Success for deli at the Scottish Italian Awards

A deli in Fife is celebrating success in the recent Scottish Italian Awards.

Rocca Deli in Bell Street, St Andrews, run by business couple Brett Lawrence and Gillian McLaren, who are soon to be married, has won the Top Award in the Best Deli/Café category. Just a few months ago, Rocca Deli also won Deli of the Year in the Scottish Takeaway Awards.

Launched in 2013, The Scottish Italian Awards invite entries from all Italian businesses in Scotland, from Pizzerias to gelato parlours, from artisan delis to fish and chip shops.

Votes are cast online by the public to assemble a top five in each category, before a panel of Italian food & drink experts choose the winners.

Held at the Doubletree Hotel in Glasgow, the awards attracted nearly one thousand different businesses taking part, with judges including representatives from Accademia Pizzaioli, and the prestigious ALMA, the International School of Italian Cuisine.

Brett Lawrence said: ‘We are delighted to win this award, beating Deli Cafes all over Scotland. It’s a huge achievement. We have well and truly put Rocca Deli on the map as a food business promoting and celebrating excellent Italian produce and cuisine.’

Gillian added: ‘We would like to thank our loyal customers who voted for us in these awards. Awards that reflect customers opinions are always the most treasured. We have a superb team behind us at the deli too, and we would also like to thank them.’

It’s been a very hectic time for the couple who recently took over at The Golf Inn in Golf Place, St Andrews, adding a hospitality business to their portfolio.

Courtesy of the Scottish Italian Awards, as a top category winner, the couple are soon to be flown to Italy, all expenses paid, to enjoy a special food and drink sampling trip where they hope to source new products for both businesses.

Brett concluded: ‘We are really looking forward to joining the other prize winners on this fact finding mission, which will also be a hugely enjoyable experience we are sure.’

Find out more about the deli at www.roccadeli.co.uk.

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