A luxury chocolatier from Perthshire has beaten haggis producers and whisky makers to claim the title of best food product in Scotland.

Iain Burnett – The Highland Chocolatier took the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2013 for Product of the Year, for its Velvert truffles and Spiced Pralines.

The Business of the Year award went to St James Smokehouse.

The awards – sponsored by The Grocer – were presented at a ceremony at the Edinburgh Assembly Rooms last night by writer Hardeep Singh Kohli.

Scotland’s food and drink industry was vital to the economy, generating significant employment and growing at an unprecedented rate, said James Withers, chief executive of Scotland Food & Drink. “Our finalists all illustrate the skill, innovation and premium quality of the country’s producers, which is driving our reputation as a land of food and drink.”

And the winners are:

For more on the Scottish FMCG industry, see this week’s Focus On Scotland.

Soup, Preserves & Accompaniments (sponsored by Asda): Hebridean Sea Salt Ltd. (Hebridean Sea Salt), Outer Hebrides

Fish & Seafood (sponsored by Rowett Institute): The Smokehouse (Hot Smoked Trout Pate with Horseradish & Dill), Aberdeenshire

Bakery & Cereal Based Product (sponsored by Asda): Dean’s (Mary Steele Speciality Biscuits), Aberdeenshire

Meat - Red, White & Game (sponsored by Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight):  Rannoch Smokery (Dry-cured Smoked Wild Scottish Venison), Perthshire

Drink - Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic (sponsored by Asda): The Orkney Brewery (Dark Island Reserve), Orkney

Dairy (sponsored by Asda): Taste of Arran (Arran’s Cheese Shop Mustard Cheddar), Arran

Confectionery & Snacking (sponsored by Asda): Iain Burnett - The Highland Chocolatier (Velvet Truffles and Spiced Pralines), Perthshire

Foodservice Product of the Year (sponsored by Sodexo): Katy Rodger’s Artisan Dairy (Scottish Breakfast Yogurt), Stirlingshire

Healthy Eating (sponsored by Food & Health Alliance / Food Standards Agency): Plenta Foods Limited (Pulsetta Rolls), Aberdeenshire

Marketing (sponsored by JBT): Mama Tea Ltd, Edinburgh

Export Business of the Year (sponsored by Clydesdale Bank): St James Smokehouse, Dumfries & Galloway

Profiting through Research (sponsored by Interface Food & Drink): Plenta Foods Limited, Aberdeenshire

Profiting through Skills (sponsored by Skills Development Scotland): A K Stoddart Ltd, West Lothian

Success through Working in Partnerships (sponsored by SAOS): Scotty Brand Ltd, Lanarkshire

Environmental Sustainability (sponsored by Zero Waste Scotland): Mackintosh of Glendaveny Ltd, Aberdeenshire

Food & Drink Tourism (sponsored by VisitScotland): The Store, Aberdeenshire

Scottish Food & Drink Entrepreneur (sponsored by Johnstone Carmichael): Brendan James Maher (St James Smokehouse), Dumfries & Galloway

Product of the Year: Velvet Truffles and Spiced Pralines (Iain Burnett - The Highland Chocolatier)

Business of the Year: St James Smokehouse

The Outstanding Achievement in Food & Drink: Paul Grant MBE, Mackays

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