And the winners are......

1. Best Local Food Retailer: Knowes Farm Shop, East Linton, East Lothian

2. Best Village Shop or Post Office: Boat of Garten Post Office, Inverness-shire

3. Best Diversification: Gibb of Galston, Ayrshire

4. Best Traditional Business: Watt the Butcher, Montrose, Angus

The winners of Scotland's Best Rural Retailer Awards 2007 were unveiled at a ceremony at the Scottish Parliament on 11th December.

The annual awards, organised by the Scottish Countryside Alliance, recognise the very best in Scotland's rural enterprise. The winners in the four categories were chosen out of dozens of nominations from every corner of Scotland.

The 2007 winners in more detail:

Best Local Food Retailer: Knowes Farm Shop, East Linton, East Lothian

East Linton
Dunbar
East Lothian
EH42 1XJ
http://www.knowes.com/
01620 860010

According to the judges: "Knowes is so much more than a farm shop. Anyone who has visited knows it is an experience. The farming, egg production and shop are all part of one farming partnership. It is the food chain in miniature.

"Hilary and Peter grow and produce some of the finest eggs, potatoes, vegetables and herbs. Almost 90 varieties of veg is harvested daily and brought in directly from the field. Customers say that it is the range, smell and taste of this fresh produce, together with the personal service and the amount of information available that keeps them going back time after time."

Best Village Shop or Post Office: Boat of Garten Post Office, Inverness-shire

Woolsey 
Deshar Road
Boat of Garten
Inverness-shire
PH24 3BN
www.boatofgarten.com/local businesses and shops
01479 821527  

According to the judges, Boat of Garten PO, run by Beth and David Woolsey, "offers a fantastic personal service". "Not only a post office, they also sell newspapers, fresh baked bread, excellent local vegetables and specialist foods, and offer hot coffee, internet access, book exchange, local information - the list is endless. It is a real community centre in a tiny shop run by lovely people.

"The Post Office acts as a mail hub for the Community Council and local companies. It is also the local box office selling tickets for village shows and events. Customers have been encouraged to travel with the Boat of Garten Post Office cotton shopping bag and take photos of it in all parts of the world, including Tiffany’s in New York, the Space Shuttle in Houston, on a beach in Australia and by the Empire State Building."

Best Diversification: Gibb of Galston, Ayrshire

Threepwood Farm
Sorn Road
Galston 
Ayrshire
KA4 8ND
www.gibbofgalston.co.uk
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01563 820233

The Gibbs are a farming family that has diversified into a reclamation and landscaping business. According to the judges: "The company is an excellent example of salvaging old discarded unwanted items, reclaiming, restoring and re-using them.

"They give new life to what others would treat as waste. If they clear out a garden, they keep the soil, screen it and reuse as top soil. They salvage plants, shrubs and trees, and old tree stumps are kept and sold on as superb garden features that attract insects and birds. They also offer a landscape design service and specialise in the use of wholly reclaimed or natural products. "

Best Traditional Business: Watt the Butcher, Montrose, Angus

39-41 Murray St.
Montrose
Angus
DD10 8LH
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01674 672777

According to the judges: "In today’s supermarket age Neil Watt shows that exceptional quality of produce can still be achieved. The quality of the produce in his shop is always excellent, and the meat is well hung ‘as it should be’. Neil knows the origin of all his meat, down to the nearest field.

"But the best bit of all is the atmosphere. Watt the Butcher is like a club or a meeting place where everybody knows each other. Service in the shop is excellent and the team are knowledgeable and friendly."

SCA Chief Executive Tony Andrews said: "Our worthy winners, as well as all those businesses who were nominated, are the lifeblood of rural Scotland.

"They are innovative, they provide employment, they maintain valued traditions and they help hold our rural communities together. Thanks to them rural Scotland will remain a wonderful place to work, to live and to visit."

All four businesses will now go forward to the UK finals of the Best Rural Retailer competition with the winners being unveiled at a ceremony at the House of Lords early next year.