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The highly-anticipated shortlist of finalists for The Courier Food & Drink Awards 2025, in partnership with Barnetts Dundee, has been revealed.

After hours of difficult deliberation, the judges have decided who is to be featured on the shortlist.

It is good news for WeeCOOK with three nominations in different categories.  Hayley Wilkes is listed in the Chef of the Year category and also the Entrepreneur of the Year category whilst WeeCOOK itself is included in the Producer of the Year category.

Fallones Pizza and Gelato, based in Carnoustie, has two nominations – one in Producer of the Year and the other in Street Vendor of the Year.

One other Carnoustie outlet is nominated; The Craw’s Nest going head to head with Dhoom Streetery and Bar for the title of Community Champion.

The final Angus nomination is that of Kim Cameron of the Gin Bothy who is included in the Entrepreneur of the Year alongside Hayley Wilkes of WeeCook and Megan Murrie of the Nakey Bakery.

Now in its seventh year, The Courier Food & Drink Awards aim to celebrate the incredible talent across the region and it was clear from this year’s entries that Courier Country has this is in abundance.

A total of 12 categories are featured, with Tayside and Fife’s food and drink industry well represented across all of them

The Courier also want their readership t0 participate, by asking them to vote for their favourite in the Rising Star category.

A total of six judges – Martha Bryce, Fiona Walsh, Sarah Rankin, Lorna Whiteford, Paul Mooney and Brian Stormont – were in attendance to go through each entry in fine detail, with the standard as impeccable as always.

The awards ceremony will be hosted at the Apex Hotel, Dundee, on Wednesday March 26 and will not only celebrate the winners but will also showcase five delicious courses from five top chefs in the area.

The standard of the entries was so high it made it extremely difficult for the judges to create a shortlist.

Lorna Whiteford, group marketing manager, Eastern Western Motor Group (Barnetts), said: “Barnetts are proud to be the headline sponsor for the 2025 Courier Food and Drink Awards. We are delighted to see so many fantastic entries into the different categories and look forward to the awards event where Courier Country gets to really showcase the best of the best across their food and drink sector.”

Martha Bryce, of Sound Bite PR, said: “It’s always inspiring to hear the stories behind the diverse range of businesses who’ve entered The Courier Food & Drink Awards.

“We are really lucky in this part of Scotland to have access to such wonderful food and drink – from the raw ingredients and produce to the dishes served up in our restaurants, pubs and cafes.

“This year’s entrants were a real showcase of all that’s great about food, drink and hospitality in Scotland. It was a privilege to read through the entries – though I think we all left feeling hungry, with an appetite for local food!”

Fiona Walsh of Tollhouse Spirits added: “It was a pleasure and an honour to return to the judging panel again this year. The standard of entries was again very high, and it was a challenge to whittle it down to a shortlist.

“Lots of inspiring stories of hard-working individuals and businesses who make the food & drink industry across Courier Country so amazing!”

Paul Mooney, general manager Apex Hotel Dundee, said: “It was my absolute pleasure and honour to be a judge for this years Courier Food & Drink awards.

“It was such a privilege to delve into the very best that Courier Country has to offer across the food and drinks spectrum, learning all about the phenomenal businesses and individuals nominated across the awards.

“Deciding who was on the shortlist was exceptionally difficult, as there is so much to celebrate across all nominees, but there were some amazing, stand-out businesses who truly deserved to be shortlisted for these awards.

“I look forward to welcoming them all to Apex in March and celebrating with them their amazing achievements from the last year.”

MasterChef finalist Sarah Rankin, who is also our host on the big night, said: “I am delighted to be hosting the Courier Food and Drink Awards this year.

“Celebrating the incredible array of hospitality business thriving across Courier Country is so important, particularly given the challenges facing the industry.

“I’m looking forward to hearing their stories and seeing them get the recognition they deserve for helping to make life in Tayside, Angus and Fife altogether tastier.”

Chairman of the judging panel, Brian Stormont, editor of The Courier Food & Drink, said: “It is clear from the standard of the entries received that Courier Country is blessed with some incredible food and drinks businesses and producers.

“Their passion was pouring from their entries and it is a real highlight of my year to be involved in the judging process.”

This article appeared in The Courier on 5 February 2025.