Food and drink worth billions to Scotland

VISITORS: Expert says food tourism now central to thriving visitor industry north of the border

Food and drink is one of the largest industry sectors in Scotland.

It supports tens of thousands of jobs north of the border and is responsible for annual turnover of £14billion – up 36% since 2007.

Overseas food and drink exports from Scotland are now worth £6bn.

Meanwhile, Scottish agriculture produces £3bn of high-quality food and drink annually.

The sector is very important to the economies of Tayside and Fife.

Dundee’s annual turnover of food and drink increased from £119.6 million to £162.6m between 2015 and 2016.

Fife is a home to world-leading global food and drink brands, such as Diageo whose distillery at Cameronbridge is the largest in Scotland.

Scotland Food & Drink, established in 2007, is a notfor-profit organisation created to guide food and drink companies of all sizes towards increased profitability.

Its mission is to grow the industry to a value of £30bn by 2030 and its vision is to build Scotland’s international reputation as a land of food and drink.

Graham Young, industry development director at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “We know that local food and drink appeals to the majority of consumers – and more and more people are looking to sample the very best of a region’s offering.

“Commitment to using local ingredients on menus and stocking Scottish drinks behind the bar means restaurants in every corner of Scotland could see unprecedented success.

“Whether it’s an independent restaurant or a larger chain, the opportunity still presents itself to use exceptional quality, authentic produce with real provenance.

“Food tourism has now emerged as central to a thriving tourism industry, and the availability of local food and drink must reflect the growing demand from consumers.”

A worker on the production line at Diageo in Leven, Fife.