Honorary black belt for Scottish Salmon MD

In a presentation at the company’s headquarters in Edinburgh, Craig received the prestigious martial arts belt from Consul General of Japan, Hajime Kitaoka and JudoScotland Chairman, Ronnie Saez.

It marks the first time that an honorary black belt has ever been awarded in Scotland.

The Scottish Salmon Company is one of Scotland’s largest salmon producers with sites operating across the West coast of Scotland and the Hebrides.

Also in attendance at the presentation was 2014 Commonwealth Games flag bearer and gold medallist Euan Burton, MBE, who was recently appointed Scotland’s national high-performance judo coach.

The Scottish Salmon Company sponsored JudoScotland during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where the team won a record 13 medals. The company has also actively supported the George Kerr Junior Judo Club in Stornoway which introduces the martial art to local children aged four to 15 in the Outer Hebrides by providing funding to bring instructors from the mainland and to develop local instructors to help establish the club, for the past seven years.

Craig said: “It is a real privilege for me to receive this honour and we are pleased to have assisted in supporting JudoScotland, its athletes and clubs.

“JudoScotland has had a remarkable few years and will continue to produce many more world class athletes in the years to come.

“As a business which puts pride and passion at the core of everything it does, we share a common motivation with JudoScotland and its athletes, and we are extremely proud to support them.”

George Kerr, Honorary President of JudoScotland, said: “This is the first time an honorary black belt has ever been awarded and Craig is a truly deserving recipient. The Scottish Salmon Company has been a vital supporter, not only to the national team but funding grassroots access too.”