Winners revealed for 2026 North East Scotland Food and Drink Awards
The winners of the 2026 North East Scotland Food and Drink Awards have been revealed, celebrating the businesses driving innovation, quality and growth across the region.
Delivered by Opportunity North East (ONE) in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, the awards recognise producers, manufacturers, farmers and brands from across the north-east.
This year’s winners will now go on to showcase their businesses at the Royal Highland Show, exhibiting in a dedicated area on the ONE SeedPod stand in the Scotland Larder food hall.
The revamped format replaces the traditional awards dinner with a national showcase opportunity, designed to put local producers directly in front of consumers, buyers and industry leaders.
Organisers said entries reflected the strength and ambition of the sector, which the awards programme has recognised for more than 30 years.
Full list of 2026 winners
Entries were judged by panels drawn from retail, hospitality and industry organisations, with part of the process held at ONE SeedPod in Bucksburn.
Winners:
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
Several categories saw joint winners, reflecting what judges described as an exceptionally competitive process.
The Bread Guys Bakery was recognised in the Innovative Impact category for its focus on clean ingredients and apprenticeship opportunities for young people entering the industry.
Director Gary McAllister said winning the award felt like “the icing on the cake” after months of work.
“It was a lot of work,” he added. “It was six months and it’s not a case of what you do in your 9-5.
“You’d go home, you’d be thinking about it, you’d be taking notes, so it really was a massive project for us.”
Brew Toon also celebrated success, winning for its Tanfield Export beer.
Operations director Cammy Bowden said the recognition was particularly meaningful because of the brewery’s long-standing customer support.
“We shout about all our award wins, but this is one that we’re really proud of,” he said.
“Being able to go along to a large event and showcase it to a much wider community is great for us.
“It’s for the people that have been with us from day one, and it’s a way of us getting to show appreciation for them. This is their award just as much as it is ours.”
National stage for winners at the Royal Highland Show
The awards coincide with Aberdeenshire holding presidency at this year’s Royal Highland Show through the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) Presidential Initiative 2025/26.
Winners receive a showcase package valued at more than £3,000, including exhibition space, marketing support and assistance from the ONE and Aberdeenshire Council teams.
Stanley Morrice MBE, vice chair of ONE and chair of the Food, Drink and Agriculture Board, said: “The number and quality of entries made for an incredibly competitive awards process and underlined the strength, ambition and innovation right across the sector.
“These awards are a chance to recognise the people and businesses continuing to raise the bar for the industry year after year.”
Jennifer Craw MBE, chief executive of ONE, added: “The Royal Highland Show is a fantastic opportunity to put these north east winners in front of a national audience, celebrating the quality and innovation coming out of the region.”
This year’s Royal Highland Show runs from Thursday June 18 to Sunday June 21.
Pat Machray OBE, president of the RHASS Presidential Initiative 2025/26 said he looked forward to presenting the trophies “on such a prestigious national stage.”
Councillor Judy Whyte, provost of Aberdeenshire, added the council was “proud to continue its valued partnership with ONE in supporting these awards”.
“Together we remain committed to recognising and championing the talent, innovation and enterprise that drive our food and drink sector forward,” she said.