24/03/2015
By Vicky Leigh

The team at John Ross Jr (Aberdeen) Ltd have reason to celebrate, having scooped the Award for Best New Retail Product for its Tea Smoked Salmon with Lapsang Souchong Tea at the prestigious Grampian Food Forum Awards 2015.

The ceremony, which took place at Ardoe House Hotel and Spa on Thursday 19 March and welcomed big food brands from across Scotland and the UK, attracted hundreds of guests vying for national recognition across 12 categories.

The judging panel sampled 36 products from the 18 shortlisted food businesses, which included Associated Seafoods Ltd, Baxters Food Group and BrewDog Ltd. Christopher Leigh, Director at John Ross Jr, collected the award, which was presented by Colin McLean, Chief Operating Officer at Scotmid Co-operative Foods.

On receiving the prestigious award he comments: “We knew we’d developed something special prior to launching the product, however the feedback we’ve received from customers both within the UK and overseas has been overwhelming. Our aim is to create Scottish smoked salmon products where the flavour of the smoked salmon is enhanced as opposed to piggybacking on the latest trends. With our Tea Smoked Salmon we’re confident that we’ve achieved that and this national recognition confirms it.”

Cured and smoked in traditional red brick kilns listed by Historic Scotland and dating back to 1857, John Ross Jr’s Tea Smoked Salmon with Lapsang Souchong Tea is delicately smoked over a blend of tea and smouldering oak chippings for 24 hours.

On presenting the winners with their trophies and certificates, Colin McLean adds: “The quality of the entries has been superb which made the judging process all the more difficult. What was great to see and hear was the passion and drive coupled with the exciting plans all the entrants have in developing their businesses for the future. The north-east is proving once again it is at the forefront of developing some truly unique and sustainable food related businesses.”

To purchase John Ross Jr’s award-winning Tea Smoked Salmon with Lapsang Souchong Tea click here.