North East Scotland Food & Drink Awards Winners Showcased at the 2026 Royal Highland Show
The 2026 Royal Highland Show provided a national platform for north east Scotland’s food, drink, agriculture and tourism sectors, with ONE SeedPod showcasing the innovation, ambition and entrepreneurial talent driving growth across the region.
This year’s RHASS President, former ONE Vice Chair Pat Machray OBE, is from Aberdeenshire so the 2026 Royal Highland Show was the ideal stage to highlight the region’s strengths to consumers, buyers, industry leaders and policy stakeholders from across Scotland and beyond.
Located at the heart of Scotland's Larder, the ONE SeedPod stand showcased the businesses recognised through the 2026 North East Scotland Food & Drink Awards and introduced visitors from across Scotland to these award-winning businesses and their products.
Over the four-day event, visitors met award-winning producers from across the north east, sampled products and learned more about the ideas and ambition strengthening one of Scotland’s most important sectors.
The stand underlined the role of ONE SeedPod in supporting founders and food and drink businesses to innovate, scale and bring new products to market.
Celebrating AWARD-WINNING businesses
The winners of the 2026 North East Scotland Food & Drink Awards highlight businesses driving innovation, sustainability and growth across the region.
Innovation in Agriculture (joint winners): Balmaud Distillery and A Melvin Henderson, Yonderton Farm
Innovative Impact (joint winners): Vanilla Labs and The Bread Guys Bakery
Best Food Product (Small Business): Vanilla Labs – Scottish Precision Cured Vanilla Pods
Best Food Product (Large Business): Joseph Robertson (Aberdeen) Ltd. - Tesco Finest Crisp & Herby Wild Garlic Haddock Kiev
Best Drink Product (Young Business): Balmaud Distillery - Scottish Dry Gin
Best Drink Product (Established Business): Brew Toon – Tanfield Export
Winners received their trophies from RHASS President Pat Machray OBE and the Provost of Aberdeenshire Judy Whyte, alongside ONE CEO Jennifer Craw MBE, ONE Vice Chair Stanley Morrice MBE and ONE SeedPod Chair David Kilshaw OBE.
For the businesses involved, the Royal Highland Show offered more than profile: it provided direct access to new audiences, commercial conversations and national visibility at a time when innovation, collaboration and market development remain central to the sector’s continued growth.
