Wildwaters salmon pastrami shortlisted for quality food award

A new Shetland delicacy has been shortlisted in the prestigious 2009 Quality Food Awards which showcases the very best food and drink products on sale in the UK.

Shetland Products’ new WildWaters Smoked Salmon Pastrami, a new brand from Grieg Seafoods, has reached the ‘Fish’ category final to join other products from Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.

Shetland Products’ Stella Winks said the very fact that the new has won through to this stage in the competition was a major achievement.

Ms Winks said: “I’m delighted to hear we have been shortlisted in these high-profile awards. It is a great compliment that the judging experts have chosen our Wildwaters Smoked Salmon Pastrami to reach the final.

“What is especially gratifying is that our products have only been on the market for a very short time and yet have already gained considerable recognition. I believe this endorses the exceptional quality of the products, our exciting and innovative varieties and reflects the pride we have in our range.”

The pastrami is part of an adventurous new range of smoked salmon products, which are all made from locally-grown salmon. Ms Winks said the “clean and wild waters that surround our beautiful islands” inspired the Wildwaters name.

Other varieties include Smoked Salmon Orange Pepper, Smoked Salmon Shandana, Smoked Salmon Caipirinha and Gravadlax – Limoncello, as well as the pastrami and the company’s own traditional smoked and organic smoked salmon. The salmon products are available as whole sides, loins and sliced packs.

Ms Winks said: “It was a revolutionary move for the company when we decided to take value added processing to the next level by developing an entire range of innovative flavours of smoked and marinated salmon products.

“All were created in-house and have already received very positive feedback, with orders placed with customers in the UK, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Australia.

“I firmly believe we have delivered a ground-breaking, first class selection of luxury fish products, which set a clear benchmark for future own-brand Shetland seafood products.

“My hope is that the judges reflect this sentiment and that we proudly take home the highly coveted Gold Q from the awards, which would be the ultimate accolade for us.”

The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday 1st December at The Hurlingham Club in London.