Best indie shop trophy goes over the sea to Skye

Skye Farm Shop has taken the top retail title at the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards for the second year in a row.
The Sleat-based shop, which opened in December 2013, was named Independent Food & Drink Retailer of the Year in the region’s 11th annual awards, held in Inverness.
Since opening, owner Martin Maclure has doubled the range of products on shelf, concentrating on products from Skye, other Hebridean islands and the wider Highlands region. These now account for 75% of Maclure’s range.

Seafood bar and deli Buth Bheag, in Ross-shire’s Kyle of Lochalsh, won highly commended.
A total to 17 businesses across the region were recognised in this year’s Highlands & Islands awards. They included relative newcomer the Windswept Brewing Co from Lossiemouth, which won the Excellence Award, Best Drink Award and Best New Product for its The Wolf of Glen Moray dark ale.
Connage Highland Dairy’s Callum and Jill Clark were named as Ambassadors of the Year.
Crystal Mackay, development manager at Highlands & Islands Enterprise, which supports the award, said the region’s producers were helping to ensure the reputation of Scotland’ produce as among the best in the world.
“2015, the Year of Food & Drink has been fantastic for our businesses and many have benefited from the increased exposure at events such as Showcasing Scotland in Gleneagles and the Speciality & Fine Food Fair in London,” she added.
• Here is the full line-up of award winners:
Best Drink Award
Windswept Brewing Co – Blonde, APA, Wolf, Weizen, Typhoon, Tornado, The Wolf of Glen Moray
Best Marketing Initiative
Great Glen Charcuterie
Environment Award
Loch Fyne Oysters
Export Award
Wester Ross Fisheries
Food & Drink Business Growth Award
Cobbs Group
Healthier Food & Drink Award
Highland Crackers (Highland Cordials)
Independent Retailer of The Year
Skye Farm Shop
New Business Award
Dunnet Bay Distillers
New Product Award
Windswept Brewing Co – The Wolf of Glen Moray
Young Shining Star (joint-winners)
Tammy Rendall – Associated Seafoods
Sinclair Bain – Orkney Fishermen’s Society
Ambassador of The Year
Callum and Jill Clark, Connage Highland Dairy
Excellence Award
Windswept Brewing Co
Best Eatery Award
Gille Brighde Cafe & Restaurant, Diabaig,
Restaurant Of The Year
Ninth Wave Restaurant, Fionnphort