CELEBRATIONS are in full swing for two Dunfermline businesses as they take home national award wins.
The Wee Tea Company, who have a base in the Kingsgate Centre, and family-run Kerry's Homemade Scottish Tablet, snapped up trophies at the Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards last week.
The award-winning tea business, who have now introduced customers to coffee roasted in Scotland, picked up four awards, and company director Derek Walker said it was "huge news" for the brand.
This included a silver award for their individual wrapped coffee bags (caffeine-free roast) and bronze for their breakfast tea bags, iron brew loose leaf tea caddy, and mighty chai loose leaf tea.
"To have so many, we were delighted," Derek told the Press.
"We got a silver award for our coffee bags – they are biodegradable bags which we have secured incredible contracts for.
"We are now on the Caledonian Sleeper, which we are very proud to be supplying for, and we have a contract with Gleneagles.
"We blend all of our tea in Dunfermline – it really is an accolade for the city, we even have a Dunfermline City Blend!"
The team are now turning their eyes to bigger projects and have started a fundraising scheme which they hope will help them give back to the community.
"For every box of breakfast tea we sell in the shop in June we will be giving £1 to the peacock appeal," Derek explained.
"This is just the first one, we are planning to do a different charity every month."
More than £15,000 has now been raised for the Pittencrieff Park birds, after one, Malcolm, was killed last week (see page 6).
You can find the Wee Tea Company at their shop in the Kingsgate or at other Dunfermline locations such as Fire Station Creative or Cafe Wynd.
Kerry Dudina was equally thrilled for her small business to be named alongside big brands like Aldi and Stornoway Black Pudding.
"We had two flavours in the finals and one won a silver award," she said. "We found out about the nomination at the beginning of the month so we have had time to get excited!
"It has already helped the businesses over the past few weeks as we have been trying to expand."
The family business is fronted by Kerry and her son, Narayana Green, and has been running for six years after the mum took a leap of faith when she decided to work from home to care for her youngest.
"We have six stockists just now and are looking to increase that number," she added.
"We have one in Dunfermline, A Quarter of Sweetalicious on Bruce Street.
"Everything is made at home in small batches by hand."
Kerry won the award thanks to her Autumn Spice-flavoured tablet, with her cardamom and Madagascan vanilla flavour also making it to the finals.
The winners were revealed at a celebratory lunch in Glasgow's The Corinthian last Tuesday, with more than 50 judges scrutinising entries.
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