Highlands & Islands Food and Drink Awards 2026, Chair Speech

Good evening everyone,

For a relatively small and remote place, the Highlands is punching well above its weight in the food and drink sector.

The world already knows us for our whisky, our salmon, and our shortbread – products that have helped define the Highlands and Scotland’s reputation across the globe. And they come from here, from this place, from this industry, and from many of the people in this room tonight.

But it is what sits behind that is even more impressive.

Because this is an industry that reaches far beyond our geography. We export around the world competing at the highest level, and we carry a story that is steeped in this place, in our rich cultural heritage, and in a real sense of pride in what we do.

Tonight, this is a room full of people who care deeply about what they produce, who work incredibly hard, and who continue to raise standards year after year. That’s what has built the reputation we have today.

But we’re not finished.

There’s still a much bigger opportunity ahead of us.

It comes at a time when the Highlands itself is going through a period of real change. The level of investment coming into this region over the next decades is significant – transformational in many ways. Alongside that comes access to funding and opportunities at a scale we haven’t seen before.

So the question shifts.

It’s not really about whether there is money or whether there is opportunity.

It’s about whether we are ambitious enough to take it and innovative enough to make the most of it.

That’s where the real challenge and opportunity lies.

And that’s where we, as Highland Community Interest Company, come in.

We’re here to help connect people, ideas and opportunities. To champion and support sustainable development across the region, and to make sure that as the Highlands grows, it does so in a way that works for our communities, our businesses, for the long term and importantly for the legacy we all leave. 

But more than anything, we’re here to encourage a shift in mindset. To think a bit bigger, to be more confident, and to really believe in and back what we have here as a collective.

For this sector, there is a real opportunity now to become more connected and visible, and more central to how the Highlands is experienced. Not just something we’re proud of, but something we lead with.

Being part of the judging day for these awards – I’m proud to have seen that potential first-hand – sitting in the room and listening to the conversation, it was clear just how much passion there is in this sector and just how high the standards are. The level of debate, the care taken, the pride in getting it right, it was genuinely inspiring. 

That’s the foundation we’re starting from.

What happens next depends on how we build on it, how innovative we are and how we grasp the scale of opportunity ahead of us. 

Tonight is mostly about recognising the people who have brought us here.

The shortlist – many congratulations to you all. 

Our steering group and previous ambassadors-Fraser Campbell, Willie Cameron, Gillian Osbourne, and Mike Crook as well as the energetic team behind Highland CIC -thank you for the energy and passion you have shown for these awards and the future of Highlands and Islands Food and Drink.

To our sponsors – as Highland CIC took over the awards for the first time, the support you have all given has been incredible, thank you. 

To our judging panel, I know how much thought and care has gone into every decision, and to Steven Devlin for leading such a strong and thoughtful judging day, thank you.

And finally, many thanks to the brilliant creative team for all they have done this evening to make the venue look great!

The Highlands has already earned its place on the world stage for the quality of its food and drink. And if tonight is anything to go by, the next chapter is only just getting started.

Before we move into the awards, it’s worth pausing for a moment to reflect on the scale of what lies ahead tonight.

Because this evening, we recognise the full breadth of this sector-those who represent the Highlands on the global stage… those whose lifetime of work has helped shape and strengthen our reputation… and those just starting out, who represent the future of it.

Together, it’s the full story of who we are, our past, our present, and where we’re going next.

Many thanks to you all for being here tonight – I hope you all enjoy the evening!

And congratulations again to all our finalists! You are a brilliant representation of all that is great about this sector across the Highlands and Islands.