Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards 2012

Entries are now open for the 22nd annual Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards, which reward food and drink companies based in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen and Moray for their new product innovations.

Companies will compete for titles in best packaging, commitment to healthy eating, best marketing plan and judges’ choice, as well as the most successful product from the 2011 awards. 

Also included are categories for best new retail and best new food service product, which are split into two sections; for companies with up to 25 employees and for those with more than 25 employees. 

Being introduced this year is the award for the Grampian food and drink entrepreneur of the year, which is sponsored by chartered accountants and business advisers Johnston Carmichael.

Johnston Carmichael partner Graeme Fraser said: "Johnston Carmichael has supported the Innovation Awards for a number of years and in 2012 we wanted to introduce a category which reflected our focus on advising entrepreneurial growing businesses." 

Marketing Society Scotland will be supporting the awards for the first time this year by sponsoring the category for the best marketing plan, offering a marketing mentor to the category winner.

This year’s winners will be announced by The Co-operative Group Chief Executive Peter Marks at a presentation dinner at the Thainstone Exchange, near Inverurie, on Thursday, March 15.

Peter, who will chair the panel of judges, said: “I am delighted to be involved in the Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards 2012.  Scotland has some fantastic food producers, large and small, many of whom already have worldwide reputations for quality and value.

“These are two factors of great importance to Co-operative customers and I am really looking forward to reviewing the entries in this year’s awards.
 
“Innovation is the lifeblood of all industries but in the food industry customers are always on the lookout for something new for themselves or their families.

“As the UK’s favourite community food retailer, we know that customers are also very keen to support British and local producers. Local producers who can both innovate and deliver great value are on to a winning combination and are assured of a very bright future. That’s why I am sure that we will find some real stars of the future amongst the 2012 entries.”

Also on the panel is Craig Stevenson, owner and managing director of Braehead Foods Ltd. Utilising his broad knowledge of the food industry coupled with limitless enthusiasm, Craig has built Braehead Foods Ltd to be one of the country's leading suppliers of game, cheese and a full range of produce to hotels, restaurants and wholesalers throughout Europe.

Joining them is Karen Peattie, the former editor of Scottish Grocer magazine who established the successful Scottish Grocer Awards and is widely recognised as an expert on the Scottish convenience retailing sector. It will be Karen’s third time as judge.

One of the companies entering for the first time is The Smokehouse Aberdeenshire Ltd, set up early in 2011 by John Cooper.  

The Smokehouse, based in Methlick, produces a range of artisan products and hampers including salmon, sea trout, wild game and – more unusually – black pudding and smoked nuts.

John Cooper, in partnership with Lord and Lady Aberdeen, are to open the doors to Formartine’s, a visitor centre, shop and restaurant based in woodland on Haddo Estate in spring 2012.

Belinda Miller, Head of Economic Development at Aberdeenshire Council and Grampian Food Forum member, said: "It is tremendously encouraging to have small businesses entering the awards for the first time.

“Innovation is at the forefront of the awards and this business is a good example of a new entrant to the industry."

All companies intending to submit entries to the 2012 Awards should advise the organisers by Tuesday 31st January. 

This will help determine whether pre-judging of any category may be required. If so, this will take place on Tuesday, February 28, at the Barn and Bushel, Thainstone, Inverurie.

Final judging will take place on Thursday, March 15, at the Barn and Bushel followed by the awards presentation dinner that night at the Thainstone Exchange, Thainstone Centre, Inverurie.

After the success by Grampian companies in the 2011 Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards, companies will once again be able to submit entries to the retail and foodservice categories in the national awards via their Grampian Food Forum application. 

To support entrants, a marketing workshop is to take place on Thursday, January 19, for representatives of local food and drink companies who would like to make the most of entering these and the national awards. 

Delegates will receive assistance on completing their marketing plan, help with product photography and how best to prepare media releases. 

Full details on the marketing workshop, awards entry forms and booking for the awards presentation dinner can be found here.

Supporters of the 2012 Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards are Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Anderson's Packaging (Aberdeen) Ltd, Johnston Carmichael, Keenan Recycling Ltd, Marcliffe Hotel and Spa, The Marketing Society Scotland, Moray Council, Press and Journal, Rowett Institute Nutrition and Health, Scotland Food and Drink, Scottish Agriculture College and Scottish Enterprise.