A MUSSELBURGH-BASED food and catering business has scooped a top prize for its green credentials.

Hickory, which runs the Eskmills Venue, received The Sustainable Business Award at the CIS Excellence Awards 2020, which were delayed due to Covid-19.

The awards, in partnership with Caterer.com, recognise innovation and excellence in Scotland’s catering and hospitality sector.

Stephanie Stubbs, from North Berwick, Hickory’s managing director, said the company’s sustainable business operations were one of its “core values” and the company “worked hard to minimise any negative impact their activities have on the environment.”

She said: “Implementing waste management, teamed with staff engagement and awareness campaigns, has resulted in over 80 per cent of all Hickory’s waste being recycled in the last two years, and has contributed to the business achieving gold accreditation in Green Tourism’s Business Scheme, held for over five years.

“Our creative and sustainable food proposition is heavily weighted toward Scottish provenance with a focus on the Lothians.

"Our production base located within East Lothian provides access to one of Scotland’s finest larders, allowing us to operate on what Experiencing Scotland termed a ‘hyper-local’ basis. Suppliers include Gilmour’s Butchers, J K Thomson Seafood, Brodies Tea and Coffee, Black and Gold Oil, Yester Farm Dairies, Di Rollo Ice Cream and Belhaven Smokehouse.

She added: “We are delighted to receive The Best Sustainable Business Award. This award is fantastic recognition for our team’s hard work and dedication to ensuring sustainability is at the heart of everything Hickory does.