Producers must innovate or die

Alan Pirie of J.pirie & Son of Newtyle celebrates becoming World Scotch Pie Champion 2018

There are very few sectors where the target audience is compelled to consume. Many people covet Apple’s products, with their sleek marketing and their highend feel.

But whether you have the latest mobile phone in your pocket or the topspecced car in the driveway is a choice you make – you don’t have to buy.

The global food and drink sector is different – you have no choice but to buy into the market.

Rather than the discretionary spend you may make on top-tech or nice clothes, food and drink is compulsory, regular spend.

And while it is a mature market – food production is the true “oldest profession” after all – it is a sector that is highly competitive and ever-evolving.

From the largest to the smallest of producers, innovation is essential for a food and drink business to survive and thrive.

This August edition of Business Matters looks at some of the fantastic food producers we have on our doorstep in Courier Country.

Rob Mclaren has spoken with our

cover star Ailsa Hayward about all things sticky and sweet as she builds out her mail order brownie empire and caught up with Angus Council about how it is encouraging growth of the food scene in the area .

Regular contributor Ian Forsyth has been checking out Arbroath Fisheries, a second-generation family smokehouse specialising in smoked salmon and the local delicacy, smokies.

He also checks out the work of local producer network, Food from Fife, while we catch up with Toby Anstruther, the founder of the Bowhouse food collective which is starting to make a real impact in the artisan foodie scene in the East Neuk.

In addition, we bring you our regular regular round-up of developments in the commercial property market in Tayside and Fife, the latest news from the business community locally and our top columnist.

Enjoy.