FIVE of Moray’s top food and drink businesses feature among the 44 strong shortlist in the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards.
The five local businesses have been shortlisted for four awards, with MacBeth’s Butchers in Forres and the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival both in contention for Best Marketing Initiative.
The other businesses which feature are Lossie Seafoods for the Development of Exports Award, Gordon & MacPhail for the Independent Food & Drink Retailer Award and Simpsons in Buckie for the New Product Award.
The awards, organised by Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Forum, will take place on Friday, October 19 at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness.
Penny Ellis, owner of the Knockomie Hotel in Forres with her husband Gavin, is chair of the judging panel.
"It has been wonderful to see the diverse range of quality businesses across the Highlands and Islands offering a superb range of products and services using locally sourced food and drink.
"The shortlisted businesses are companies who have demonstrated a commitment to developing their products and services to a very high standard.
Iain Sutherland, senior development manager for food and drink at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, added: "The awards represent a superb opportunity to shine a spotlight on our food and drink industry’s finest people, products and businesses."
Many of thee shortlisted products would have been enjoyed by athletes in the Scottish showcase at the London 2012 Olympic village.
Each year the event attracts over 250 representatives from the region’s top food and drink businesses who gather to celebrate all that is best in the industry in the Highlands and Islands.
