Arbroath-based jam maker Mackays Limited took the top prize at the second annual Courier Business Awards.
Almost 600 industry leaders gathered for the glamorous black-tie event at the luxurious Fairmont St Andrews Resort on Friday to see the best companies operating in Courier country recognised.
Comedian and television star Hugh Dennis said it had been a huge honour to host such a prestigious event and said he could not help but be inspired by the award winners and the exceptionally talented teams behind their success.
Overall Business of the Year and Manufacturing Business winners at @CourierBizAward. Delighted doesn't cover it!
— Mackays (@Mackays_jams) November 15, 2014
“It is fantastic to see people loving what they are doing and turning it into a successful business,” the funnyman said. “I admire that will to succeed enormously.”
The Courier Busines Awards, organised in association with chartered accountants Henderson Loggie, are in their second year and more than 100 entries were received from ambitious firms.
'Ladies and gentlemen, take your seats for this evening's proceedings!' #cuemuchexcitement! #CourierBizAwards pic.twitter.com/adueU5nMFE
— Courier Biz Awards (@CourierBizAward) November 14, 2014
A total of 12 awards covering a range of industrial sectors from social to manufacturing, agriculture to digital and online were handed out during the evening.
Winners included iconic St Andrews ice-cream parlour Jannettas Gelateria who took the retail award and Angus offshore services group Hydrus, which fought off stiff competition to scoop the growth title.
* Click here to re-live the awards ceremony as it happened *Click herefor a photo gallery
The energy and passion of twin entrepreneurs Guy and Jamie McKenzie of Perthshire-based outdoor experience provider Blown Away also saw them triumph in the hotly contested tourism, leisure and hospitality category.
However, the most prestigious award of the evening The Courier’s overall Business of the Year went to Mackays.
The firm was bought over by current chairman Paul Grant in 1995 and has since grown into one of Angus’s major employers on its way to becoming a top five UK preserves producer.
Honour to share a table with inspirational @ScaramangaUK @standysbrewing and Star Dundee @FairmontStA @CourierBizAward #CourierBizAwards
— KingsbarnsDistillery (@KingsbarnsDist) November 15, 2014
Led on a day-to-day basis by Paul’s son Martin, the brand has moved heavily into exporting in recent years and has designs on being the world’s number one premium marmalade brand.
The Outstanding Contribution prize was the final award of the night and Courier editor Richard Neville took to the stage to make a personal dedication to the winner Dundee City Council chief executive David Dorward.
He said the soon-to-retire award winner had presided over “what some might have said was impossible” the economic rebirth of Dundee.
So pleased David Dorward @DundeeCouncil got Outstanding Contribution Award @CourierBizAward. A good man doing a hard job really well.
— Sandra B. OBE (@SJB_VOTC) November 14, 2014
“The city is now acting as an engine room for recovery and growth throughout the region in Fife, Angus, wider Tayside and Perthshire,” Mr Neville told guests.
“The winner of this award tonight has been one of the driving forces behind that change. He has been the lynchpin between civic Dundee and the business community and has put his energy and passion into affecting real, tangible change.”