All the winners of the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2026 - including product of the year
21 category winners celebrated at this year’s Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards.
It was Edinburgh-based Edgefield Craft Butchers’ dry aged prime rib from native Scotch cattle that was named Product of the Year at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2026.
Winning the accolade at the 25th annual awards celebrating the very best of Scottish food and drink, the prime rib was praised by judges for its depth of flavour, juicy, melt in the mouth texture, and exceptional quality.
Edgefield Craft Butchers was founded in 2024 by fourth-generation butcher, Simon Gilmour, and supplies Scotland’s leading chefs and restaurants with premium meat.
It was one of 21 category winners announced at the awards ceremony in Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza Hotel. The Excellence Awards recognise the highest quality of produce, as well as leading suppliers, individuals and companies.
Other winners included Benbecula-based Salar Smokehouse whose flaky smoked salmon won in both the Artisan and Fish & Seafood Product of the Year categories.
Businesses from the length and breadth of Scotland were celebrated, showcasing the diversity of the country’s food and drink sector. Orkney Gin Company’s Aatta Gin won Distilling Product of the Year (White Spirits), and Eymouth-based Giacopazzi’s Wholesale Ice Cream’s ricotta, pistachio and cherry sour gelato won Dairy Product of the Year.
Every product entered was tasted and judged by a panel of experts from retail, foodservice and hospitality, with the winners revealed by Matt Tebbutt, Saturday Kitchen presenter and MasterChef: The Professionals judge.
Alongside the tasted product categories, Aberdeen-based Vanilla Labs won Business Innovation of the Year for redefining how vanilla is grown, cured and delivered. Glasgow’s Dear Green coffee roasters was named Sustainable Business of the Year, and Growth Business of the Year was won by Aberdeenshire-based Duncan Farms.
Individuals were celebrated too. Jaynie Kean from Jackton Distillery won the Young Talent of the Year award, with the judges describing the RAER Scotch Whisky managing director as an aspirational role model for young people entering the industry.
Simon Gilmour, founder and CEO of Edgefield Craft Butchers, winner of the Scotch Brand category and overall Product of the Year, said: “It’s an honour to win both Scotch Brand Product of the Year and the overall Product of the Year. We are quite a new company, so to be in the position to win an award like this is just such a ‘pinch me’ moment. The team has worked very hard to get us here, so this award really belongs to them.
"Some of the best food and drink companies in the world are here in Scotland, and we’re very lucky to have the larder we do. For us here at Edgefield to be on that radar now is pretty special.
"Our dry aged prime rib has been born, reared and slaughtered in Scotland, so it’s Scotch through and through.”
Iain Baxter, chief executive at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “Seeing winners from every corner of the country reflects the strength of our sector. From the northern isles to the borders, from Aberdeen to the Hebrides, the quality and variety of what our producers make is remarkable.
“The Excellence Awards are the gold-standard that every food and drink brand in Scotland aspires to, and our winners thoroughly deserve to be celebrated for their achievements.
“Congratulations to all our winners, and to those who were shortlisted. We look forward to seeing them all continue to innovate, prioritise quality, and shine a light on our incredible food and drink sector.”
For over two decades, The Excellence Awards have brought together Scotland's finest producers with key decision makers and influencers from across the industry. Underpinned by people, passion and perseverance, the awards offer an opportunity to celebrate the industry's achievements of the past year while looking ahead and supporting the next wave of innovation and creativity.
The full list of winners
Distilling Product of the Year (Dark Spirits) - Woven Whisky Makers with Woven WXC Coffee Infused Whisky
Distilling Product of the Year (White Spirits) - Orkney Gin Company Aatta Gin
Beer & Cider Product of the Year - Six Degrees North Raspberry Beer
Dairy Product of the Year- Giacopazzi's Wholesale Ice Cream Ricotta, Pistachio & Sour Cherry Gelato
Meat Product of the Year - Brownings the Bakers Kilmarnock Pie
Grocery Product of the Year - east PIZZAS Topped Spicy Pizza
Artisan Product of the Year - Salar Smokehouse Flaky Smoked Salmon
Healthy or Free From Product of the Year - Bon Accord Soft Drinks Rhubarb Soda
Bakery Product of the Year - S. Collins & Son Sausage Roll
Fish & Seafood Product of the Year - Salar Smokehouse Flaky Smoked Salmon
Scotch Brand Product of the Year - Edgefield Craft Butchers Dry Aged Prime Rib from Native Scotch Cattle
Best for Scottish (Independent Business of the Year) - Howies Restaurants
Food & Drink Campaign of the Year - Mackie's of Scotland Full Cream Ahead Campaign
Young Talent of the Year - Jackton Distillery Jaynie Kean
Business Innovation of the Year - Vanilla Labs
Sustainable Business of the Year - Dear Green
Employer of the Year - Bidfood Scotland
Food Tourism Business of the Year - Rae's
Growth Business of the Year - Duncan Farms
Best for Scottish (Multiple Business of the Year) - Brakes Scotland, a Sysco company
Product of the Year - Edgefield Craft Butchers Dry Aged Prime Rib from Native Scotch Cattle
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