IVAN Wood and Sons from Ballingry, is celebrating after being announced as a winner at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2018, which took place on Thursday at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

The company's Peel Tech section won the Innovation category sponsored by Sondex for its work water filtration system for the food processing industry.

Peel Tech's machines can take damaging starch out of effluent from the likes of chip shops after potato peeling and turn this back into re-suable quality water products.

Peel tech's Malcolm Wood was delighted with the success: "This was an excellent accolade for the equipment which can make a huge difference to the quality of waste water from any food processing activity but especially that from the likes of chip shops.

"Work is continuing on developing the equipment and hopefully we can make it even better in the coming months."

The judges' comments said it all: "Peel Tech are worthy winners - promoting a food waste conscience amongst manufacturers with a well thought out innovative solution. Glad they have a patent as this will be a highly competitive area."

James Withers, Chief Executive of Scotland Food & Drink, said: "Congratulations to all winners and finalists who have been selected from a record number of entries by our panel of more than 45 judges.

"Scotland is home to some of the most innovative producers and these awards give us the chance to celebrate just a few of them. We have a fantastic mix of established world-class businesses and a new generation of entrepreneurs coming through.".

The 2018 awards received a record number of entries. New for this year was the introduction of an Innovation category, as well as an increase in the age limit for the Young Talent to ages 26 and under, to coincide and celebrate the Scottish Government’s Year of Young People 2018.

Recognised by both trade and consumers as an accolade of the highest quality, the awards are organised by Scotland Food & Drink and run in partnership with The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), with Asda as headline sponsor.