Buckie firm scoops top food prizes

SALMON company Associated Seafoods Ltd (ASL) won two awards at last night’s North East Scotland Food and Drink Awards 2019, for its export success and investment in jobs.
The Buckie based firm won the ‘Investing in Skills Development’ award because of the training and development programmes it provides.
The company has appointed a manager dedicated to staff training and improvement, and also takes part in the ‘Developing the Young Workforce’ initiative, which bridges the gap between education and employers.
ASL also supports the ‘Career Ready’ scheme, which offers senior school pupils the opportunity to learn about work experience and prepare them for life in the workplace.
The company also won the ‘Export Business of the Year’ category, following another year of sustained growth of its premium Scottish smoked salmon in key global markets, including North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East.
Victor West, managing director of ASL, said: ‘We are thrilled to have won both these awards, which underlines our commitment to invest in our staff and the younger local community, as well as providing recognition of our track record in growing our export markets for premium Scottish smoked salmon.
‘Our talented workforce is the bedrock behind the success of ASL, and these awards are a deserving tribute of the vital role they play in our continuing growth.
‘We are dedicated to developing and encouraging young people throughout our local area to find their future pathway in the workplace environment, which is why we place so much emphasis on this area of the business.’
The North East Scotland Food and Drink Awards 2019, held at the Mercure Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel, celebrate the best of food and drink throughout Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
Picture: Victor West, ASL managing director, at the Seafood Expo in Brussels (photo: ASL)