drink businesses from have been recognised for their innovation and growth in the 2025 North East Scotland Food & Drink Awards. 

Opportunity North East delivers the awards in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, with support from this year’s category sponsors CMS, DYW North East, Outsource Laboratory, Scotland Food & Drink, and Serco NorthLink Ferries and menu sponsor G McWilliam (Aberdeen) Ltd.   

The results were announced at the awards dinner at Meldrum House Country Hotel in Aberdeenshire on Thursday evening (5 June), with an audience of more than 200 industry professionals, hosted by food and drink television presenter, writer and fresh produce importer Chris Bavin. 

• Mackintosh of Glendaveny celebrated a double on the night, taking home the awards for Business Growth and the Team of the Year.
• Tullynessle Deer Farm was named Best Young Business and Life Blood, formerly known as Raw Culture, took home the Most Innovative Business title.
• Hungry Squirrel’s Sweet Chai Cashew Butter received the Best New Product title in the small company category, and Castleton Farm Shop’s Castleton Farm Mayonnaise won Best New Product in the medium to large category.
• The Best New Drink Product title went to Six Degrees North for its Foraged Saison.
• Megan Dorward, business growth manager at Castleton Farm, won the Rising Star Award, and Westerton Farmers’ Long Table Feast received the Best Food and Drink Tourism Experience title. 

Several businesses were also highly commended, including Brew Toon in the business growth category, Rora Dairy for best new product (medium to large company) and Burnside Brewery’s Lump of Coal Festive Stout for best new drink product. 

Cllr Gillian Owen, Leader of Aberdeenshire Council, said: “My warmest congratulations go to all of this year’s award winners and all those nominated and shortlisted. It has been heartening to hear so many great success stories from our food and drink producers and that’s testament to all the continuing hard work and dedication to really showcase our region. Once again Aberdeenshire Council is delighted to continue its partnership with ONE to recognise these success stories and promote the region’s producers as true leaders in the Scottish food and drink industry.” 

Stanley Morrice MBE, Chair of the ONE Food, Drink and Agriculture Board, said: “We are celebrating the fantastic achievements of our food and drink sector over the past year, and my congratulations go to the winners and finalists. They are great ambassadors for the industry and demonstrate why this region is leading Scotland in premium products. 

“At Opportunity North East, we are committed to driving growth, innovation, and job creation. Over the past nine years, our fantastic team of specialists has provided practical support to the sector through entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, market development and mentoring programmes. We are now starting an exciting new phase of support with the launch of ONE SeedPod – Scotland’s food and drink innovation hub. 

“We've seen great examples of innovation and growth in this year’s awards, and I can't wait to see what comes next for this sector, which is the beating heart of our economy,” said Mr Morrice. 

Food and drink is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector. The north east continues to lead the way in Scotland, contributing an impressive 20% to the country’s total output, generating an annual turnover of £2.4 billion, and supporting over 22,000 jobs across manufacturing, agriculture and seafood processing. 

The 2025 North East Scotland Food & Drink Awards finalists and winners are as follows: 

BEST YOUNG BUSINESS 

CarnieBees Ltd 

Glenkindie Pantry 

Tullynessle Deer Farm – WINNER 

Sherriff & Hope Ltd 

BEST FOOD & DRINK TOURISM EXPERIENCE 

City of Aberdeen Distillery Ltd. 

Glen Garioch Distillery 

Tullynessle Deer Farm 

Long Table Feast – Westerton Farmers – WINNER 

BUSINESS GROWTH AWARD 

Brew Toon – HIGHLY COMMENDED 

Mackintosh of Glendaveny – WINNER 

Mackie’s of Scotland 

TEAM OF THE YEAR 

Mackie’s of Scotland 

Mackintosh of Glendaveny – WINNER 

RISING STAR AWARD 

Bethany Cross, Dean’s of Huntly Ltd 

Megan Dorward, Castleton Farm – WINNER 

Andrew Robertson, Burnside Brewery 

MOST INNOVATIVE BUSINESS AWARD 

Burnside Brewery 

City of Aberdeen Distillery Ltd. 

Lapwings Community Mill 

Raw Culture Ltd – WINNER 

Singularity Sauce Co 

Sherriff & Hope 

BEST NEW PRODUCT (SMALL COMPANY) 

Dip Club UK - Cashew & Coconut D!P - Satayin’ Alive 

Hungry Squirrel Limited - Sweet Chai Cashew Butter – WINNER 

Slow Sauce - Oat Miso 

Singularity Sauce Co - Fuego De Cerveza 

BEST NEW PRODUCT (MEDIUM TO LARGE COMPANY) 

Amity Fish Company Ltd - Amity Lobster Macaroni Pie 

Castleton Farm Shop - Castleton Farm Mayonnaise – WINNER 

John Ross Jr (Aberdeen) Ltd - Maple Syrup Hot Smoked Salmon 

rora dairy - rora dairy Organic Natural Live Kefir Yogurt – HIGHLY COMMENDED 

Speyside Specialities - Bac’ n Black 

BEST NEW DRINK PRODUCT 

Brew Toon - Murray Cup 

Burnside Brewery - Lump of Coal - Festive Stout – HIGHLY COMMENDED 

Glen Garioch Distillery - Glen Garioch 2009 Refill Sherry Single Cask #2198 

Six Degrees North - Foraged Saison – WINNER 

The Outlaw Rum Company - Rachael’s Sherry cask