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