Scotland Food and Drink Conference

Christmas Wishes from all at Scotland Food & Drink

The end of 2008 is now in sight and I hope that Christmas trade so far has been successful for you and your businesses. 2009 will bring with it new challenges for all of us and I hope that by working together as an industry we can focus on the opportunities that are presented both within the UK and internationally.

As we look forward to 2009, the team are working on a range of new initiaitves and events including an International Conference in February, the launch of a new programme called Access to Markets which will help businesses access new trading opportunities within the UK and a leadership event focused on Surviving the Economic Slowdown. A calendar of events for quarter one of next year will be issued at the beginning of 2009.

Finally, the whole Scotland Food & Drink team would like to join me in taking this opportunity to wish you a Happy Christmas and sending our best wishes for a propserous 2009 for both you and your businesses. We look forward to working with you on building a more successful industry in the year ahead.
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Paul McLaughlin
Chief Executive

International Conference

Scotland Food & Drink in association with Scottish Development International will host a two day international conference on the 11th February and 26th March 2009. Both events will be held at Hopetoun House, South Queensferry.

The conference aims to build awareness of international trading opportunities as well as signposting the help and advice that is currently available. The event is aimed at those who have never exported before but who want to consider the opportunity and at businesses who may be exporting already but want to build their presence in other markets.

The event will feature a number of speakers who will review the international opportunities in Europe, the Middle East, Far East and North America.

Richard Lochhead will attend the Conference on Day 1 and Scotland Food & Drink will also take the opportunity to communicate to the audience the plans that are being put in place to replace the Food From Britain support.

Members can attend the conference for half price £73 (or 73 member credits) to attend both days or £48 (or 48 member credits) if you only plan to attend one day.

To book your place, please contact Sophie on 0131 557 5767Â

Access to Markets

From the 1st February 2009, Scotland Food & Drink will be launching a new programme which will be known as 'Access to Markets'. This programme will deliver UK focused Meet the Buyer Events, Buyer Briefings, Learning Journeys and Training events. As well as working with the key players in retail and foodservice, we will also be looking at opportunities with niche companies in the retail, foodservice and hospitality arenas.

Events will be published via email and on www.scotlandfoodanddrink.org. Members will receive advance notification and will continue to receive a discount for participating as well as being able to use their membership credits.

Diary Dates

We are currently planing to run the following Events in the first quarter of 2009. If you are interested in participating in any of these, please contact us on 0131 524 8640.

January will see a Member Event hosted in Aberdeen, this is the first in a series of regional events that will be held across the country including Inverness, Ayrshire, Borders and the Central Belt.

Braehead Foods are hosting a visit to their new facility on 20th January.

February's activities include the Buyer Showcase being held at Inchyra Grange on the 3rd, the International Conference on the 11th and an ASDA Meet the Buyer is scheduled for late February in Edinburgh. The third Build your Brand event will be held on 24th.

The second day of the International Conference will be held on the 26th March.

The Innovation Working Group is planning a 'Waste' event.

A Leadership Forum will be held in March on “Surviving the Economic Slowdown” which will include key speakers from Maclay Murray Spens, Johnston Carmichael and Hudson who will give insight into best practice in legal, finance and talent management in the current climate.
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Speciality and Fine Food Fair 2009

In September 2008, 21 companies attended the Speciality Fine Food Fair as part of the Scotland Food & Drink Pavilion, held at London's Olympia Exhibition Centre. The event attracts over 3,000 buyers mainly from the Speciality market but many of the key retail and foodservice buyers also attend. Estimated sales from leads generated at the 2008 event are £380,000 demonstrating that this is a worthwhile show to attend.

Scotland Food & Drink are now looking ahead to the 2009 event and to help ascertain demand and secure space at the show we are now asking companies who are interested in getting involved to contact Amanda Brown at Scotland Food & Drink ([email protected]). All of the other regional food teams in the UK attend this event and we need to ensure that Scotland has a great presence so please give us a call to discuss your interest.

International Food Expo – London 15th – 18th March 2009

Scotland Food & Drink will host a Pavilion at this international exhibition next March. There are still opportunities available to participate in the Pavilion either by taking your own space or by participating in a Market Place which provides companies with a smaller area (approx 3m squared). If you are interested in participating or finding out more, please contact Pauline Kerr of SDI via email [email protected]

SIRAH

Scotland Food & Drink in association with SDI, QMS, Seafood Scotland, Scottish Salmon Producers and Scotch Whisky Association will be hosting a Pavilion at the forthcoming SIRAH international exhibition in Lyon. France is Scotland's number one export market accounting for £504 million of sales in 2006. The exhibition provides the industry with an opportunity to develop new business opportunities, meet existing business contacts, in addition to communicating our vision for Scotland to become 'A land of food and drink'.

The exhibition which will be held from 24th- 28th January will also host the prestigious Bocuse D'Or competition where Scotch Beef and Lamb have been selected as the competition meat of choice. This is a high accolade for the Scottish red meat industry and reflects the popularity of Scotch beef in France as well as highlighting the strong trading relationships that exist between Scottish meat companies and French importers.

Scottish Restaurateurs' Cookbook Gains World Recognition

Members, Graham Harvey and Shelia McConachie of Craggan Mill Restaurant on Speyside are celebrating as their book 'The Whisky Kitchen – 100 ways with whisky and food' was this year's UK winner in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

Over 6000 books from more than 100 countries were reviewed and judged this year and The Whisky Kitchen now represents the UK in the judging for the Best Cookbook in The World Award, with the winner being announced at a grand gala dinner in May 2009.

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