Scotland’s most innovative food and drink products are set to take centre stage once more, as a nationwide competition aimed at shining a spotlight on the country’s thriving sector launches.
Convenience retailer Scotmid has teamed up with Scotland Food & Drink again to give Scottish producers a chance to see their creations stocked on shelves across the country, with the welcome return of its Scottish Favourites competition.
Open to Scottish food and drink suppliers across a wide range of categories including confectionery, chilled fresh foods and beverages, it “reflects Scotmid’s continued commitment to local sourcing and supporting homegrown talent,” it says.
The announcement coincides with Scottish Food & Drink September, which is now in its 16th year. The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘innovation’, shining a spotlight on products that bring something new, imaginative and exciting to the country’s unrivalled food and drink landscape.
Applications are now open, with the chance for 16 different producers to be selected to pitch to a panel of food and drink experts via a Dragon’s Den style format.
Steven Addison, local sourcing manager at Scotmid, said: “Innovation is at the heart of this year’s competition. We’re looking for products that don’t just taste fantastic, but that also offer something fresh, distinctive and unique to our customers.
“Local sourcing is hugely important to us, and we’re privileged to already work with such a wide variety of independent Scottish suppliers. By celebrating innovative, stand out products, we can continue to excite and engage our customers, while strengthening Scotland’s reputation for world-class produce.
“Partnering with Scotland Food & Drink allows us to discover the next wave of truly interesting products and help local producers take their business to the next level.”
Last year’s competition saw six suppliers win a listing in stores, with winners including such brands as Burnside Brewery, Equi’s and Three Robins.
The 2025 winners will see their products go into store from Spring 2026.
Angus Bell, UK market manager at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “Scotmid is highly regarded for opening doors for smaller suppliers, and this year’s focus on innovation gives producers the perfect platform to showcase what makes their products unique.”
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