This year, winners will be announced at a black tie award night by TV personality Fred Sirieix on 7 September at the EICC.

Tasted categories in this year’s Excellence Awards focus on the standout products driving value and consumer choice in the market.

These categories have all been tasted and judged by an expert panel of industry buyers, chefs, hospitality leaders, and food and drink writers.

Shortlisted businesses and products represent the breadth of Scottish food and drink production, from quality shellfish to craft beer, dairy to tea, and confectionary to Scotch beef.

Showcasing innovation, enterprise and above all else, excellence, in the Scottish food and drink scene, businesses shortlisted include major producers like Graham’s, the Family Dairy, Bakkafrost, and Mackie’s, as well as smaller artisanal producers like Chocolatia, Scottish Honeyberry Growers, and The Wee Scottish Cider Company.

Iain Baxter, Chief Executive at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “Every year the Excellence Awards attract an incredibly diverse range of entries of seriously impressive quality.

“While tasting each of the products entered into the awards sounds like a dream, in reality, selecting the very best of the best has been extremely difficult for our expert judging panel.

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"This year, judges remarked on the exceptional quality, innovation, and diversity of products on show. 

“The industry has been through a lot of challenges in recent years but it’s fantastic to see our food and drink businesses continue to pursue excellence in terms of their production and their broader business practices.

“This year’s Awards will yet again be the premier night in one of Scotland’s most valuable and successful industries. Congratulations and good luck to all those shortlisted.”

Asda continues its support for the Excellence Awards as headline sponsor.

Ashley Connolly, Local Buying Manager Scotland, Asda, added: “Asda is honoured to support The Excellence Awards again this year, where we get to witness the passion that these Scottish producers have for their craft.

“Judging the tasted categories was a tough feat, but I, and the rest of the judging panel, believe the finalists are the best of the best within the industry.”

The full shortlist of finalists:

Taste: