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Inaugural Outer Hebrides Tourism Community Awards hailed huge success with Hebridean Baker ‘headlining’

Inaugural Outer Hebrides Tourism Community Awards hailed huge success with Hebridean Baker ‘headlining’

Some of Scotland’s finest and world-renowned food and drink products have been celebrated at the inaugural Outer Hebrides Tourism Community Awards this month.

Bakkafrost Scotland’s award-winning Native Hebridean Scottish Salmon sponsored the event, which saw high profile Hebridean Baker, Coinneach MacLeod, ‘headline’ the occasion and hand out some unique awards made locally.

The ceremony which was attended by more than one hundred local businesses and stakeholders recognises and celebrates businesses that deliver amazing experiences for visitors in the Outer Hebrides, championing the unique provenance and showcasing best practice in the communities in which they operate.

Bakkafrost Scotland who currently employ over 500 staff across 54 sites on the west coast of Scotland and the Hebridean Islands and is an active member of the communities in which it operates, recognises the importance of local businesses supporting economic growth across the country – a position which was reflected throughout the event.

This year’s winners were announced at two Outer Hebrides Tourism conferences in November – at Uist and Barra and at the Lewis and Harris event which took place on 9 November.

There were four categories for businesses to enter, and these were the same for each of the islands involved. Categories were:

  • Best Accommodation Business
  • Best Food and Drink Business
  • Best See and Do Experience
  • Best Green Sustainable Business

Winners:

Uist and Barra

  1. Best Accommodation Business - Balranald Hebridean Holiday
  2. Best Food and Drink Business - The Dunes Cabin
  3. Best See and Do Experience - Mingulay Boat Trips
  4. Best Green Sustainable Business - Castlebay Marina

Lewis and Harris

  1. Best Accommodation Business - Stornoway Bed & Breakfast Ltd
  2. Best Food and Drink Business - The Island Spirit Whisky Shop
  3. Best See and Do Experience – The Weaving Shed
  4. Best Green Sustainable Business – HebCelt Festival

Ian Laister, managing director of Bakkafrost Scotland said:

“Bakkafrost Scotland has a long-standing commitment to work with the communities in which we operate, and this new opportunity to work with the Outer Hebrides Tourism

Group is important for us in terms of finding out more about the ways in which local businesses are supporting growth in the region.

“These awards are another terrific example of a community which while it may be remote, is still very much at the forefront of some of Scotland’s finest food and drink products and very proud of their rich, traditional provenance.

“They are also committed to a programme of activities designed to extend and promote the tourism season and business spend in the area, all of which we are delighted to support.

“Our own Native Hebridean Salmon are a truly unique breed, descending from the wild salmon of rugged and remote North Uist, and that provenance is clearly a key element in the success of brands from this area. Events like this further extend the number of people who support what we are doing in the area and that helps boost the number of ‘Hebridean Heros’.

“Huge congratulations have to go to the winners and to every business involved.”