Ayr business goes platinum at national food and drink awards

The annual awards ceremony celebrates the very best food and drink businesses up and down the country, and this year held its glitzy bash at The Corinthian in Glasgow.

Topping the list of Ayrshire award winners was Ayr’s very own Blackthorn Salt, which produces sea salt using 100 per cent west coast water. Blackthorn Salt picked up a platinum award for Small Food Producer – the highest award available in their category.

Blackthorn also picked up a gold standard award alongside nearby Cumnock’s Hawkhead Whisky Smoked and Mauchline’s Mossgiel Organic Farm.

Elsewhere in Ayrshire, Kilmarnock’s Nudie Snacks won a Silver award in the Small Producer category, as did Brownings the Bakers, which won a Large Producer Silver award.

Bruce Langlands, the former head of food and drink at both Harrods and Selfridges, was chair of the Platinum judging panel.

A Blackthorn Salt spokesperson said: “On a super cheery note, yesterday we were overwhelmed with category Gold and top award Platinum for Scottish Small Producer (ambient) at the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards.

“We are simply overjoyed, astonished and delighted.

“What amazing and exciting times to be in amongst such a wonderful group, not least the Braw Liquor Club with whom we shared nerves and laughter, Mossgiel Organic Farm, The Buffalo Farm and many more.

“Thank you to Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards 2022 and the wonderful Cara for hosting such a lovely event and @dougievipond for his wonderful enthusiasm.

“Huge congratulations to all winners and finalists.”

In a social media post a Mossgiel spokesperson added: “We’re absolutely stoked to have won gold in the Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards Awards today!!

“We entered our unique, Pasture for Life accredited ‘Cow With Calf’ milk made by the incredible Mossgiel Girls!

“The judges (and there were a lot of them) enjoyed our story, waste free policy and our ambition to be net zero by 2025!”