Walkers Shortbread walked away with a brace of awards at the Food from Britain Export Awards, sponsored by The Grocer.

The shortbread, biscuit, cakes and oatcakes supplier, which exports its products to more than 80 markets worldwide, fought off stiff competition to be crowned the Food and Drink Exporter of the Year 2007. It also won the Scottish Exporter of the Year award.

The company was "overjoyed" to have won the top award, which recognises companies that have taken the best of British food and drink to the global market, said Andrew Stokes, Walkers Shortbread export manager. "Export activity is central to our business," he said. "It is fully integrated into every aspect of what we do, so to be accredited at the Food from Britain Export Awards really is the icing on the cake. The whole team has worked so hard to make the international side of our business the success it is."

John Adams, CEO of Food from Britain, added: "Walkers Shortbread is certainly a worthy recipient of the Exporter of the Year award and the judging panel was impressed with its intelligent approach to exporting. It is clear that exporting forms a solid part of its strategy for growth, as does the decision to conduct business in the currency of its customers across 15 top export markets."

Bottled water company Llanllyr Water also won two awards, picking up Drinks Exporter of the Year and Welsh Exporter of the Year.

Other national prizes went to The Feel Good Drinks Company, which was named English Exporter of the Year award, and dairy manufacturer Pritchitts, named Northern Irish Exporter of the Year.

Other winners included Carrefour (International Retailer of the Year), Greencore Grocery (Private Label Exporter of the Year) and The Big Squeeze Fresh Juice Company (New Exporter of the Year).

Lossie Seafoods, Ford Farm, Shepherd Neame, Tyrrells and Daniel's Chilled Foods also won awards.