Recognising innovative food production - last call for entries

Entries are being invited from Grampian food producers for the prestigious annual Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards, which are widely regarded as the best regional food awards in the UK, designed to foster the North East's proud tradition of innovative food production.

The awards, which include a prestigious export category, are the flagship event in the Grampian food and drink industry calendar and will take place for the seventeenth year on 14 March 2007 at a dinner in the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa in Aberdeen.

Entry forms for the North East’s “Food Oscars” are available on-line at www.grampianfoodforum.org.uk, with a closing date of 7 February. Among the ten categories featured is the Business Gateway International Award for exporting products to a new overseas market, where the winner will receive £600 towards travel and accommodation when visiting a target export market.

Companies are encouraged to submit their marketing plan, which will be judged on product strategy, vision and innovation along with the overall achievements. If you require assistance with the application form, please do not hesitate to contact Colin Crabbe on 01224 252149 or colin.crabbe@scotent.co.uk.

As in previous years, the awards are judged by a panel of senior and influential people in the UK food industry, chaired in 2007 by Ken McMeikan, retail director with supermarket chain Sainsbury’s.

Wonderful standards

Prior to joining Sainsbury's two years ago, Ken was a rising star at Tesco where he led the acquisition of London's premier convenience chain, Europa Foods, which he then ran as Chief Executive followed by his appointment as CEO of Tesco in Japan.

Speaking about the awards, Ken said: "In Scotland we already have some of the finest products in the world. I'm a proud and passionate Scot keen to celebrate the excellence that is associated with our country's produce.

“At Sainsbury's we have devoted a lot of our effort into working with our suppliers in Scotland and innovation is at the heart of our successful partnerships.

“Sainsbury's is delighted to be associated with these awards as it provides the opportunity to recognise the wonderful standards that are being set by some of Scotland's finest and most innovative people."

Joining Ken McMeikan on the 2007 judging panel are Ronald McDonald, general manager of Craig Group Foodservice, and Natalie Minnis, editor of “Scottish Grocer”.

The 2007 awards are sponsored by Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Anderson's Packaging (Aberdeen) Ltd, Business Gateway International, HIE Moray, Highland Cuisine, Johnston Carmichael, Marcliffe Hotel and Spa, Moray Council, the Press and Journal, Rowett Research Institute, and Scottish Enterprise Grampian.

For further information on the Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards, contact Louise Stratton at Aberdeenshire Council on 01224 664575, or at louise.stratton@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.