A modern twist on one of Dundee’s famous three Js of jute, jam and journalism proved to be the big winner at The Courier Business Awards 2014.
Jam producer Mackays scooped the title of Business of the Year at the ceremony at the Fairmont St Andrews Resort on Friday night.
The room, filled with almost 600 local business leaders, rose to applaud as the firm’s managing director Martin Grant led members of his team to the stage to receive the evening’s top award.
It was Mackays’ second success, after the firm earlier scooped the manufacturing prize for its impressive operation at Arbroath, where it makes a range of jams, preserves, curds and the world-famous Dundee Orange Marmalade.
Martin said he was delighted by Mackays’ success and said it could not have happened without the firm’s fantastic local workforce.
He added: “I would really like to thank everyone who has supported us on this journey so far but I should stress it’s not finished this is just the beginning.”
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There was also a huge reception for Dundee City Council chief executive David Dorward, whose shock at being named as the inaugural winner of the Courier Business Awards Outstanding Contribution prize was plain for all to see.
Courier editor Richard Neville told guests at the black-tie dinner that Mr Dorward who has been heavily involved in the game-changing £1 billion regeneration of Dundee’s waterfront and the securing of the V&A design museum for the city had played a key role in transforming the region’s economic fortunes.
Mr Dorward, who is retiring at the end of this month, said he would “treasure” the award and used his acceptance speech to urge firms to factor young people into their growth strategies.
He said: “We have tried to encourage business within the area and I hope we have succeeded in that.
“We can always do more as a council and I know that, in the future, that is going to happen to encourage more engagements and partnerships within the business community.”
A total of 14 awards were handed out by host and television funnyman Hugh Dennis during the course of the evening, including 12 sector-specific prizes covering all aspects of the diverse economy of east central Scotland.Among the winners was Rockwell Solutions, headed up by chairman Dr Aziz Okhai and his son Zain, which scooped the family business category.
The company at the Wester Gourdie Industrial Estate produces film lids for 70% of the ready meals sold in the UK and works with all of the major supermarkets and food producers.
Energy services firm Hydrus Group took the growth title after impressing the judging panel with its multi-million-pound investment in a new flagship offshore test and assembly facility at Brechin, while ambitious Dundee biotechnology firm Ex Scientia beat 15 rival entrants to be named Young Business of the Year.
The Factory Skatepark was recognised as the business with the greatest social impact, while Cairnie Fruit Farm & Mega Maze picked up the agriculture prize for its successful farm diversification project.
The awards were held in association with chartered accountants Henderson Loggie for a second year.
Managing partner David Smith who served on the awards judging panel, which was chaired by Alliance Trust chief executive Katherine Garrett-Cox said he had been hugely impressed by the quality of businesses that had participated in the awards this year and said the winners were truly exceptional companies.
“These successful businesses demonstrate the diversity of our wide-based economy in Tayside, Fife and Perthshire,” Mr Smith said.
“They may represent different sectors and be of different sizes, but they have common strengths; they are working to clear strategies, innovation is prevalent in producing high-quality products and services, they understand their markets and deliver exceptional customer service.”