Search on for Scotland's Top “Scotch Brand” Product

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is supporting the “Scotch Brand Product of the Year” which aims to recognise businesses in Scotland which are selling Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI or Specially Selected Pork in products of exceptional taste and quality.

The Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on 18 May 2017. Attracting over 800 attendees and consisting of 21 categories, the awards showcase the skill, innovation and dedication of Scotland's producers.

Growing year on year, the awards offer an invaluable platform on which businesses can showcase their quality produce to the nation.

Uel Morton, Chief Executive of QMS, said that the new Scotch Brand Product of the Year Award offers an excellent opportunity to celebrate the innovation, enthusiasm and commitment of those retailing Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI or Specially Selected Pork products which are a cut above the rest.

“This new award will be judged primarily on taste – something that Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork are renowned for, along with world-leading levels of traceability, assurance and welfare standards,” said Mr Morton.

“There are a large number of small, medium and large food producers across the country who are retailing exceptional Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork products and I would encourage them to enter the Scotch Brand Product of the Year Award.

“Entering and winning this award will provide recognition for quality products which can result in significantly increased levels of business.”

For products to qualify for the Scotch Brand Product of the Year they must be made from Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI or Specially Selected Pork, be quality assured and, as part of his, have been sourced from cattle/lambs/pigs born, reared and processed in Scotland.

Products can range from roasts, steaks and products which have a 100% meat content to products which use Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI or Specially Selected Pork as ingredients. Products using Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Beef PGI and Specially Selected Pork as an ingredient must contain a minimum meat content of 25%.

More information about the awards is available here: www.foodanddrink.scot/events/sfd-excellence-awards.aspx.

For more information on the Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork brands, including recipes, videos and tips, visit www.scotchkitchen.com or www.speciallyselectedpork.co.uk or follow Scotch Kitchen or Enjoy Quality Pork on Facebook or Twitter.

Ends
For further press information please contact Claire Higgs, on 0131 472 4046 or mobile: 07734 110 351, email: [email protected]

Notes to editors:
• QMS promotes the PGI labelled Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb brands in the UK and abroad and promotes Scottish pork products under the Specially Selected Pork logo.
• Please note that the use of the word Scotch in the Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI brands is correct and should not be substituted for an alternative such as Scots or Scottish. The history of the use of the word Scotch in this way, traces back to the 18th century.
• The world-leading quality assurance schemes run by QMS underpin the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork brands offering consumers the guarantee the meat they buy has come from animals that have spent their whole lives in Scotland and have been raised to high standards, including animal welfare.
• QMS runs the Scotch Beef Club www.scotchbeefclub.co.uk of around 300 restaurants which take particular pride in sourcing and serving the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork brands. QMS also runs the www.scotchbutchersclub.co.uk of around 300 butcher businesses, proud to source and serve the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork brands.
• For more information on the Scotch Beef or Scotch Lamb brands, including recipes, videos and tips, visit www.scotchkitchen.com or follow Scotch Kitchen on Facebook or Twitter. For the Specially Selected Pork brand visit www.speciallyselectedpork.co.uk or Enjoy Quality Pork on Facebook.
• Food and drink businesses can enter the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards online at www.foodanddrink.scot/events/excellence-awards. Entries for the awards close on Friday 24 February. Tickets for the awards ceremony and dinner are now on sale available from Scotland Food & Drink priced at £125 + VAT for Scotland Food & Drink members or £250 + VAT for non-members. Shortlisted businesses are offered tickets at the discounted rate of £95 + VAT. Tickets can be purchased from Scotland Food & Drink here: bit.ly/sfdea2017tickets