Taste of Orkney Awards winners

Thirty islands business were shortlisted across 12 different categories in the 2022 Taste of Orkney Food and Drink Awards, organised by Orkney Food and Drink and sponsored by NorthLink Ferries and Highland Park.

The awards covered everything from the best bar and takeaway meals to the finest bakery, fish, drink, and dairy products. There were also accolades for the top café, local food retailer and best peedie product.

Finalists were shortlisted after a public vote on the Orkney.com website, with over 21,000 cast.

Each category winner at Saturday night’s event, held in Kirkwall Grammar School, received a prestigious Taste of Orkney Food and Drink Awards trophy.

Edgar Balfour, project manager for Orkney Food and Drink, said: “Huge congratulations to our awards winners for their passion, hard work and commitment, though all the business shortlisted should be proud, particularly when their selection was based on a public vote.

“Orkney’s food and drink producers and hospitality providers fully understand the importance of their role in contributing to the economic wellbeing of the islands and they constantly strive to deliver the best products and best service they can. As such, they’re fine ambassadors for the county, with Orkney’s reputation for outstanding food and drink the envy of many throughout the world. Staging the Taste of Orkney Awards gives us an opportunity to recognise their efforts and we hope their success – whether as finalists or winners – will give them a welcome boost after a challenging few years.”

Mr Balfour, who received an 'Outstanding Performance Award' on the night for his work promoting Orkney's food and drink sector over recent years, added: “Our awards event was a fantastic night out for everyone involved and I’d like to say a special thanks to our sponsors, NorthLink Ferries and Highland Park, and to all our category sponsors too.”

Billy Robb, Customer Service Director at Serco NorthLink Ferries, commented: “Congratulations to the winners of the Taste of Orkney Food and Drink Awards, on achieving this well-deserved accolade. We’re proud to support the awards and celebrate the fantastic achievements of Orcadian producers, who have helped put the Northern Isles on the map as a must-visit destination for food and drink lovers.

“At NorthLink Ferries, we’re committed to using locally sourced produce wherever possible. It’s with thanks to our trusted suppliers from Orkney and Shetland that our guests enjoy a delicious and wide-ranging food and drink menu on board our ships, which receives positive compliments from residents and visitors alike.”

2022 TASTE OF ORKNEY FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS WINNERS